• Korea-Australia Rheology Journal
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.125-131
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• 2007

Biodegradable polymeric blends are expected to be widely used by industry due to their environmental friendliness and comparable mechanical and thermal properties. Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) are such biodegradable polymers which aim to replace commodity polymers in future applications. Since cost and brittleness of PLA is quite high, it is not economically feasible to use it alone for day to day use as a packaging material without blending. In this study, blends of PLA and PBS with various compositions were prepared by using a laboratory-scale twin-screw extruder at $180^{\circ}C$. Morphological, thermal, rheological and mechanical properties were investigated on the samples obtained by compression molding to explore suitability of these compositions for packaging applications. Morphology of the blends was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Morphology showed a clear phase difference trend depending on blend composition. Modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) thermograms of the blends indicated that the glass transition temperature ($T_g$) of PLA did not change much with the addition of PBS, but analysis showed that for PLA/PBS blend of up to 80/20 composition there is partial miscibility between the two polymers. The tensile strength and modulus were measured by the Instron Universal Testing Machine. Tensile strength, modulus and percentage (%) elongation at break of the blends decreased with PBS content. However, tensile strength and modulus values of PLA/PBS blend for up to 80/20 composition nearly follow the mixing rule. Rheological results also show miscibility between the two polymers for PBS composition less than 20% by weight. PBS reduced the brittleness of PLA, thus making it a contender to replace plastics for packaging applications. This work found a partial miscibility between PBS and PLA by investigating thermal, mechanical and morphological properties.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.90-96
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• 1999

Biodegradable films were prepared by solution blending method in the weight ratio of Chitosan and Algin for the purpose of useful bioimplants. The possibility of bioimplants, which prepared from natural polymers as a skin substitute and food wrapping materials were evaluated by measuring the biodegradability. these biodegradable films were inserted in the back of rats and their biodegradability was investigated by hematological change as a function of time. Rats study showed that low-Chitosan induced increments of monocyte and basophil after 48 hours of implantation. And medium-Chitosan showed increase of lymphocyte and decreased neutrophil counts after 48 hours of implantation. Low, medium Chitosan showed high hemoglobin contents, medium and high Chitosan showed high hematocrit value after 48 hours of implantation. As a result, medium, high-Chitosan induced potential incompatibility in the tissue after 48 hours, but there was little effects to the skin inflammation. The values of biodegradable films, which prepared from natural polymers measured in this study were some satisfiable results at short period with those of ideal skin bioimplants and artificial skin.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.107-110
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• 2003

Biodegradable polymers, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), and medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoates (MCL-PHA) containing rose bengal (model drug) were coated onto the surface of stainless steel (stent materials) and their in vitro release characteristics were investigated. Drug release increased with; decreasing PLGA concentration, increasing rose bengal concentration, and Increasing dip-coating duration. The order of drug release from the polymer coating was: PHB > PLGA > MCL-PHA. These results suggest that drug release can be controlled by: changing the concentration and type of polymer, the drug concentration, and the dip-coating duration.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.245-251
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• 2006

The novel microsphere blending and multiple emulsion method by single process was tried to prepare sustained release microspheres which release a physiologically active substance for long periods of time. A drug was separately dissolved in each of two or more oils containing biodegradable polymers to give the primary oil phases. The primary oil phases were dispersed in single aqueous phase in succession. From the drug-dispersed solution, the organic solvent was removed to produce microspheres. The accelerated drug release from the microsphere formulation prepared by single process through the multiple emulsion method was very similar to a physical blending of separately prepared microspheres using the same polymers. But long term release was not same. In this study, leuprorelin acetate loaded poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microsphere formulation for one-month delivery was developed by the multi-emulsion method followed by solvent extraction/evaporation method.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.303-307
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• 2008

A series of biodegradable polymeric scaffolds was prepared by using a combination of natural (collagen) and synthetic (poly(caprolactone)) (PCL) polymers in various compositions. These scaffolds were soft, spongy, porous and transparent in nature and were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The entrapment efficiency and drug release activity of the scaffolds were analyzed using penicillin and tetracycline as antimicrobial drugs. The drug release activity of the scaffolds with various combinations of collagen and PCL were studied by measuring the optical density in a spectrophotometer at the following time intervals: 1,4, 24, 48 and 60 h. These scaffolds showed better and continuous drug release for up to 60 h. Even after such a long duration, a portion of the drug remained entrapped in the scaffolds, indicating that they can be utilized for wound healing applications.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.63-67
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• 2007

Biodegradable cationic poly(ester-amide) polymers were synthesized by double-monomer method, that showed excellent solubility in many organic solvents and water. Different degradation patterns were obtained by the regulation of monomer ratios and overall long period of time of DNA protection up to 12 days was shown by PicoGreen reagent assay. Good transfection profiles in the presence of serum and very low toxicity on mammalian cells may allow these polymers to become suitable for long-term gene delivery systems and therapeutic applications.

• Polymer Science and Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.224-234
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• 1999

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.939-943
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• 1999

Recently there has been an explosion of interest in the topic of biodegradable polymers for medical applications. In this study, films were prepared by solution casting method using natural polymers (xanthan, locust bean, guar gum, chitosan and algin) as biomaterials. Biocompatibility of films prepared from natural polymer as a skin implant was evaluated. These biodegradable films were subcutaneously implanted in the back of rats and their biodegradability was investigated by the evaluation of changes in structure, film weight and hematology as a function of time for the biotransformation. The result of rats test showed that locust bean and guar gum induced some suspects of non-biocompatibility in the tissue by foreign body reaction 24 and 48 hrs after implantation. These results showed the potential of partial biodegradable films prepared from natural polymer for ideal skin biomaterials at short period.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 2007

Biodegradable molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) can be applied in the biomedical area of biosensors, drug delivery, etc. Therefore, in this study, biodegradable theophylline MIPs were synthesized via photopolymerization using a poly $(\varepsilon-caprolactone)$ (PCL) macromer as a cross-linker and their physical properties were investigated. The yield for the synthesis of the PCL macromer with terminal acrylate groups was ca. 78 mol%. The products were characterized by the combination of FT-IR and $^1H-NMR$ spectroscopic analyses. UV/Visible spectroscopic analysis for removing and rebinding theophylline was performed by monitoring the theophylline concentration in the solution. In vitro biodegradation tests of the theophylline MIPs performed in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution at $37^{\circ}C$ showed good biodegradability of the MIPs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Fiber Society Conference
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• 1995.04a
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• pp.1-4
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• 1995