• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• 2017.04a
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• pp.27-27
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• 2017

Biocompatible capsules have recently been highlighted as novel delivery platforms of any "materials" (e.g., drug, food, agriculture pesticide) to address current problems of living systems such as humans, animals, and plats in academia and industry for agriculture, biological, biomedical, environmental, food applications. For example, biocompatible alginate capsules were proposed as a delivery platform of biocontrol agents (e.g., bacterial antagonists) for an alternative to antibiotics, which will be a potential strategy in future agriculture. Here, we proposed a new platform based on biocompatible alginate capsules that can control the movements as an active target delivery strategy for various applications including agriculture and biological engineering. We designed and fabricated large scale biocompatible capsules using alginates and custom-made nozzles as well as gelling solutions. To develop the active target delivery platforms, we incorporated the iron oxide nanoparticles in the large scale alginate capsules. It was found that the sizes of large scale alginate capsules could be controlled via various working conditions such as concentrations of alginate solutions and iron oxide nanoparticles. As a proof of concept work, we showed that the iron oxide particles-incorporated large scale alginate capsules could be moved actively by the magnetic fields, which would be a strategy as active target delivery platforms for agriculture and biological engineering (e.g., controlled delivery of agriculture pesticides and biocontrol agents).

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.323-329
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• 2017

Purpose: Biocompatible capsules have recently been highlighted as a novel platform for delivering various components, such as drug, food, and agriculture pesticides, to overcome the current limitations of living systems, such as those in agriculture, biology, the environment, and foods. However, few active targeting systems using biocompatible capsules and physical forces simultaneously have been developed in the agricultural engineering field. Methods: Here, we developed an active targeting delivery platform that uses biocompatible alginate capsules and controls movements by magnetic forces for agricultural and biological engineering applications. We designed and fabricated large-scale biocompatible capsules, using custom-made nozzles ejecting alginate solutions for encapsulation. Results: To develop the active target delivery platforms, we incorporated iron oxide nanoparticles in the large-scale alginate capsules. The sizes of alginate capsules were controlled by regulating the working conditions, such as concentrations of alginate solutions and iron oxide nanoparticles. Conclusions: We confirmed that the iron oxide particle-incorporated large-scale alginate capsules moved actively in response to magnetic fields, which will be a good strategy for active targeted delivery platforms for agriculture and biological engineering applications, such as for the controlled delivery of agriculture pesticides and biocontrol agents.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.589-595
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• 2015

Alginates are used to encapsulate various materials, including food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. This study examined the properties and oxidation stability of fish oil capsules manufactured with calcium alginate gels. The fish oil capsules were manufactured by dropping sodium alginate solution and fish oil into a calcium chloride solution through nozzles. The membrane thickness, sphericity, rupture strength and deformation depth of the fish oil capsules were determined. The peroxide value of the fish oil was assayed to determine the oxidation stability of the capsules. The capsules measured approximately 3 mm with a membrane thickness of 90 μm independent of the amount of fish oil added. As the amount of fish oil encapsulated increased, the sphericity, rupture strength and deformation depth of the capsules decreased. The encapsulation efficiency increased until the amount of fish oil was 30%. The oxidation stability of fish oil in capsules was dependent on the type of nozzle, e.g., the oxidation stability of fish oil in capsules made using a double nozzle was greater than with a single nozzle. These results should lead to industrial application of fish oils including eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids, as nutraceuticals.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.166-171
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• 2007

The adsorption behavior of $Pb^{2+}$ was compared between calcium alginate beads and capsules, which have different structures of alginate-gel core beads and liquid core alginate-membrane capsules, respectively. In terms of adsorption kinetics and isotherms, adsorption characteristics depending on pH and hardening time were compared for both adsorbents and also released calcium ion during the adsorption process was monitored. The adsorption of $Pb^{2+}$ on both adsorbents was caused by surface complexation and ion exchange mechanisms, both of which have similar effects on adsorption process regardless of the amount of adsorbed $Pb^{2+}$. The dependence of $Pb^{2+}$ adsorption upon pH was also similar for both adsorbents indicating the existence of similar functional groups on the surface of adsorbents. However, a different $Pb^{2+}$ adsorption behavior was observed considering the adsorption kinetics. The adsorption kinetic of $Pb^{2+}$ on alginate beads was slower than on alginate capsules and the maximum adsorption loading ($Q_{max}$) onto alginate beads was also less than onto alginate capsules by 49%. This drawback of alginate beads compared to capsules were ascribed to a diffusion limitation due to solid gel-core structure of alginate beads.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.468-470
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• 2001

Chitosan-alginate capsules were formed by the electrostatic interactions and had appropriate mechanical strength, permeability to albumin and stability to hepatocyte. Pig hepatocytes were isolated and immobilized in chitosan-alginate capsules. Encapsulation in 3 minutes and spheroid formation period of 24 hours were optimum condition for the high liver function. Pig hepatocytes density of $90.{\times}10^6$ cells/mL in capsules was suitable for the application to bioartificial liver support system.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2005

Chitosan-alginate capsules were formed by electrostatic interactions and exhibited an appropriate mechanical strength, permeability, and stability for the culture of hepatocytes. Pig hepatocytes were isolated and hepatocyte spheroids formed and immobilized in chitosan-alginate capsules. An encapsulation procedure of 3 min and spheroid formation period of 24 h were the optimum conditions for the best liver functions. Pig hepatocytes with a cell density of $6.0{\tomes}10^6$ cells/ml in the capsules were found to be most suitable for application in a bioartificial liver support system. The encapsulated pig hepatocyte spheroids exhibited stable ammonia removal and urea secretion rates in a bioreactor for 2 weeks. Accordingly, chitosan-alginate encapsulated hepatocyte spheroids in a packed-bed bioreactor would appear to have potential as a bioartificial liver.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.890-894
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• 1999

Microencapsulation of anchovy oil as a core material in sodium alginate as a wall material was inves tigated. Microencapsulation was accomplished by injecting an oil/water emulsion, consisting of a mixture of liquefied sodium alginate and emulsifier, under high pressure through an orifice submerged in a calcium lactate solution. Microcapsules suspended in a dispersion fluid were observed under a fluorescence mi croscope to verify the presence of the capsules and to note coalescence or degradation of the capsules. Optimum conditions for microencapsulation of anchovy oil were obtained when 1.0% aqueous solution of sodium alginate contained 3% of a 1:1 ratio of ESPR 25(polyglycerine＋polylinoleate) and TW 20(sorbitan laurate＋ethylene oxide) as an emulsifier in terms of capsule size and size distribution, and emulsion stability. The airless sprayer produced microcapsules with a diameter between 15.9 and 73.9 m with different concentration of a wall material. The optimum mixing ratio of wall material to core material was 90:10(wt/wt). 0.2% calcium lactate was appropriate as a dispersion fluid.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.34-39
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• 1996

The biopolymer membrane could be formed using marine polysaccharides. Chiotsan and alginate were used for the formation of capsule membrane to mimic the fish eggs such as flying fish eggs and salmon eggs. The size of capsules ranging 1 to 5mm was prepared and the mechanical tests were performed to determine the mechanical similarities to natural fish eggs. The similar mechanical pattern between the synthetic capsules and natural eggs could be found. The controlling parameters for the strength of capsules were pH of the chitosan solution. This encapsulation technique can be broadly applied to medical, engineering as well as food areas.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.423-427
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• 2001

Chitosan/alginate capsules were formed by electrostatic interactions and had appropriated mechanical strength, permeability to albumin, and stability to hepatocytes. Rat hepatocytes were isolated and immobilized in chitosan/alginate capsules. During the encapsulation process with hepatocyte, 10% of viability was decreased mainly due to the low pH of the chitosan solution. Among various capsule fabrication methods, the chitosan-alginate capsule showed the highest mechanical strength. Addition of collagen in the capsule with hepatocytes enhanced hepatic metabolism as well as the cell viability for 2 weeks of culture. The hepatocyte in the capsule without collagen decreased the viability to 10% for 2-week cultures.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.608-611
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• 2000

To separate chitosanoligosaccharides easily by size exclusion, an coencapsulating technology of substrate and enzyme was developed. Chitosan and chitosanase were enveloped in this membrane and the product released to medium by size exclusion. The lower limit of the alginate concentration and the agitation speed were 0.5% and 40 rpm, respectively. Membrane thickness and capsules diameter were $10{\mu}m$ and approx. 3.0mm, 1.5mm, respectively. The molecular weight difference by concentration and cps of alginate were of little significance. And also, the molecular weight of distribution according to enzyme concentration was low concentration of enzyme produced high molecular weight of oligosaccharides. At 1.5mm size of capsule, product diffusion rate to outer part was higher than other capsules. The molecular weight distribution of the released oligosaccharides ranged from 1000 to 6000 Da.