Lipolysis device, lipolysis method, and power generation method

Abstract

A lipolysis device 1 comprises: a substrate 4; a glycerol introduction part 3 provided on a surface of the substrate 4; and a glycerol oxidation part 6 provided on the surface of the substrate 4 on the opposite side to the glycerol introduction part 3. The glycerol introduction part 3 has projections 5 each having a lipolysis enzyme 10 or a peptide compound having an activity equivalent thereto. The glycerol oxidation part 6 has a glycerol oxidization enzyme 11, and oxidizes glycerol 13 introduced from the glycerol introduction part 3.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fat decomposition device, a fat decomposition method, and a power generation method. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, the number of obese people has increased rapidly in Japan due to changes in the social environment surrounding diet, namely the Westernization of diet and lack of exercise. Obesity leads to various diseases such as lifestyle-related diseases, and is also a cosmetic problem, so effective prevention and improvement methods are required, and research on anti-obesity is being actively conducted.

[0003] In recent years, as interest in energy issues has increased, biofuel cells that use bio-related substances such as sugars and alcohols as fuels have been attracting attention. Biofuel cells use a biocatalyst as an electrode catalyst and can generate electricity by combining an oxidation reaction of biofuel at the anode and a reduction reaction of oxygen or the like at the cathode.

[0004] With regard to such biofuel cells, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses an energy generating device comprising a conductive reactor gel containing enzymes that decompose sugars and / or fats and / or fatty acids, a surface electrode placed in contact with the surface of the reactor gel, and a storage battery or an electrical device electrically connected to the surface electrode and the reactor gel, wherein the reactor gel, when placed in direct contact with the surface of a living body, takes in sugars and / or fats and / or fatty acids from the living body and decomposes these biological components with the enzymes contained in the gel, and the storage battery is charged or the electrical device is operated by the electrical energy generated by the enzymatic decomposition reaction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] Patent Document 1: JP 2006-147472 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, Patent Document 1 does not disclose any specific means for extracting biological substances such as sugars and fats from a living body, or for generating energy from the collected biological substances, and it was necessary to develop specific means for achieving these goals.

[0007] In addition, from the viewpoints of disease prevention, health maintenance, and beauty, it is desirable to develop technology that promotes the breakdown of fat in the body.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned current situation, and aims to provide a fat decomposition device, a fat decomposition method, and a power generation method that can decompose fat in a living body and obtain energy using the decomposition product, glycerol. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The lipolysis device of the present invention comprises a substrate, a glycerol introduction section provided on the surface of the substrate, and a glycerol oxidation section provided on the substrate surface opposite the glycerol introduction section, the glycerol introduction section having a protrusion having a lipolysis enzyme or a peptide compound having equivalent activity, and the glycerol oxidation section having glycerol oxidase and oxidizing glycerol introduced from the glycerol introduction section.

[0010] The lipolysis method of the present invention is a method for decomposing fat in a living organism, and includes a lipolysis step of piercing a living organism with a protrusion having a lipolytic enzyme or a peptide compound having an activity equivalent thereto, thereby decomposing the fat in the living organism to obtain glycerol, and an oxidation step of oxidizing the glycerol obtained in the lipolysis step with glycerol oxidase in a glycerol oxidation section.

[0011] The power generation method of the present invention is a method for generating electricity using fat in a living body as fuel, and includes a lipolysis step of piercing a living body with a protrusion having a lipolytic enzyme or a peptide compound having an activity equivalent thereto to decompose the fat in the living body to obtain glycerol, and an oxidation-reduction step of oxidizing the glycerol obtained in the lipolysis step at an anode having glycerol oxidase and reducing oxygen in the air at a cathode. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a fat decomposition device, a fat decomposition method, and a power generation method that can decompose fat in a living body and obtain energy using glycerol, which is the decomposition product. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the lipolysis device of the present invention when in use. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the lipolysis device of the present invention and skin tissue during use of the device. [Figure 3A] FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of embodiment 1 of the lipolysis device of the present invention. [Figure 3B] FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating the glycerol suction mechanism provided in the lipolysis device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4A] FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram of embodiment 2 of the lipolysis device of the present invention. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating the glycerol suction mechanism provided in the lipolysis device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of embodiment 3 of the lipolysis device of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of the power generation principle in the battery section of the lipolysis device of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] The fat decomposition device, fat decomposition method, and power generation method of the present invention will be described below. However, the present invention is not limited to the following configurations, and can be appropriately modified and applied within the scope of the present invention. Note that the present invention also includes a combination of two or more of the individual preferred configurations of the present invention described below.

[0015] [Lipolysis device] The lipolysis device of the present invention comprises a substrate, a glycerol introduction section provided on the surface of the substrate, and a glycerol oxidation section provided on the substrate surface opposite the glycerol introduction section, the glycerol introduction section having a protrusion having a lipolytic enzyme or a peptide compound having equivalent activity (hereinafter also referred to as lipolytic enzyme, etc.), and the glycerol oxidation section having glycerol oxidase and oxidizing glycerol introduced from the glycerol introduction section. The mechanism of energy generation in the lipolysis device of the present invention is as follows. When the protrusions of the glycerol introduction part of the lipolysis device of the present invention are attached to the skin and inserted into the skin, lipolytic enzymes and the like are released from the protrusions into the skin tissue, and the lipolytic enzymes and the like decompose the subcutaneous fat. When the fat is decomposed, the concentration of glycerol in body fluids such as interstitial fluid in the skin tissue increases, and since glycerol has a melting point of 20°C and is liquid in the body, it diffuses through the protrusions to reach the glycerol oxidation part. The glycerol that reaches the glycerol oxidation part is oxidized by oxidase to generate energy. As this oxidation reaction continues, the concentration of glycerol in body fluids decreases, and the decomposition reaction of fats (triglycerides) into glycerol and fatty acids is promoted. The lipolysis device of the present invention can generate energy by utilizing fat in the living body, and therefore can be expected to have a slimming effect through lipolysis.

[0016] The lipolysis device of the present invention utilizes fat in a living body, and since decomposition of fat produces glycerol and fatty acids, it is also possible to use fatty acids as a substrate. However, fatty acids are decomposed to acyl-CoA by multiple enzymes in the living body, and then oxidized in the β cycle to generate energy. In order to extract energy from fatty acids, it is necessary to decompose them using multiple enzymes, and the design of the glycerol oxidation unit becomes very complicated, making it difficult to artificially reproduce a system for extracting energy from fatty acids. In contrast, when glycerol is used as a substrate, energy can be extracted by oxidation with one enzyme, so the lipolysis device can have a simple structure.

[0017] The lipolysis device of the present invention is provided with a protrusion having a lipolytic enzyme etc. at the glycerol introduction section. By inserting this into the skin, the lipolytic enzyme etc. is released into the living body, and the glycerol obtained by the decomposition of fat can be collected via the protrusion.

[0018] The structure of the protrusions in the glycerol introduction section is not particularly limited as long as it has a lipolytic enzyme or the like and can introduce glycerol obtained by lipolysis from the skin tissue to the glycerol oxidation section by diffusion or the like, but is preferably a porous body and / or a hollow body. More preferably, it is a porous body. When the protrusions are porous, in addition to diffusion based on the concentration gradient of glycerol in the body fluid, glycerol can be introduced into the battery section by the capillary force of the porous body as described below, thereby improving the introduction efficiency of glycerol. In addition, since the protrusions are porous, the adsorption of the lipolytic enzyme or the like to the protrusions is also improved.

[0019] When the protrusions are porous, D50 in the pore size distribution is preferably 0.05 μm or more and 10 μm or less. This further improves the efficiency of introducing glycerol into the battery part. D50 in the pore size distribution is more preferably 0.5 μm or more and 5 μm or less. D50 in the pore size distribution can be obtained from a pore size distribution curve [horizontal axis: pore size (μm), vertical axis: log differential pore volume (mL / g)] measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry.

[0020] The protrusions preferably have a hydrophilic surface. When the protrusions have a highly hydrophilic surface, the affinity for highly hydrophilic glycerol is increased, and the efficiency of introducing glycerol into the glycerol oxidation site is improved. In addition, when the protrusions are porous and have a highly hydrophilic surface, the capillary force of the porous body, in addition to diffusion based on the concentration gradient of glycerol in the body fluid, can selectively introduce glycerol, which is more hydrophilic than fatty acids, into the glycerol oxidation section, thereby further improving the introduction efficiency of glycerol. In addition, when the lipolysis device of the present invention further has a battery section including an anode and a cathode connected to the anode, as described below, the current value increases due to the increase in the glycerol concentration near the anode, thereby improving the output. An example of a method for making the surface of the protrusions hydrophilic is to provide hydroxyl groups to the surface of the protrusions using plasma or the like.

[0021] In the lipolysis device, the contact angle between the surface of the protrusion and water is preferably 60° or less. In this case, the hydrophilicity of the protrusion is more sufficient. The contact angle is more preferably 50° or less, further preferably 40° or less, and particularly preferably 30° or less. The contact angle can be measured by a contact angle meter.

[0022] The shape of the protrusion is not particularly limited as long as it can pierce the skin, but it is preferable that the shape is a cone or pyramid, and more preferably a cone.

[0023] The material of the protrusions is preferably a biocompatible polymer, metal, resin, etc. that is not harmful to the living body. Specific examples of the material of the protrusions include alginate, hyaluronic acid, curdlan, chitin, chitosan, glucomannan, polymalic acid, collagen, collagen peptide, hydroxypropyl cellulose, gelatin, silicon, titanium, silicone, polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PLA), PLA-PGA copolymer, etc., and plasma-treated materials thereof. Among these, biodegradable materials are more preferred, hyaluronic acid, collagen, and polylactic acid are even more preferred, and polylactic acid is particularly preferred.

[0024] The length of the protrusion is not particularly limited as long as it can be pierced into the skin, but is preferably 100 μm or more and 3000 μm or less. This allows the lipolytic enzyme and the like to be diffused more sufficiently to the subcutaneous fat with less invasiveness. The length of the protrusion is more preferably 150 μm or more and 1500 μm or less, even more preferably 150 μm or more and 1000 μm or less, and particularly preferably 200 μm or more and 800 μm or less.

[0025] The diameter of the bottom of the protrusion (maximum diameter of the protrusion) is preferably 50 μm or more and 1000 μm or less. This allows the skin to be pierced with less invasiveness. The diameter of the bottom of the protrusion is more preferably 100 μm or more and 800 μm or less.

[0026] The number of protrusions of the glycerol introduction part is not particularly limited, but is preferably 25 or more and 250,000 or less, and more preferably 2,500 or more and 50,000 or less.

[0027] The density of the protrusions of the glycerol introduction part is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1 protrusion / cm 2 More than 10,000 pieces / cm 2 It is preferable that the number of fibers / cm is 100 or less. More preferable is 100 fibers / cm. 2 More than 2000 pieces / cm 2 The following is the result.

[0028] The method for producing the protrusions in the glycerol introduction part is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a method in which a material for forming the protrusions is injection molded.

[0029] The protrusion may be in a dry state or may contain a liquid such as a buffer solution, etc. When the protrusion is in a dry state, it is preferable that the inside of the protrusion is under negative pressure, more preferably under vacuum, while the protrusion is covered with a sealing member described later.

[0030] The lipolytic enzyme possessed by the protrusion or a peptide compound having an activity equivalent thereto is not particularly limited as long as it can decompose fat into glycerol and fatty acid. Specific examples of the lipolytic enzyme include lipase and its analogs. The peptide compound preferably has an enzymatic activity of 50 or more and 120 or less, relative to the enzymatic activity of lipase (100). The lipolytic enzyme is preferably lipase or a lipase analog.

[0031] The analogue of the lipolytic enzyme is not particularly limited as long as it can decompose fat into glycerol and fatty acids, and examples of the analogue include chemically modified lipases, etc. Examples of the chemically modified lipases include lipases bound to cell membrane-permeable peptides, etc.

[0032] The lipolytic enzymes and the like preferably have an average molecular weight of 2000 or more and 100000 or less. This improves the permeability of the lipolytic enzymes and the like to fat cells. The average molecular weight is preferably 5000 or more and 80000 or less, and more preferably 10000 or more and 70000 or less. The average molecular weight of the lipolytic enzyme or the like can be measured by ultracentrifugal analysis.

[0033] The manner in which the protrusions have lipolytic enzymes or the like is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that the lipolytic enzymes or the like are bound or adsorbed to the protrusions. The above-mentioned bond means a chemical bond, and adsorption means a physical adsorption. An example of a manner in which the lipolytic enzymes or the like are chemically bound to the protrusions is a form in which a functional group of the lipolytic enzymes or the like and a functional group of the protrusions are bound by an ionic bond. The form in which the lipolytic enzyme etc. is physically adsorbed to the protrusions includes a form in which the lipolytic enzyme etc. is bound to the molecules forming the protrusions by van der Waals forces. The lipolytic enzyme and the like are preferably in a form in which they are physically adsorbed to the protrusions. The lipolytic enzyme etc. may be directly bound to or adsorbed onto the protrusions, or microcapsules etc. containing the lipolytic enzyme etc. may be bound to or adsorbed onto the protrusions.

[0034] The method for binding or adsorbing lipolytic enzymes, etc. to the protrusions is not particularly limited, but examples include a method in which the protrusions are immersed in an aqueous solution containing a pH-adjusted lipolytic enzyme, etc. for a certain period of time, and then dried at a temperature of 20°C or higher and 40°C or lower. Furthermore, when the lipolytic enzyme or the like has heat resistance, for example, lipase derived from an extremely thermophilic bacterium, the lipolytic enzyme or the like can be embedded in the protrusions when the protrusions are molded by injection molding, etc. For example, when the lipolytic enzyme or the like is embedded in the protrusions made of a biodegradable material, after the protrusions are inserted into a living body, a part of the protrusions is decomposed in the living body, whereby the lipolytic enzyme or the like can be released into the living body.

[0035] The substrate is not particularly limited as long as it supports the protrusions of the glycerol introduction section, and may be made of the same material as the protrusions or a different material, but is preferably made of the same material.

[0036] The thickness of the substrate is preferably 100 μm or more and 1000 μm or less, and more preferably 300 μm or more and 500 μm or less.

[0037] The above-mentioned substrate preferably has an adhesive layer on the surface of the substrate on the projection side where no projections are provided, thereby enabling adhesion of the lipolysis device of the present invention to the skin.

[0038] In the lipolysis device of the present invention, the protrusions in the glycerol introduction part and the base material surface or adhesive layer on the protrusion side are preferably covered with a sealing material. When the protrusions and the base material surface or adhesive layer on the protrusion side are covered with a sealing material, the protrusions are exposed when the sealing material is removed, and the device is ready to be inserted into the skin.

[0039] The glycerol oxidation portion in the lipolysis device of the present invention is provided on the surface of the base material opposite to the protrusion portion. The glycerol oxidizing part is not particularly limited as long as it has glycerol oxidase and oxidizes the glycerol introduced from the glycerol introduction part.

[0040] The glycerol oxidase is not particularly limited as long as it can oxidize glycerol and extract electrons, and may be an analog of glycerol oxidase. As the glycerol oxidase, glycerol dehydrogenase, alcohol dehydrogenase, glycerol oxidase, etc. are preferred, and glycerol dehydrogenase or an analog of glycerol dehydrogenase is more preferred. When glycerol dehydrogenase is used as the glycerol oxidase, for example, glycerol is dehydrogenated (oxidized) to produce dihydroxyacetone, and when alcohol dehydrogenase is used, glycerol is dehydrogenated (oxidized) to produce glyceraldehyde.

[0041] The lipolysis device preferably further comprises a suction mechanism for sucking glycerol from the glycerol introduction section to the glycerol oxidation section, which improves the speed of introduction of glycerol to the glycerol oxidation section and allows oxidation of glycerol in the glycerol oxidation section to start early. The suction mechanism is not particularly limited as long as it sucks glycerol from the glycerol introduction section to the glycerol oxidation section, and examples of the mechanism include a mechanism that utilizes the pressure difference within the lipolysis device and a mechanism that utilizes capillary force.

[0042] An example of a mechanism in which the suction mechanism utilizes the pressure difference within the lipolysis device is one in which the insides of the substrate, glycerol oxidation section, and glycerol introduction section are in a negative pressure / dry state, and a buffer layer containing moisture such as a buffer solution is provided between the substrate and the glycerol oxidation section, and the substrate and the buffer layer, and the glycerol oxidation section and the buffer layer are separated by a removable partition member or a partition member that can be broken by external pressure. In such a configuration, when the partition member is removed or broken by external pressure, the liquid in the buffer layer permeates the substrate, the glycerol introduction section, and the glycerol oxidation section, and water evaporates from the surface of the glycerol oxidation section. This causes the pressure within the glycerol oxidation section to fall below the pressure of the glycerol introduction section and the body fluids in the living body, and this pressure difference allows glycerol in the living body to be sucked into the glycerol oxidation section via the glycerol introduction section.

[0043] An example of the suction mechanism utilizing capillary force is a structure in which the protrusions in the glycerol introduction section are porous bodies, and the glycerol-containing body fluid in the living body is absorbed into the pores of the porous body by capillary force, thereby allowing the glycerol to be sucked into the glycerol oxidation section.

[0044] The lipolysis device preferably has a battery section including an anode and a cathode connected to the anode, and in this case, the anode is the glycerol oxidation section. When the lipolysis device has a battery section, glycerol produced in the skin tissue reaches the anode of the battery section through the glycerol introduction section. The glycerol that reaches the anode is oxidized by an oxidase and oxygen in the air is reduced at the cathode, generating electric energy. When the lipolysis device of the present invention has the above-mentioned battery section, it can also be called a power generation device.

[0045] In the battery section, it is preferable that an anode is connected to the surface of the substrate opposite to the protrusion in the glycerol introduction section, whereby glycerol introduced into the battery section via the protrusion can be oxidized more efficiently at the anode. As described below, the lipolysis device of the present invention may have a buffer layer between the glycerol introduction section and the battery section, and in this case, the glycerol introduction section and the anode may be connected via the buffer layer when the lipolysis device of the present invention is in use.

[0046] The anode in the cell section may be any one having glycerol oxidase, but it is preferable that the glycerol oxidase is immobilized on the surface of the anode.

[0047] The anode may further include a coenzyme oxidase and an electron mediator. The coenzyme oxidase is a coenzyme (e.g., NAD) that is reduced by an oxidase. + ,NADP + An example of this is diaphorase. When the coenzyme returns to its oxidized form by the action of this coenzyme oxidase, electrons are generated, and the coenzyme oxidase transfers the electrons to the electrode via the electron mediator.

[0048] As the electron mediator, it is preferable to use a compound having a quinone skeleton, and in particular, a compound having a naphthoquinone skeleton is suitable. Specifically, 2-amino-1,4-naphthoquinone (ANQ), 2-amino-3-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (AMNQ), 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (VK3), 2-amino-3-carboxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (ACNQ), etc. can be used.

[0049] In addition, as the compound having a quinone skeleton, in addition to the compound having a naphthoquinone skeleton, for example, a compound having an anthraquinone skeleton such as anthraquinone-1-sulfonic acid, anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid, anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid, etc., or a derivative thereof can be used. Furthermore, if necessary, one or more other compounds acting as an electron mediator may be used together with the compound having a quinone skeleton.

[0050] The cathode in the cell section may have a catalyst that reduces oxygen in the air, but preferably has an oxygen reductase, and more preferably the oxygen reductase is immobilized on the surface of the cathode.

[0051] The oxygen reductase is not particularly limited as long as it can reduce oxygen, and examples thereof include multi-copper enzymes such as bilirubin oxidase, laccase, and ascorbate oxidase, and analogs thereof. Among these, laccase is preferred. In addition, an electron mediator may be used together with these enzymes, and examples of the electron mediator include potassium hexacyanoferrate (II), potassium hexacyanoferrate (III), potassium ferricyanide, and potassium octacyanotungstate.

[0052] The material forming the anode and cathode is not particularly limited as long as it has electrical conductivity, but is preferably an electrically conductive porous material. This allows the enzyme to be immobilized more sufficiently. The electrically conductive porous material is preferably a carbon-based material such as porous carbon, carbon pellets, carbon felt, carbon paper, carbon fiber, or a laminate of carbon fine particles. When the fat decomposition device of the present invention has a buffer layer described below between the glycerol introduction part and the battery part, the anode is in a dry and reduced pressure state, and the partition member separating the glycerol introduction part and the battery part from the buffer layer is broken by external pressure, the material forming the anode is preferably a compressible and expandable carbon material. The materials forming the anode and cathode may be the same or different.

[0053] The anode and cathode may be in a dry state or may contain a liquid such as a buffer solution before use of the lipolysis device. When the anode and cathode are in a dry state, the inside of the cell section is preferably under negative pressure, more preferably under vacuum.

[0054] The anode and cathode preferably further comprise a current collector. The current collector may be any material that can be electrically connected to the outside and does not cause an electrochemical reaction in the battery section.Specific examples of the current collector include metal materials such as Pt, Ag, Au, Ru, Rh, Os, Nb, Mo, In, Ir, Zn, Mn, Fe, Co, Ti, V, Cr, Pd, Re, Ta, W, Zr, Ge, and Hf, alloys such as alumel, brass, duralumin, bronze, nickel-line, platinum-rhodium, permalloy, permendur, nickel silver, and phosphorus bronze, conductive polymers such as polyacetylenes, carbon materials such as carbon felt, carbon paper, carbon fiber, and carbon fine particle laminates, borides such as HfB2, NbB, CrB2, and B4C, nitrides such as TiN and ZrN, silicides such as VSi2, NbSi2, MoSi2, and TaSi2, and composite materials thereof.

[0055] The battery unit preferably further includes a separator between the anode and the cathode. The separator may be made of any material that is permeable to protons, but is preferably flexible. Specific examples of the separator include nonwoven fabric, cellophane, and perfluorosulfonic acid-based ion exchange membranes.

[0056] The cathode of the battery section is preferably covered with a gas diffusion layer through which gas can pass. The material for forming the gas diffusion layer is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include fluororesins such as PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), FEP (tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer), PVdF (polyvinylidene fluoride), ETFE (tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer), PCTFE (polychlorotrifluoroethylene), and PFA (tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer).

[0057] The battery section is preferably covered with a sealing member that blocks air. When the battery section is covered with the sealing member, oxygen is supplied to the battery section by removing the sealing member, and the reaction in the battery section can be started. More preferably, the outside of the gas diffusion layer is covered with the sealing member. The material of the sealing member is not particularly limited as long as it can block air, and examples thereof include PE (polyethylene).

[0058] The lipolysis device may further have a buffer layer containing moisture such as a buffer solution between the glycerol introduction part and the battery part. When the protrusion part and the anode, cathode and protrusion part of the glycerol introduction part of the battery part are in a dry state, the moisture of the buffer layer can be impregnated into the anode, cathode and protrusion part of the glycerol introduction part of the battery part during use of the lipolysis device, thereby making the lipolysis device capable of generating electricity.

[0059] When the lipolysis device is the battery unit, the suction mechanism specifically utilizes the pressure difference within the lipolysis device in the following manner: the inside of the substrate, the anode, the cathode, and the glycerol introduction part of the battery unit are in a negative pressure / dry state, and a buffer layer containing moisture such as a buffer solution is provided between the substrate and the battery unit, and the substrate and the buffer layer, and the battery unit and the buffer layer are separated by a removable partition member or a partition member breakable by external pressure. In such a manner, when the partition member is removed or broken by external pressure, the liquid in the buffer layer permeates the substrate, the glycerol introduction part, and the battery unit, and water evaporates from the surface of the battery unit. This causes the pressure within the battery unit to fall below the pressure of the glycerol introduction part and the body fluids in the living body, and this pressure difference allows glycerol in the living body to be sucked into the battery unit via the glycerol introduction part.

[0060] In the case of a lipolysis device having the above-mentioned buffer layer, when the partition member is removed from the device during use, the partition member is not particularly limited as long as it is made of a waterproof material, and specific examples include PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PVC (polyvinyl chloride) films. In addition, when the partition member is broken by external pressure during use of the lipolysis device, examples of the partition member include thin film PVDC, polyethylene, urethane foam with a hydrophobic surface coating, etc. A compressible / expandable material is preferable, and urethane foam with a hydrophobic surface coating is more preferable.

[0061] The glycerol oxidation device of the present invention may have a base material, a glycerol introduction part, and a glycerol oxidation part, but may also have other members. The other members are not particularly limited as long as they do not impair the function of the lipolysis device of the present invention, and examples of such members include a member for discharging products generated by oxidation of glycerol and / or battery reaction to the outside of the lipolysis device or to the inside of a living body, a fixing auxiliary member such as a belt or bandage, and a water-absorbent polymer.

[0062] The lipolysis device of the present invention consumes fat in the subcutaneous tissue of the area to which it is applied, so that by applying the lipolysis device to a desired area of ​​the body, a slimming effect can be expected in that area. The lipolysis device of the present invention can be used by being attached to a living body, and can be used as a patch device such as a slimming patch or a spot slimming patch.

[0063] The power obtained by the lipolysis device of the present invention can be used for various electrical devices.Specific examples of electrical devices include digital devices with short-range wireless communication functions such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) such as mobile information terminals, wearable devices, music players, and digital cameras; artificial organs such as artificial hearts, cardiac pacemakers, devices for injecting medical fluids such as insulin, and internal monitoring devices such as blood glucose level measuring devices. In addition, the power obtained by the lipolysis device can be converted into vibration energy using an actuator element, and the vibration can be transmitted to the protrusions to promote lipolysis. Furthermore, the lipolysis device of the present invention can be connected to a light-emitting diode, and the consumption of fat by the lipolysis device can be visually notified to a user of the lipolysis device by lighting up the light-emitting diode.

[0064] [Lipolysis method] The present invention is also a lipolysis method for decomposing fat in a living organism, the lipolysis method comprising: a lipolysis step of piercing a living organism with a protrusion having a lipolytic enzyme or a peptide compound having an activity equivalent thereto, thereby decomposing the fat in the living organism to obtain glycerol; and an oxidation step of oxidizing the glycerol obtained in the lipolysis step with glycerol oxidase in a glycerol oxidation section.

[0065] The lipolysis method of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it includes the above-mentioned lipolysis step and the above-mentioned oxidation step, but is preferably carried out using the lipolysis device of the present invention.

[0066] [Power generation method] The present invention is a method for generating electricity using fat in a living body as fuel, the method comprising: a lipolysis step of piercing a living body with a protrusion having a lipolytic enzyme or a peptide compound having an activity equivalent thereto to decompose the fat in the living body to obtain glycerol; and an oxidation-reduction step of oxidizing the glycerol obtained in the lipolysis step at an anode having glycerol oxidase and reducing oxygen in the air at a cathode.

[0067] The power generation method of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it includes the above-mentioned fat decomposition step and the above-mentioned oxidation-reduction step, but is preferably carried out using the fat decomposition device of the present invention.

[0068] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings of the embodiment, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0069] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the lipolysis device of the present invention during use. The lipolysis device 1 comprises a battery section 2 including a glycerol oxidation section 6, a glycerol introduction section 3, and a substrate 4, and the glycerol introduction section 3 including protrusions 5 is provided on the surface of the substrate 4. When a user presses the surface of the protrusions 5 of the glycerol introduction section 3 against the user's skin, the protrusions 5 penetrate the skin.

[0070] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the lipolysis device of the present invention and skin tissue during use of the device. The lipolysis device 1 includes a battery section 2 and a glycerol introduction section 3. The glycerol introduction section 3, which is composed of a protrusion 5, is provided on the surface of a substrate 4, and the battery section 2 is provided on the surface of the substrate 4 opposite to the protrusion 5. In the battery section 2, an anode (glycerol oxidation section) 6 is disposed so as to contact the substrate 4, and a separator 8 and a cathode 7 are laminated thereon in this order, and the anode 6 and the cathode 7 are connected by an external circuit 9. The protrusion 5 is inserted into the skin, and the lipolysis enzyme 10 possessed by the protrusion 5 diffuses into the skin tissue 14. The lipolysis enzyme 10 reaches the fat cells 15 by diffusion and decomposes fat. When the glycerol 13 produced by the decomposition of fat reaches the anode 6 through the protrusion 5, it is oxidized by the glycerol oxidase 11 possessed by the anode 6. As a result, electrons and protons are obtained, which move to the cathode 7 via the external circuit 9 and the separator 8, respectively, and oxygen is reduced by the oxygen reductase 12 at the cathode 7, generating electric energy, and functioning as a battery.

[0071] FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of embodiment 1 of the lipolysis device of the present invention. The lipolysis device 1a of the first embodiment includes a battery section 2 and a glycerol introduction section 3, and a buffer layer 19 between the battery section 2 and the glycerol introduction section 3. In the glycerol introduction section 3, protrusions 5 are provided on the surface of a base material 4, and an adhesive layer is provided on the portion of the surface of the base material 4 on the protrusion 5 side where no protrusions are provided, and the glycerol introduction section 3 is covered with a seal member 18a so that the surface of the protrusions 5 is covered. The substrate 4 and buffer layer 19 in the glycerol introduction section 3 are separated by a partition member 16a, the buffer layer 19 and the anode 6 in the battery section 2 are separated by a partition member 16a, a separator 8, a cathode 7, and a gas diffusion layer 17 formed of a PTFE membrane are laminated in this order on the anode 6, and the surface of the battery section 2 is covered with a sealing member 18b. The anode 6 and cathode 7 in the battery part 2 and the protrusions 5 in the glycerol introduction part 3 are in a vacuum (reduced pressure) and dry state.

[0072] FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating the glycerol suction mechanism provided in the lipolysis device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. By removing the partition member 16a in the first embodiment, the buffer solution in the buffer layer 19 permeates the anode 6, the cathode 7, and the protrusions 5. By removing the sealing member 18a, the protrusions 5 are exposed and inserted into the skin. This allows the buffer solution in the protrusions 5 to come into contact with the interstitial fluid in the skin tissue. When the gas diffusion layer 17 is exposed to the atmosphere by removing the sealing member 18b, the moisture that has permeated the anode 6 and the cathode 7 evaporates through the gas diffusion layer 17, and as a result, the body fluids in the skin tissue containing glycerol are sucked up to the anode 6 through the protrusions 5.

[0073] FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram of embodiment 2 of the lipolysis device of the present invention. The lipolysis device 1b of the second embodiment includes a battery section 2 and a glycerol introduction section 3, and a buffer layer 19 between the battery section 2 and the glycerol introduction section 3. In the glycerol introduction section 3, protrusions 5 are provided on the surface of the base material 4, and an adhesive layer is provided on the portion of the surface of the base material 4 on the protrusion 5 side where no protrusions are provided, and the glycerol introduction section 3 is covered with a sealing member 18a so that the surface of the protrusions 5 is covered. The substrate 4 and the buffer layer 19 in the glycerol introduction section 3 are separated by a partition member 16b, the buffer layer 19 and the anode 6a in the battery section 2 are separated by a partition member 16b, a separator 8, a cathode 7, and a gas diffusion layer 17 are laminated in this order on the anode 6a, and the surface of the battery section 2 is covered with a sealing member 18b. The anode 6a and cathode 7 in the battery part 2 and the protrusions 5 in the glycerol introduction part 3 are in a vacuum (reduced pressure) and dry state. The anode 6a is formed of a compressible and expandable carbon material, the partition member 16b is formed of a compressible and expandable material, and the gas diffusion layer 17 is formed of a PTFE film.

[0074] FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating the glycerol suction mechanism provided in the lipolysis device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The protrusions 5 are exposed by removing the seal member 18a in the second embodiment, and the lipolysis device 1b is pressed against the skin so that the protrusions 5 penetrate the skin. The pressure of pressing the lipolysis device 1b against the skin breaks the partition member 16b, and the buffer solution in the buffer layer 19 permeates the anode 6a, the cathode 7, and the protrusions 5. This allows the buffer solution in the protrusions 5 to come into contact with the interstitial fluid in the skin tissue. When the seal member 18b is removed and the gas diffusion layer 17 is exposed to the atmosphere, the moisture that has permeated the anode 6a and the cathode 7 evaporates through the gas diffusion layer 17, and the body fluids in the skin tissue, including glycerol, are sucked up to the anode 6a through the protrusions 5. Since the anode 6a and the partition member 16b are made of a compressible / expandable material, the restoring force of the partition member 16b and the anode 6a caused by the break in the reduced pressure state due to the break in the partition member 16b also improves the speed at which the body fluids in the skin tissue are sucked up to the anode 6a.

[0075] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of embodiment 3 of the lipolysis device of the present invention. The lipolysis device 1c of the third embodiment includes a battery section 2 and a glycerol introduction section 3. In the glycerol introduction section 3, protrusions 5 are provided on the surface of a substrate 4, and an adhesive layer is provided on the portion of the substrate 4 on the protrusion 5 side where no protrusions are provided, and the glycerol introduction section 3 is covered with a seal member 18a so as to cover the surface of the protrusions 5. In the battery section 2, an anode 6 is disposed so as to be in contact with the substrate 4 of the glycerol introduction section 3, and a separator 8, a cathode 7, and a gas diffusion layer 17 formed of a PTFE membrane are laminated thereon in this order, and the surface of the battery section 2 is covered with a seal member 18b. The anode 6 and cathode 7 in the battery part 2 and the protrusions 5 in the glycerol introduction part 3 are wetted with the buffer solution. The protrusions 5 are exposed by removing the sealing member 18a and inserted into the skin. This brings the buffer solution in the protrusions 5 into contact with the interstitial fluid in the skin tissue. When the gas diffusion layer 17 is exposed to the atmosphere by removing the sealing member 18b, the moisture in the anode 6 and cathode 7 evaporates through the gas diffusion layer 17, and as a result, the body fluids in the skin tissue containing glycerol are sucked up to the anode 6 through the protrusions 5.

[0076] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of the power generation principle in the battery section of the lipolysis device of the present invention. A separator 8 is disposed between the anode 6 and the cathode 7 , and the anode 6 and the cathode 7 are connected by an external circuit 9 . When glycerol dehydrogenase is immobilized on the surface of the anode 6 as a glycerol oxidase, it dehydrogenates glycerol and produces electrons (e - ) is extracted and dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is produced. In addition, at the cathode 7, protons (H + ) and the electrons (e - ) reduces oxygen (O2) in the air to produce water (H2O). These reactions occur simultaneously, generating electrical energy between the electrodes. EXAMPLES

[0077] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0078] <Production Example 1: Preparation of protrusions (microneedle array) at glycerol introduction portion> A resin mold was formed by injection molding into a master mold for a microneedle array (a master mold formed of 100 cone-shaped needles with diameter: 0.5 mm, h: 0.65 mm). Polylactic acid was injection molded into this resin mold to produce a porous microneedle array. The protrusions of the obtained microneedle array were subjected to plasma treatment to be hydrophilized. Using a contact angle meter (CA-X type, manufactured by Kyowa Interface Science Co., Ltd.), 0.3 μl of distilled water was dropped onto the protrusions of the obtained hydrophilized microneedle array, and 10 seconds later, the contact angle (θ) of the surface of the protrusions with water was measured. The contact angle of the surface of the protrusions with water was 35°. The protrusions of the microneedle array were immersed in an aqueous solution containing lipase whose pH was adjusted to 6 to 9, and then dried at 30°C. As a result, lipase was immobilized on the protrusions of the microneedle array of the porous material by ionic bonds between the carboxyl groups of the polylactic acid and the amino groups of the lipase.

[0079] <Example 1: Preparation of a lipolysis device> A battery part in which an anode with glycerol dehydrogenase immobilized on its surface was connected to a cathode with laccase enzyme immobilized on its surface via a separator was installed so that the anode was crimped onto the back of the microneedle array obtained in Production Example 1. Carbon fiber electrodes were used for the anode and cathode. A nonwoven fabric made of PTFE was used for the separator. A coil (inductor) for increasing the voltage was used as the external circuit of the battery part.

[0080] The microneedle array obtained in Production Example 1 and the lipolysis device obtained in Example 1 were used to evaluate the following physical properties.

[0081] 1. Evaluation of enzyme activity of lipolytic enzyme immobilized on the protrusions The protrusions of the microneedle array obtained in Production Example 1 were pierced into animal meat containing fat, and the production of glycerol was confirmed using a Glycerol Assay Kit manufactured by Cayman Chemical.

[0082] 2.Evaluation of power generation from lipolysis device A light-emitting diode was connected to the lipolysis device obtained in Example 1, and when the protrusion of the lipolysis device was inserted into the skin, the diode lit up. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 1, 1a, 1b, 1c Lipolysis Device 2 Battery section 3 Glycerol introduction section 4 Base material 5 Protrusion 6, 6a Anode (glycerol oxidation section) 7 Cathode 8 Separator 9 External circuit 10. Lipolytic Enzymes 11 Glycerol oxidase 12 Oxygen reductase 13 Glycerol 14 Skin tissue 15 Fat cells 16a, 16b Partition members 17 Gas diffusion layer 18a, 18b Seal members 19 Buffer layer

Claims

1. The present invention comprises a substrate, a glycerol introduction section provided on a surface of the substrate, and a glycerol oxidation section provided on a surface of the substrate opposite to the glycerol introduction section, the glycerol introduction portion has a protrusion having a lipolytic enzyme or a peptide compound having an activity equivalent thereto; The glycerol oxidation section has a glycerol oxidase and oxidizes the glycerol introduced from the glycerol introduction section.

2. The lipolysis device has a battery portion including an anode and a cathode connected to the anode, The lipolysis device of claim 1 , wherein the anode is the glycerol oxidation portion.

3. The lipolysis device according to claim 2 , wherein the cathode has an oxygen reducing enzyme and reduces oxygen in the air.

4. The lipolysis device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the contact angle between the surface of said projections and water is 60° or less.

5. The lipolysis device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the length of the protrusions is 100 µm or more and 3000 µm or less.

6. The lipolysis device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the protrusions are porous.

7. The lipolysis device according to claim 6, wherein the protrusions have a pore size distribution D50 of 0.05 μm or more and 10 μm or less.

8. The lipolysis device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the protrusions are made of a biodegradable material.

9. The lipolysis device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the lipolysis enzyme or a peptide compound having an activity equivalent thereto is bound to or adsorbed onto the protrusions.

10. The lipolysis device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the lipolysis enzyme has an average molecular weight of 2,000 or more and 100,000 or less.

11. The lipolysis device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the lipolysis enzyme or a peptide compound having an activity equivalent thereto is a lipase or a peptide compound designed to have an activity equivalent to that of a lipase.

12. The lipolysis device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a suction mechanism for sucking glycerol from the glycerol introduction section to the glycerol oxidation section.

13. The lipolysis device according to claim 12, wherein the suction mechanism is a mechanism that utilizes a pressure difference within the lipolysis device.

14. The lipolysis device according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the suction mechanism is a mechanism that utilizes capillary force.

15. The lipolysis device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the glycerol oxidase is at least one selected from the group consisting of glycerol dehydrogenase, alcohol dehydrogenase, glycerol oxidase, and analogs thereof.

16. A method for decomposing fat in a living body, comprising: The fat decomposition method includes a fat decomposition step of piercing a living body with a protrusion having a fat decomposition enzyme or a peptide compound having an activity equivalent thereto, and decomposing fat in the living body to obtain glycerol; and an oxidation step of oxidizing the glycerol obtained in the lipolysis step with glycerol oxidase in a glycerol oxidation section (excluding methods for surgery or treatment of humans).

17. A method for generating electricity using fat in a living body as fuel, comprising the steps of: The power generation method includes a fat decomposition step of piercing a living body with a protrusion having a fat decomposition enzyme or a peptide compound having an activity equivalent thereto, and decomposing fat in the living body to obtain glycerol; and an oxidation-reduction step of oxidizing the glycerol obtained in the fat decomposition step at an anode having glycerol oxidase and reducing oxygen in the air at a cathode (however, this method does not include methods for surgery or treatment of humans).

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