• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.232-238
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• 2004

MPEG-PCL diblock copolymers consisting of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) and $\varepsilon$-caprolactone (CL) as drug carriers were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization MPEG-PCL diblock copolymers were characterized by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. After freeze milling of block copolymers and albumin bovine-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC-BSA) as model protein, the wafers loaded FITC-BSA were fabricated by direct compression method. The release profiles of FITC-BSA were examined using pH 7.4 PBS for 14 days at 37$^{\circ}C$. The release amount was determined by fluorescence intensity by using the fluorescence spectrophotometer. The morphological change of wafers was observed by digital camera and scanning electron microscope. The release rate and initial burst of BSA increased with increasing PEG molecular weights and decreasing PCL molecular weights in the segments of MPEG -PCL diblock copolymers.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2024

Exosomes are nano-sized membrane-bound extracellular vesicles containing various biological molecules, such as nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids, which can be used to modulate physiological processes. The exosomal molecules secreted by cells can be extensively used as tools for diagnosis and therapy. Exosomes carry specific molecules released by the cells they originate from, which can be transferred to surrounding cells or tissues by the exosome. For these reasons, exosomes can be exploited as biomarkers for diagnosis, carriers for drug delivery, as well as therapeutics. In stem cell technology, exosomes have been an attractive option because they can be used as safer therapeutic agents for stem cell-based cell-free therapy. Recently, studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in alleviating symptoms associated with coronavirus disease 2019 as they have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory potential. Performing multiple studies on exosomes would provide innovative next-generation options for clinical diagnostics and therapy. This review summarizes the use of exosomes focusing on their diverse roles. In addition, the potential of exosomes is illustrated with a focus on how exosomes can be exploited as powerful tools in the days to come.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.459-463
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• 2010

Amphotericin B (AmB) is anti-fungal agent for the treatment of systemic fungal infections, but its poor solubility has limited clinical applications. In this study, a new gel formulation made up of L-arginine as solubilizer, thermosensitive Poloxamer 407 (P 407), and adhesive carbopol was designed for effective solubilization and delivery of AmB. The aqueous solubility of AmB was enhanced up to 2.6 mg/mL by addition of L-arginine. Aqueous P 407 solutions of more than 20% w/v showed thermo-induced sol-gel-sol phase transition. The phase transition behavior was affected by the presence of AmB and L-arginine, and the phase transition range was broadened by addition of carbopol. In vitro drug release was improved by the solubilizing effect of L-arginine, and the presence of mucoadhesive carbopol prolonged the release rate as a function of concentration.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.468-474
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• 2005

PLGA and PCL copolymers initiated by carbitol as drug carriers were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide (LA), glycolide (GA), and $\varepsilon-caprolactone(\varepsilon-CL)$. Implantable wafers were simply fabricated by direct compression method after physical mixing of copolymers and bovine serum albumin-fluorescein isothiocyanate (BSA-FITC) as a model protein drug. The release amounts of BSA-FITC from wafers were determined by fluorescence intensity using the fluorescence spectrophotometer. Also, the release behavior of BSA-FITC on wafers was controlled by adding the additives such as collagen, small intestinal submucosa (SIS), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), and poly(thylene glycol) (PEG). The wafer prepared by PLGA and PCL exhibited slow release within $10\%$ for 30 days. But, those prepared by a variety of additives exhibited the controlled BSA release patterns with a dependence on the additive contents. furthermore, the wafers containing natural materials such as collagen and SIS showed more zero-order release profile than that with synthetic materials such as PVP and PEG. It was confirmed that the release of BSA from implantable wafers could be easily controlled by adding natural additives.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.509-515
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• 2021

In this study, poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (PNP) were prepared through double (w/o/w) emlusion and emulsifying solvent-evaporation technique using PLGA, which has biocompatibility and biodegradability. To maximize stability and bioavailability of the particles, chitosan-coated PLGA nanoparticles (CPNP) were prepared by charge interaction between PNP and chitosan. We demonstrated that CPNP can be utilized as a drug carrier of oral administration. The chemical structure of CPNP was analyzed by ¹H-NMR and FT-IR, and all characteristic peaks appeared, confirming that it was successfully prepared. In addition, particle size and zeta potential of CPNP were analyzed using dynamic light scattering (DLS) while morphological images were obtained using transmission electron microscope (TEM). Thermal decomposition behavior of CPNP was observed through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In addition, the cytotoxicity of CPNP was confirmed by MTT assay at HEK293 and L929 cell lines, and it was proved that there is no toxicity confirmed by the cell viability of above 70% at all concentrations. These results suggest that the CPNP developed in this study may be used as an oral drug delivery carrier.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.263-269
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• 2008

To develop carriers of hydrophobic anticancer agents based on chitosan, chitosan oligosaccharide lactate (COS) was chemically modified with lithocholic acid (LA) which is one of the bile acids as a hydrophobic group. The physicochemical properties of the lithocholic acid conjugated chitosan nanoparticles (COS-LA) were investigated using $^1H$-NMR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and spectrofluorophotometer. COS-LA-paclitaxel (CLs-Tx) nanoparticles loading paclitaxel as an anticancer agent were prepared by a dialysis method and its loading efficiency was measured through HPLC. On the basis of DLS results, the estimated particle sizes of CLs-Tx were around 300 nm. Also, the critical micelle concentration (CMC) was proven to be dependent on the degree of substitution of lithocholic acid. It showed that the CLs-Tx has the superior potential for the application as a paclitaxel carrier.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.119-125
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• 2022

In the study, we endeavored to investigate the effect of phenylephrine, isoprenaline and prazosin on the tissue-specific vascular contractility and to determine the mechanism involved. There were few reports addressing the question whether thin or thick filament modulation is included in phenylephrine, isoprenaline and prazosin-induced regulation. We hypothesized that isoprenaline and prazosin play a role in tissue-dependent regulation of vascular contractility. Denuded arterial muscles of Sprague-Dawley male rats were suspended in organ baths and isometric tensions were transduced and recorded using isometric transducers and an automatic data acquisition system. Interestingly, sustained continuous contraction of thoracic and abdominal aorta. Furthermore, isoprenaline and prazosin together with phenylephrine inhibited transiently and persistently vasoconstriction of thoracic and abdominal aorta suggesting that additional mechanisms (e.g. decreased receptor density, chemical interaction, postreceptor signaling or distribution of agonists) might be included in the modulation of vascular contractility.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.138-143
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• 2006

Ethosome is a liquid crystalline vesicle prepared by hydration of ethanol-dissolved lecithin with a solution containing hydrophilic components. Investigation of factors affecting the entrapment efficiency and particle size of ethosomes was carried out, because the high entrapment efficiency and small particle size are prerequisite in developing ethosomes as a drug delivery system. The variations of properties of ethosomes with constituent composition and preparation method were examined using a calcein as a hydrophilic marker. It was observed that the amount of ethanol and calcein solution, phosphatidyl choline content in lecithin, preparation temperature, stirring rate, and PBS addition method had a considerable effect on the properties of ethosome. Sonication treatment resulted in the reduction of entrapment efficiency of ethosome, which was due to the release of entrapped components in the vesicles by strong sonication vibration.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.344-351
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• 2004

Poly(ethylene glycol)-based diblock and triblock polyester copolymers stimulating to temperature were studied as injectable biomaterials in drug delivery system because of their nontoxicity, biocompatibility and biodegradability. We synthesized the diblock copolymers consisting of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) (M$_{n}$=750 g/mole) and poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (PCL) by ring opening polymerization of $\varepsilon$-CL with MPEG as an initiator in the presence of HCl . Et$_2$O. The aqueous solution of synthesized diblock copolymers represented sol phase at room temperature and a sol to gel phase transition as the temperature increased from room temperature to body temperature. To confirm the in vivo gel formation, we observed the formation of gel in the mice body after injection of 20 wt% aqueous solution of each block copolymer. After 2 months, we observed the maintenance of gel without dispersion in mice. In this study, we synthesized diblock copolymers exhibiting sol-gel phase transition and confirmed the feasibility as biomaterials of injectable implantation.n.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.328-334
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• 2004

A series of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG)-poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) diblock copolymers were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide and glycolide with carbitol (134 g/mole) or different molecular weights of MPEG (550, 2000, and 5000 g/mole) as an initiator in presence of Sn(Oct)$_2$. The properties of diblock copolymers were characterized by using $^1$H-NMR, GPC, and XRD. After uniform mixing of block copolymers and 1% albumin bovine-fluorescein isothiocyanate(FITC-BSA) with a freeze miller, the wafers loaded FITC-BSA were fabricated by using a mold with a dimensions of 3 mm${\times}$1mm diameter. The release profiles of FITC-BSA and the pH changes of wafer were examined using pH 7.4 PBS for 30 days at 37$^{\circ}C$. The release profiles of albumin showed fast initial burst as the molecular weights of MPEG increased. As a result of this study, the release behavior of BSA was controlled with introducing MPEG in the block copolymers.