• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.339-346
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• 2014

The author assessed the availability of urine reference material for proficiency test provided for laboratories in occupational health. N-methylacetamide is the biomarker of exposure to N,N-dimethyl acetamide, which was used as the substitute for hepatotoxic N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). N-methylacetamide (NMAC) urine samples of 3 different levels covering the 0.2~2 times of the exposure limit were tested. Stability test up to 180 days (0, 7, 30, 60, 180 days) at 4 different temperatures (-60, -20, 5, $25^{\circ}C$) and homogeneity test were performed for these samples. New analytical condition by GC/MSD using SIM mode (m/z 58, 59) and DB-624 column was investigated for better selectivity, sensitivity and resolution. Urinary NMAC samples showed good homogeneity for 3 levels. These samples also showed good stability up to 180 days. The data of stability and homogeneity of urinary DMAC confirmed the basis of including this item into Korean proficiency test for occupational health laboratories since 2008.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.717-724
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• 2008

In this study, we prepared all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)-encapsulated, surfactant-free, PLGA nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were formed by nanoprecipitation process, after which the solvent was removed by solvent evaporation or dialysis method. When a nanoparticle was prepared by the nanoprecipitation - solvent evaporation method, the nanoparticles were bigger than the nanoparticles of the nanoprecipitation - dialysis method, despite the higher although loading efficiency. Nanoparticles from the nanoprecipitation - dialysis method were smaller than 200 nm in diameter, while the loading efficiency was not significantly changed. Especially, nanoparticles prepared from DMAc, 1,4-dioxane, and DMF had a diameter of less than 100 nm. In the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations, all of the nanoparticles showed spherical shapes. The loading efficiency of ATRA was higher than 90% (w/w) at all formulations with exception of THF. The drug content was increased with increasing drug-feeding amount while the loading efficiency was decreased. In the drug release study, an initial burst was observed for $2{\sim}6$ days according to the variations of the formulation, after which the drug was continuously released over one month. Nanoparticles from the nanoprecipitation - dialysis method showed faster drug release than those from the nanoprecipitation - solvent evaporation method. The decreased drug release kinetics was observed at lower drug contents. In the tumor cell cytotoxicity test, ATRA-encapsulated, surfactant-free, PLGA nanoparticles exhibited similar cytotoxicity with that of ATRA itself.