• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.247-252
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• 2006

The long-term use of indwelling urinary catheters can allow bacterial adhesion to their surfaces, followed by the catheter-associated urinary tract infection. In an attempt to minimize the bacterial adhesion, various amphiphilic polyurethanes (APUs) were synthesized as potential coating materials for urinary catheters. By varying composition of the soft segments such as PEO, PTMO, and PDMS, four different polyurethanes were synthesized. All the APU-coated urinary catheters had the smooth surfaces and showed higher hydrophilicity, compared to the commercial silicone catheters. In particular, the use of APUs with the higher PEG content significantly augmented hydrophilicity and remarkably reduced the total amount of bacteria adhering to the surface. Overall, the APUs prepared in this study provided the promising potential as coating materials for urinary catheters.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.332-341
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• 2013

H-shaped amphiphilic pentablock copolymers $(PSt)_2-b-PCL-b-PEO-b-PCL-b-(PSt)_2$ was synthesized via chemoenzymatic method by combining enzyme-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization (eROP) of ${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone (${\varepsilon}$-CL) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene. By this process, we obtained copolymers with controlled molecular weight and low polydispersity. The structure and composition of the obtained copolymers were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and infrared spectroscopy analysis (IR). The crystallization behavior of the copolymers was analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The crystallization behavior of the H-shaped block copolymers demonstrated a PCL dominate crystallization. The self-assembly behavior of the copolymers was investigated in aqueous media. The hydrodynamic diameters of the copolymer micelles in aqueous solution were measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The morphology of the copolymer micelles was observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The hydrodynamic diameters of spherical micelles declined gradually with the increase of the hydrophobic chain lengths of the copolymers. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) values were determined from fluorescence emission, and it was found that the CMCs decreased with an increase of PSt hydrophobic block lengths.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.70-75
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• 2010

It described the modification of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with amphiphilic methyl methacrylate-based polyethylene glycol (PMMA-b-PEG) to enhance the hydrophilicity of a PDMS surface and cytotoxicity of it. PMMA-b-PEG solutions in water/ethanol mixture was spun-cast on the PDMS surface and the surface was characterized by long-term measurement of water contact angle. The morphology of PDMS surfaces coated with PMMA-b-PEG was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscope. Cytotoxicity of the modified surfaces was investigated by MTT assay which would be necessary for the evaluation of tissue compatibility after implantation of the materials. Based on the MTT assay, PDMS coated with PMMA-b-PEG didn't show any significant cytotoxcity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1424-1429
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• 2010

A poly(${\gamma}$-glutamic acid) (${\gamma}$PGA)-cholesterol conjugate was synthesized and its properties were then evaluated. The conjugate exhibited an amphiphilic nature derived from the hydrophilic ${\gamma}$PGA backbone and the hydrophobic cholesterol side chain. The conjugate spontaneously formed nanoparticles, becoming an aqueous solution when at low concentrations, and at high concentrations the result was the formation of a physical gel. By utilizing the self-aggregating properties of the conjugate in water, an artificial chaperone was developed. A complex of protein, with the nanoparticles of the conjugate, was formed and the protein was released upon the dissociation of the nanoparticles through the addition of ${\beta}$-cyclodextrin. For denatured carbonic anhydrase, the activity was recovered in the artificial chaperone of the nanoparticle conjugate.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2008

A series of amphiphilic dendrons n-18 (n: generation number, 18: octadecyl chain) based on an aliphatic polyether denderitic core and octadecyl peripheries were synthesized using a convergent dendron synthesis consisting of a Williamson etherification and hydroboration/oxidation reactions. This study investigated their thermal and self-assembling behavior in the solid state using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) absorption spectroscopy, and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). DSC indicated that the melting transition and the corresponding heat of the fusion of the octadecyl chain decreased with each generation. FT-IR showed that the hydroxyl focal groups were hydrogen-bonded with one another in the solid state. DSC and FT-IR indicated microphase-separation between the hydrophilic dendritic cores and hydrophobic octadecyl peripheries. SAXS data analysis in the solid state suggested that the lower-generation dendrons 1-18 and 2-18 self-assemble into lamellar structures based upon a bilayered packing of octadecyl peripheries. In contrast, the analyzed data of higher-generation dendron 3-18 is consistent with 2-D oblique columnar structures, which presumably consist of elliptical cross sections. The data obtained could be rationalized by microphase-separation between the hydrophilic dendritic core and hydrophobic octadecyl peripheries, and the degree of interfacial curvature associated with dendron generation.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.324-329
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• 1997

AB-type amphiphilic copolymers (abbreviated as LE) composed of poly (L-leucine) (PLL) as the A component and poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) as the B component were synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization of L-leucine N-carboxy-anhydride initiated by methoxy polyoxyethylene amine $(Me-PEO-NH_2)$ and characterized. Core-shell type nanoparticles were prepared by the diafiltration method. Particle size distribution obtained by dynamic light scattering was dependent on PLL composition and the size for LE-1, LE-2 and LE-3 was $369.6{\pm}267$, $523.4{\pm}410$ and $561.2{\pm}364 nm$, respectively. Shapes of the nanoparticies observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) were almostly spherical. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the nanoparticles determined by a fluorescence probe technique was dependent on the composition of hydrophobic PLL, and the CMC for LE-1, LE-2 and LE-3 was $2.0{\times}10^{-6},1.7{\times}10^{-6}$ and $1.5{\times}10^{-6}(mol/l) $, respectively. Clonazepam release from core-shell type nanoparticles in vitro was dependent on PLL composition and drug loading content.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.262-262
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• 2006

Biodegradable and amphiphilic di-block and tri-block copolymers, prepared with monomethoxy poly ethylene glycol (MPEG) and ${\varepsilon}-caprolactone\;({\varepsilon}-CL)$, were used for the application of W1/O/W2 multi- emulsion capsules. The effects of topology and the ratio of hydrophilic moiety of PCL-based polymers on the encapsulation efficiency of the $W_{1}/O/W_{2}$ multi-emulsion capsules containing Ascorbic Acid-2-Glucoside (AA-2-G) were investigated. The ratio of PEG and PCL was 1:0.5, 1:0.75, 1:1, and 1:1.25. PEG-PCL block copolymers were added to the first step of the preparation of $W_{1}/O$ emulsions. The dispersion stability, the particle size, the morphology of the $W_{1}/O/W_{2}$ multi-emulsion capsules were observed using an on-line turbidity meter, dynamic light scattering (DLS), a confocal microscopy (with FITC) and an optical microscopy. Biodegradable behavior of the PEG-PCL block copolymers and release behavior of AA-2-G were also observed by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.283-290
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• 2003

Organic drugs including aspirin, omeprazole, and naproxen with three different levels of octanol/water partition coefficient were examined for their release behavior from the amphiphilic PCL-b-PEO-b-PCL (PCEC) matrix. Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of PCEC illustrated a well defined two-phase morphology consisted of dispersed poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) domain and continuous polycaprolactone (PCL) phase. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) experiments veri tied that three model drugs are dissolved as a molecular dispersion in PCEC matrix. The release of hydrophilic aspirin closely followed the water absorption profile of the matrix indicating that its major fraction is present in PEO domain. However, substantial amount of aspirin present in less hydrophilic region displayed discontinuous biphasic release pattern. In the case of omeprazole with intermediate hydrophobicity consistent release behavior was observed for a period of 24 hrs after the rapid liberation of ca. 10% of the drug presumably partitioned in PEO phase. It was ascribed to the fact that the progressive hydration of PCEC matrix gradually increased the chance of drug/water exposure to compensate the exhaustion of device. Naproxen with the highest octanol/water distribution coefficient among three model drugs exhibited a limited release of 35% for 24 hrs. Finally, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate (HPMCP)/PCEC blend matrix demonstrated an accelerated and quantitative release of hydrophobic naproxen by generating high porosity and thereby expanding polymer/water interface.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2007

The amphiphilic block copolymer (PEtOz-PCL) of poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEtOz) and poly(${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone) (PCL) formed spherical micellar structures with an average diameter of 26 nm in aqueous phase. Au and Pd nanoparticles with an average diameter of $2{\sim}3nm$ were prepared by using the PEtOz-PCL micelle consisting of a PEtOz shell and PCL core. The Au nanoparticles of PEtOz-PCL micelles in aqueous phase could be transferred into organic phase by using n-dodecanethiol. The use of the Pd-NP/PEtOz-PCL micelle as a nanoreactor for Suzuki cross-coupling reaction was investigated.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.587-594
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• 2007

Well defined amphiphilic diblock copolymers of poly(styrene-b-vinylbenzylphosphonic acid) (PS-b-PVBPA) were prepared by controlled radical polymerization technique, two-step hydrolysis reactions using trime-thylsilyl bromide from the corresponding phosphonic ethyl ester. By indirect, backward pH titration of the block copolymer, a good titration curve of a dibasic acid was observed. The IEC values obtained from both backward pH titration and volumetric back titration were almost identical. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) of the phosphonic acid containing block copolymer showed a high thermal stability up to $400^{\circ}C$.