• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2003.02a
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• pp.201-201
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• 2003

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2006

A series of methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) $(MPEG)-poly(\varepsilon-co-L-lactide)$ (PCLA) diblock copolymers were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of a mixture of $\varepsilon-caprolactone$ and L-lactide with different ratios in the presence of $Sn(Oct)_2$. The characterization of MPEG-PCLA diblock copolymers were examined by $^1H-NMR$, GPC, DSC, and XRD. Kinetic study on ring-opening polymerization of monomer mixtures was carried out in various conditions such as a variation with polymerization time, amount of catalyst, and temperature. The highest conversion obtained in 1.2 ratic of initiator venn catalyst at $110\;^{\circ}C$. The biodegradable characterization of MPEG-PCLA diblock copolymers in aqueous solution was carried out by using GPC for $1\~14$ weeks. The biodegradability of MPEG-PCLA diblock copolymers increased as the L-lactide content of diblock copolymers increased. In conclusion, we confirmed the dependence of polymerization rate according to various conditions. In addition, we can control the biodegradability of MPEC-PCLA diblock copolymers by changing the ratio of PCL and PLA block segment.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.969-975
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• 2009

This article describes the topical delivery and localization of budesonide through the hairless mouse skin. Two poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PCL-PEO) triblock copolymers (T 222 and T 252) having different CL:EO ratios were added in the preparation of budesonide particles stabilized with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and Tween 80 under ultrasonication. For comparison, a commercial PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer (F68) was studied under the same condition. To demonstrate the effects of the triblock copolymer, the particle size of budesonide emulsion, entrapment efficiency, and in vitro release were measured and compared. The budesonide particles stabilized by the triblock copolymers had a diameter of ca. 350 nm with entrapment efficiencies of 66-76%. The In vitro release profiles of all samples showed an initial burst followed by sustained release. The skin penetration and permeation of budesonide were analyzed by using a Frantz diffusion cell. T 222 and T 252 exhibited higher total permeation amounts, but lower budesonide penetration amounts, than F68. The results suggest that the partitioning of budesonide in each skin layer can be adjusted in order to avoid skin thinning and negative immune response arising from the penetration of budesonide in blood vessels.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2011

The synthesis of well-defined poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene) (SIBS) triblock copolymers was accomplished by cationic sequential block copolymerization of isobutylene (IB) with styrene (St) using 1,4-di(2-chloro-2-propyl) benzene (DCC) /$TiCl_4$/2,6-di-tert-butylpyridine(DtBP) as an initiating system in methyl chloride ($CH_3Cl$)/methylcyclohexane(MeChx) (50/50 v/v) solvent mixture at $-80^{\circ}C$. The triblock copolymers exhibited excellent thermoplastic and elastomeric characteristics. Tensile strengths and Shore hardness increased with increasing polystyrene (PS) content, while elongation at break decreased. The blood-compatibility of SIBS was assessed by SEM observation of the platelet adhesion, blood clotting time and haemolysis ratio. The haemolysis ratios were below 5% which met the medical materials standard. The platelet adhesion test further indicated that SIBS block copolymers had a good blood compatibility.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.704-710
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• 2008

Injectable hydrogels are quite promising materials due to their potential to minimize invasive implantation and this provides versatile fitness irrespective of the damaged regions and facilitates the incorporation of bioactive agents or cells. In situ gel formation through stereocomplex formation is a promising candidate for injectable hydrogels. In this paper, a new series of enantiomeric, four-arm, PEG-PLA block copolymers and their stereocomplexed hydrogels were prepared by bulk ring-opening polymerization of D-lactide and L-lactide, respectively, with stannous octoate as a catalyst. The prepared polymers were characterized by $^1H$ nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FT IR) spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and thermal gravitational analysis (TGA), confirming the tailored structure and chain lengths. The swelling and degradation behavior of the hydrogels formed from a selected copolymer series were observed in different concentrations. The degradation rate decreased with increasing polymer content in the solution. The rheological behavior indicated that the prepared hydrogel underwent in situ gelation and had favorable mechanical strength. In addition, its feasibility as an injectable scaffold was evaluated using a media dependence test for cell culture. A Tris solution was more favorable for in situ gel formation than PBS and DMEM solutions were. These results demonstrated the in situ formation of hydrogel through the construction of a stereocomplex with enantiomeric, 4-arm, PEG-PLA copolymers. Overall, enantiomeric, 4-arm, PEG-PLA copolymers are a new species of stereocomplexed hydrogels that are suitable for further research into injectable hydrogels.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.174-178
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• 2002

PLLA-POE-PLLA block copolymers were prepared using PLLA and POE with different compositions. Copolymers were obtained in high yield and the polydispersity of the copolymers was very narrow. A dispersed solution of 0.1 g/mL of PLLA-POE-PLLA copolymer was mixed with a dispersed solution of 0.1 g/mL of PDLA-POE-PDLA copolymer. Gel formation was observed from the mixed product obtained at the human body temperature of $37^{\circ}C$. The mixed product comprising PDLA-POE-PDLA and PLLA-POE-PLLA was found to have higher cloud points than that of PLLA-POE-PLLA copolymer. The cloud points decreased with increasing the concentration of the mixed copolymer dispersed solution.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.239-245
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• 2008

Block copolymers of the general formula $[(-CO-R'-CO-HN-Ar-NH-CO-R'-CO)_xNH(CH_2)_3-(Me_2SiO)_y(CH_2)_3NH_2]_n$, [n=18.00 to 1175.0] where $R'=CH_2CH(CH_2GeCl_3)$;$CH_2CHGeCl_3CH_2$; and $Ar=-C_6H_4$;$-(o.CH_3C_6H_4)_2$;$-o.CH_3OC_6H_4)_2$;$-(o.CH_3C_6H_4)$ were prepared by a polycondensation reaction of polyamide containing a pendant trichlorogermyl group and terminal acid chloride $Cl(-CO-R'-CO-NH-Ar-NH-CO-R'-CO-)_xCl$ with aminopropyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane $H_2N(CH_2)_3(Me_2SiO)_y-(CH_2)_3NH_2]$, (PDMS). These polymers were characterized by elemental analysis, $T_g$, FT-IR, $^1H$-NMR, solid state $^{13}C$-NMR, and molecular weight determination. The thermal stability of these copolymers was examined using thermal analysis techniques, such as TGA and DSC. Their molecular weights as determined by laser light scattering technique ranged $5.13{\times}10^5$ to $331{\times}10^5\;g/mol$. These polymers display their $T_g$ in the range of 337 to $393^{\circ}C$ with an average decomposition temperature at $582^{\circ}C$.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2009

Conjugated PPV-derived block copolymers containing 2-ethylhexyloxynaphthalene unit were synthesized and characterized in this study. The resulting polymers were soluble in common organic solvents and showed good thermal stabilities, The weight-average molecular weights ($M_w$) of the copolymers ranged from 246,000 to 475,000 with PDIs of $1.3{\sim}2.1$. The optical properties of these polymers, measured both in a chloroform solution and on a film, showed a maximum absorption at $405{\sim}476\;nm$ for Copolymers $I{\sim}VIII$. In the PL spectra, Copolymers $I{\sim}VIII$ showed maximum peaks at $510{\sim}566\;nm$. The HOMOs, LUMOs and band gaps of the PPV derivatives of Copolymers $I{\sim}VIII$ were $5.30{\sim}5.77$, $3.04{\sim}3.24$, and $2.5{\sim}2.2\;eV$, respectively, The multi-layered, light-emitting diodes of ITO/PEDOT/copolymers/LiF/Al exhibited turn-on voltages of $6{\sim}2.5\;V$ Copolymer VIII exhibited the maximum brightness of $3.657\;cd/m^2$. Particularly, Copolymer VII, with an identical composition of MEH-PPV and naphthalene-PPV, showed a maximum luminance efficiency and power efficiency of 2,63 cd/A and 1.06 lm/W, respectively.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.541-546
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• 2007

The combination of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and click chemistry was employed for the efficient preparation of well-defined block copolymers. Bromo terminated poly(methyl acrylate) (pMA-Br) was prepared by an ATRP initiator, ethyl-2-bromoisobutyrate (EBiB). Subsequently, the bromine chain end of pMA-Br was converted to an azide group by simple nucleophilic substitution reaction. ${\alpha}-Alkyn-{\omega}-bromo-functionalized$ polystyrene was also synthesized by ATRP using the alkyn-functionalized initiator, propargyl-2-bromoisobutyrate (PgBiB). In both cases, the conversion was limited to a low level to ensure a high degree of chain end functionality. Then the coupling reaction between the azide end group in $pMA-N_3$ and alkyn-functionalized PgBiB-pSt was performed by Cu(I)catalysis. This coupling reaction was monitored by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The synthesized block copolymer was characterized by FT-IR, $^1H-NMR$ spectroscopy and $^1H-^1H$ COSY correlation spectroscopy.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.623-632
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• 2007

Thermosensitive nanoparticles were prepared via the self-assembly of two different $poly({\varepsilon}-caprolactone)$-based block copolymers of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-b-$poly({\varepsilon}-caprolactone)$ (PNPCL) and poly(ethylene glycol)-b-$poly({\varepsilon}-caprolactone)$ (PEGCL). The self-aggregation and thermosensitive behaviors of the mixed nanoparticles were investigated using $^1H-NMR$, turbidimetry, differential scanning microcalorimetry (micro-DSC), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and fluorescence spectroscopy. The copolymer mixtures (mixed nanoparticles, M1-M5, with different PNPCL content) formed nano-sized self-aggregates in an aqueous environment via the intra- and/or intermolecular association of hydrophobic PCL chains. The microscopic investigation of the mixed nanoparticles showed that the critical aggregation concentration (cac), the partition equilibrium constants $(K_v)$ of pyrene, and the aggregation number of PCL chains per one hydrophobic microdomain varied in accordance with the compositions of the mixed nanoparticles. Furthermore, the PNPCL harboring mixed nanoparticles evidenced phase transition behavior, originated by coil to the globule transition of PNiPAAm block upon heating, thereby resulting in the turbidity change, endothermic heat exchange, and particle size reduction upon heating. The drug release tests showed that the formation of the thermosensitive hydrogel layer enhanced the sustained drug release patterns by functioning as an additional diffusion barrier.