• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제27권5호
• /
• pp.878-895
• /
• 2017

Phosphorylation, a critical mechanism in biological systems, is estimated to be indispensable for about 30% of key biological activities, such as cell cycle progression, migration, and division. It is synergistically balanced by kinases and phosphatases, and any deviation from this balance leads to disease conditions. Pathway or biological activity-based abnormalities in phosphorylation and the type of involved phosphatase influence the outcome, and cause diverse diseases ranging from diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and numerous cancers. Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are of prime importance in the process of dephosphorylation and catalyze several biological functions. Abnormal PTP activities are reported to result in several human diseases. Consequently, there is an increased demand for potential PTP inhibitory small molecules. Several strategies in structure-based drug designing techniques for potential inhibitory small molecules of PTPs have been explored along with traditional drug designing methods in order to overcome the hurdles in PTP inhibitor discovery. In this review, we discuss druggable PTPs and structure-based virtual screening efforts for successful PTP inhibitor design.

• Carbon letters
• /
• 제19권
• /
• pp.23-31
• /
• 2016

Carbon rich fly ash was recently reported to have compositions that are ideal for use as a precursor and catalyst for carbon nanotube growth. This fly ash powder is mostly composed of pure carbon, predominantly present as sp². In this work, the effect of sonication time on the morphology and structural properties of carbon rich fly ash particles is reported. The obtained results show that ultrasound treatment is an effective tool for producing ultrafine particles/fragments with higher porosity, which might be suitable for the adsorption of gasses. Moreover, carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) of this fly ash were produced in parallel using the ball milling technique, and were evaluated as reinforcements for epoxy based composites. These CNPs have almost spherical shapes with particle sizes of around 30 nm. They were found to have strong C=O carbonyl group bonds, which might be generated during the ball milling process. The tensile testing results of a fly ash CNP reinforced epoxy composite showed significant improvements in the mechanical properties, mainly in the stiffness of the polymer. The stiffness value was increased by around 23% of that of neat epoxy. These CNPs with chemically active groups might also be useful for other applications.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제19권9호
• /
• pp.911-917
• /
• 2009

The apoptotic caspases have been classified in accordance with their substrate specificities, as the optimal tetrapeptide recognition motifs for a variety of caspases have been determined via positional scanning substrate combinatorial library technology. Here, we focused on two proteolytic recognition motifs, DEVD and IETD, owing to their extensive use in cell death assay. Although DEVE and IETD have been generally considered to be selective for caspase-3 and -8, respectively, the proteolytic cleavage of these substrates does not display absolute specificity for a particular caspase. Thus, we attempted to monitor the cleavage preference for caspase-3, particularly using the recombinant protein substrates. For this aim, the chimeric GST:DEVD:EGFP and GST:IETD:EGFP proteins were genetically constructed by linking GST and EGFP with the linkers harboring DEVD and IETD. To our best knowledge, this work constitutes the first application for the monitoring of cleavage preference employing the recombinant protein substrates that simultaneously allow for mass and fluorescence analyses. Consequently, GST:IETD:EGFP was cleaved partially in response to caspase-3, whereas GST:DEVD:EGFP was completely proteolyzed, indicating that GST:DEVD:EGFP is a better substrate than GST:IETD:EGFP for caspase-3. Collectively, using these chimeric protein substrates, we have successfully evaluated the feasibility of the recombinant protein substrate for applicability to the monitoring of cleavage preference for caspase-3.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• 제40권5호
• /
• pp.313-319
• /
• 2010

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of formulation ingredients on the drug release and to optimize the novel sustained release matrix tablet formulations of bupropion hydrochloride. A three factor, three-level Box-Behnken design was used for the optimization procedure, with the amounts of PEO ($X_1$), citric acid ($X_2$) and Compritol 888 ATO ($X_3$) as the independent variables. The selected dependent variables were the cumulative percentage values of bupropion hydrochloride that had dissolved after 1, 4 and 8 hr. Various dissolution profiles of the drug from sustained release matrix tablets were obtained. Optimization was performed for $X_1$, $X_2$ and $X_3$ using the following target ranges; $30%{\leq}Y_1{\leq}45%$; $70{\leq}Y_2{\leq}85%$; $85%{\leq}Y_3{\leq}100%$. The optimized formulation for bupropion hydrochloride was achieved with 12.5% PEO ($X_1$), 2.5% citric acid ($X_2$) and 10% Compritol 888 ATO ($X_3$). The sustained release matrix tablets with the optimized formulation provided a release profile that was close to predicted values. In addition, the dissolution profiles of the sustained release matrix tablet with the optimized formulation were similar to those of the commercial product Wellbutrin$^{(R)}$ SR tablets ($f_2$=79.83).

• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국진공학회 2011년도 제40회 동계학술대회 초록집
• /
• pp.454-454
• /
• 2011

Graphene shows unusual electronic properties, such as carrier mobility as high as 10,000 $cm^2$/Vs at room temperature and quantum electronic transport, due to its electronic structure. Carrier mobility of graphene is ten times higher than that of Silicon device. On the one hand, quantum mechanical studies have continued on graphene. One of them is quantum Hall effect which is observed in graphene when high magnetic field is applied under low temperature. This is why two dimension electron gases can be formed on Graphene surface. Moreover, quantum Hall effect can be observed in room temperature under high magnetic field and shows fractional quantization values. Quantum Hall effect is important because quantized Hall resistances always have fundamental value of h/$e^2$ ~ 25,812 Ohm and it can confirm the quantum mechanical behaviors. The value of the quantized Hall resistance is extremely stable and reproducible. Therefore, it can be used for SI unit. We study to measure quantum Hall effect in CVD graphene. Graphene devices are made by using conventional E-beam lithography and RIE. We measure quantum Hall effect under high magnetic field at low temperature by using He4 gas closed loop cryostat.

• 동아시아식생활학회지
• /
• 제23권4호
• /
• pp.496-507
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception and willingness to purchase of nanotechnology-based foods to find out the strategy for risk communication and social acceptance. The data were collected from 253 college students in Yeungnam region through a self-administered questionnaire. Frequency, Cronbach's ${\alpha}$, t test, one-way ANOVA, Duncan's multiple range test, Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis, and multiple regression analysis were conducted by SPSS Windows V.20.0. The level of concern about nanotechnology was relatively low, and the level of the perception about necessity for the development of nanotechnology-based foods was average. In addition, the respondents showed somewhat positive thoughts for the development of nanotechnology-based foods with beneficial effect, but they were worried about the risk for it. Percentage of correct answers on knowledge of nanotechnology and nanotechnology-based foods was not high, and the level of willingness to purchase them was average. According to the result of multiple regression analysis, factors affecting the willingness to purchase of nanotechnology-based foods were concern about health, perception about importance of food safety, perception about necessity for the development of nanotechnology-based foods, and perception about the development of nanotechnology-based foods with beneficial effect. On the basis of these results, it is necessary for consumers to offer the exact and reliable information on nanotechnology-based foods.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• 제27권6호
• /
• pp.808-816
• /
• 2006

Among the many forms of mesoporous materials, thin films are important for the potential applications of this class of materials. Compared with the powder forms, however, there has been relatively little work done on thin films probably because of the lack of suitable and generalized synthetic mechanisms established. In this account, we will review the issues on mesoporous thin films with emphasis on the necessity of forming films with accessible pores from the film surfaces and on mesoporous thin films with metal oxides other than silica. Various methods that have been tried to utilize mesoporous thin films with accessible pores as templates for the synthesis of nanostructured materials are reviewed with the emphasis on the advantages of the electrochemical deposition technique.

• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국진공학회 2009년도 제38회 동계학술대회 초록집
• /
• pp.392-392
• /
• 2010

In this study, high-speed chemical dry thinning process of Si wafer and evolution of surface roughness were investigated. Direct injection of NO gas into the reactor during the supply of F radicals from $NF_3$ remote plasmas was very effective in increasing the Si thinning rate due to the NO-induced enhancement of surface reaction but thinned Si surface became roughened significantly. Addition of Ar gas, together with NO gas, decreased root mean square (RMS) surface roughness of thinned Si wafer significantly. The process regime for the thinning rate enhancement with reduced surface roughness was extended at higher Ar gas flow rate. Si wafer thinning rate as high as $22.8\;{\mu}m/min$ and root-mean-squared (RMS) surface roughness as small as 0.75 nm could be obtained. It is expected that high-speed chemical dry thinning process has possibility of application to ultra-thin Si wafer thinning with no mechanical damage.

• 한국진공학회지
• /
• 제19권6호
• /
• pp.432-441
• /
• 2010

아리조나 주립대학교의 사회 속의 나노기술 센터(CNS-ASU)는 미국 자연과학기금(NSF)에서 지원하는 나노 스케일 과학 및 공학 센터(NSEC)이다. 이 센터는 나노기술의 '예비 협치'(anticipatory governance)의 전략적 비전을 위한 실시간 기술 평가를 구현한다. 이 비전을 달성하기 위하여, CNS-ASU는 몇 개 대학의 연구사업을 통합할 뿐 아니라 예견(그럴듯한 미래 시나리오), 집적(사회인문과학을 나노스케일 과학기술과 연계) 및 참여(대중에게 홍보) 등 세 개의 주요 활동을 통합한다. CNS-ASU는 교육 훈련 활동을 할 뿐만 아니라 대중 소통과 비공식적 과학 교육을 실시한다. 이 논문은 이 사업은 전통적인 위험 관리 체계를 뛰어 넘는 사회적 차원의 연구를 포함한 예비 협치의 내용과 전략적 전망을 논술하고 있다.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
• /
• 제9권2호
• /
• pp.143-146
• /
• 2004

A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging system was constructed and used to detect the hexahistidine-ubiquitin-tagged human parathyroid hormone fragment (His$\sub$6/-Ub-hPTHF(1-34)) expressed in Escherichia coli. The hexahistidine-specific antibody was immobilized on a thin gold film coated with ProLinker$\^$TM/ B, a novel calixcrown derivative with a bifunctional coupling property that permits efficient immobilizaton of capture proteins on solid matrices. The soluble and insoluble fractions of an E. coli cell lysate were spotted onto the antibody-coated gold chip, which was then washed with buffer (pH 7.4) solution and dried. SPR imaging measurements were carried out to detect the expressed His$\sub$6/-Ub-hPTHF(1-34). There was no discernible protein image in the uninduced cell lysate, indicating that non-specific binding of contaminant proteins did not occur on the gold chip surface. It is expected that the approach used here to detect affinity-tagged recombinant proteins using an SPR imaging technique could be used as a powerful tool for the analyses of a number of proteins in a high-throughput mode.