• Journal of the Korean Operations Research and Management Science Society
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.123-132
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• 2009

Third Party Logistics (TPL) providers offer outsourced logistics services to companies for part or sometimes all of their supply chain management. Although TPL market is increasing rapidly and drawing much attention from various aspects, it is not easy to find the researches dealing with relations between TPL providers and home delivery companies dealing with small-sized cargo. This study focused on service dimensions which TPL providers consider when they choose a home delivery company. In this paper, we found five factors of service dimensions including delivery charge, logistics management shills, partnership, and then investigated which dimensions affect TPL providers' preference. In addition, we showed that the logistics management skills are more important than the delivery charge which has commonly been considered the most important factor. This study offers managerial insights on TPL providers' prefer once which we can hardly find in theoretical and practical perspective.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.113-125
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of interaction between product category (fresh vs. indulgent product) and shopping options (shipping charge and delivery time) on customer satisfaction and purchase intent in an e-commerce context. When ordering groceries online, consumers begin to allocate a larger share of their grocery budget toward product categories that generally contain healthier items at the expense of product categories that generally contain more indulgent products. Moreover, customers are extremely sensitive to shipping options such as shipping charges and delivery time. Therefore, this research investigates the issue at a more segmented level to focus on the impact that one dimension of logistics service quality - product category, shipping charge, and delivery time have on customer satisfaction and purchase intent. Research design, data, and methodology: To test the theoretically derived priori hypotheses concerning product category, shipping charges, delivery time, satisfaction, and purchase intent, this research presented a scenario-based experiment. Eight treatment groups were assigned by the method of product category (fresh produce vs. indulgent product), shipping charge (free vs. paid), and delivery time (one-day vs. two to three days). A total of 240 subjects were divided into groups and exposed to one of the eight scenarios. Participant's purchase intention was the dependent variable, and ANOVA and L-matrix were used to analyze for main and interactive effects between factors. Conclusions: Results indicated that in tests 1 and 2, free shipping and fast delivery time increased consumer satisfaction as well as purchase intent, and fast delivery moderated the impact of free shipping on consumer satisfaction and purchase intent. Test 3 showed that the effect of free shipping on consumer satisfaction and purchase intent moderated by fast delivery for indulgent products. In contrast, fast delivery for fresh products moderated the effect of paid shipping on consumer satisfaction and purchase intent. Consistent with this proposed mechanism, the relative importance of fresh produce versus indulgent products highlights the effect of shipping options on consumer satisfaction and purchase intent when ordering the target product in an e-commerce context. We conclude with a discussion of the theoretical and practical implications of our findings.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.1317-1321
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• 2007

Arginine conjugated PAMAM dendrimer, PAMAM-R was modified with propylene oxide via hydroxylation of primary amines of arginine residues. About 49 amines were detected to be converted to amino alcohols by 1H NMR. The newly synthesized polymer, PAMAM-R-PO was able to completely retard pDNA from a charge ratio of 2. The average diameter of PAMAM-R-PO polyplex was found to be 242 nm at a charge ratio of 30. The Zeta-potential value of PAMAM-R-PO polyplex was able to reach 20-30 mV over a charge ratio of 10. PAMAM-R-PO indicated higher cell viability than unmodified PAMAM-R on HeLa and 293 cells because of its hydroxylated amines. Transfection experiments on 293 cells showed that the transfection efficiency of PAMAM-R-PO was found to be 1.5-1.9 times higher than that of PEI25kDa at a charge ratio of 30. The polymer eventually displayed about 2 times greater transfection efficiency than PAMAM-R at the same charge ratio in the absence of serum. Therefore, we concluded that the modification of primary amines of PAMAMR to amino alcohols gives positive effects such as reduced cytotoxicity and enhanced transfection efficiency on 293 cells for gene delivery potency of PAMAM-R.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.323-329
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• 2011

In order to develop new protein carrier replacing poly(DL-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres, succinylated pullulan acetate (SPA) was investigated to fabricate a long term protein delivery carrier. SPA microspheres loaded with lysozyme (Lys) as a model protein drug were prepared by a water/oil/water (W/O/W) double emulsion method. An acidity test of SPA copolymers after hydrolysis was performed to estimate the change of protein stability during releasing proteins from the microspheres. There was no pH change of SPA copolymers, but pH of PLGA polymers after hydrolysis was significantly decreased to around pH 2, indicating that the long-term stability of proteins released from SPA microspheres can be guaranteed. Loading efficiency of proteins into SPA microspheres was three times higher than those into conventional PLGA microspheres, indication of inducing stronger charge interaction between proteins and succinyl groups in SPA microspheres. Although initial burst behaviors were monitored in Lys-loaded SPA microspheres due to relatively strong hydrophilic succinyl segments in SPA microspheres, initial burst issues would be circumvented if the ratio of charge density of succinyl moieties and hydrophobic acetate groups is harmonically controlled. Therefore, in this study, a new attempt of protein delivery system was made and functional SPA was successfully confirmed as a new protein carrier.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.135-144
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• 2021

In Korea, the parcel delivery service is showing a high growth rate every year thanks to the activation of e-commerce, but the courier unit price continues to drop. Due to the low cost of parcel delivery, there is a need for improvement to normalize courier rates due to deterioration in profitability for couriers, deterioration in service for consumers, and overwork and accidents for workers. In this study, a rational rate system model and a systematic approach were presented. The study method modeled the chargeable weight by reflecting the voulumatirc weight and revenue ton by the volume and weight of the cargo, and presented a new parcel freight charge model based on the cost of delivery. In addition, a rate-determining support system was developed that can be easily, conveniently and reasonably determined on-site. In the demonstration, the rate difference was determined by relying on weight rather than volume, and 63.5% for personal courier and 40% for B2C courier were found to be inadequate. This study could be used as an alternative to solving side effects and problems at the delivery site, in the urgent need for research on ways to improve delivery prices.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.40 no.spc
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• pp.75-82
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• 2010

Specific diseases like cancer and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) occur at various organs including lymphatics and spread through lymphatic system. Thus, if therapeutic agents for such diseases are more distributed or targeted to lymphatic system, we can obtain several advantages like reduction of systemic side effect and increase of efficacy. For these reasons, much interest has been focused on the nature of lymphatics and a lot of studies for lymphatic delivery of drugs have been carried out. Because lymphatics consist of single layer endothelium and have high permeability compared with blood capillaries, especially, the studies using nano-sized carriers have been performed. Polymeric nano-particle, liposome, and lipid-based vehicle have been adopted for lymphatic delivery as carriers. According to the administration route and the kind of carrier, the extent of lymphatic delivery efficiency of nano-sized carriers has been changed and influenced by several factors such as size, charge, hydrophobicity and surface feature of carrier. In this review, we summarized the key factors which affect lymphatic uptake and the major features of carriers for achieving the lymphatic delivery. Lymphatic delivery of drug using nano-sized carriers has many fold improved ability of lymphatic delivery compared with that of conventional dosage forms, but it has not shown whole lymph selectivity yet. Even though nano-sized carriers still have the potential and worth to study as lymphatic drug delivery technology as before, full understanding of delivery mechanism and influencing factors, and setting of pharmacokinetic model are required for more ideal lymphatic delivery of drug.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.3665-3670
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• 2013

The R3V6 peptide includes a hydrophilic arginine stretch and a hydrophobic valine stretch. In previous studies, the R3V6 peptide was evaluated as a gene carrier and was found to have low cytotoxicity. However, the transfection efficiency of R3V6 was lower than that of poly-L-lysine (PLL) in N2A neuroblastoma cells. In this study, the transfection efficiency of R3V6 was improved in combination with high mobility group box 1A domain (HMGA). HMGA is originated from the nuclear protein and has many positively-charged amino acids. Therefore, HMGA binds to DNA via charge interaction. In addition, HMGA has a nuclear localization signal peptide and may increase the delivery efficiency of DNA into the nucleus. The ternary complex with HMGA, R3V6, and DNA was prepared and evaluated as a gene carrier. First, the HMGA/DNA complex was prepared with a negative surface charge. Then, R3V6 was added to the complex to coat the negative charges of the HMGA/DNA complex, forming the ternary complex of HMGA, R3V6, and DNA. A physical characterization study showed that the ternary complex was more stable than the PLL/DNA complex. The HMGA/R3V6/DNA complex had a higher transfection efficiency than the PLL/DNA, HMGA/DNA, or R3V6/DNA complexes in N2A cells. Furthermore, the HMGA/R3V6/DNA complex was not toxic to cells. Therefore, the HMGA/R3V6/DNA complex may be a useful gene delivery carrier.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.95-98
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• 2007

Polyethylenimine (PEI) has been widely investigated for delivery of DNA into cells. It was previously reported that there were at least two types of cytotoxicity in PEI-mediated gene delivery, immediate and delayed toxicities. PEI-mediated gene delivery protocols use net cationic complexes with an excess of PEI to maintain equilibrium between the complexed and dissociated forms in solution. In this study, toxicity of free PEI or PEI/ DNA complex was investigated. Human embryonic kidney 293 cells were incubated with free PEI or PEI/DNA complex for 4 hrs. Then, the cells were analyzed at 6, 24, 48, and 96 hrs after the incubation. In MTT assay, the viability of the cells incubated with PEI/DNA complex was continuously decreased with time, while that of the cells incubated with free PEI was not. On the contrary, the expression level of the luciferase gene increased gradually along with time. Release of DNAs from the complexes for transcription produces free PEIs in the cells. This process may proceed slowly due to high charge density of PEI and may be related to delayed toxicity. In addition, apoptotic cells were observed only in the cells incubated with the PEI/DNA complex from 24 hrs after the incubation. The results suggest that PEI/DNA complex contributes to the delayed toxicity by inducing apoptosis and that the delayed toxicity may be related to decomplexation of the complexes in the cells.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.140-145
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• 2018

Cancer is a major burden of human disease worldwide. Current chemotherapy has severe side effects because the drugs affect whole body nonspecifically. In addition, the drugs to reach cancer cells are very limited. Over the last two decades, Drug Delivery System (DDS) using nanoparticles has suggested promising results to improve current limitations. In this study, we prepared PLGA nanoparticles with different charge properties and observed their stability and internalization effect to cancer cells. Results using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the size and chemical composition of the nanoparticles. The stability of the nanoparticles in pH buffers were variable depending on charge properties. The nanoparticles showed different cytotoxicity and internalization effects to MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. In conclusion, we demonstrated the importance of delicately engineered nanoparticles for better DDS in cancer.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.313-317
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• 2005

Synthetic gene carriers such as poly-cationic polymers easily form complexes with plasmid DNA which contains negative charge. Chitosan is a polysaccharide that demonstrates much potential as a gene delivery system. The ability of depolymerized chitosan to condense DNA was determined using electrophoresis. Dynamic laser scattering and scanning electron microscopy were used to examine the size and the morphology of the chitosan/DNA complex. Parameters such as chitosan molecular weight and charge density influenced the complex size and the DNA amount condensed with chitosan. The cell viabilities in the presence of chitosan ranged between 84-108% of the control in all experiments. Gene expression efficacy using chitosan/DNA complex was enhanced in 293 cells relative to that using naked DNA, although it was lower than that using lipofecamine. Transfection efficacy using low molecular weight chitosan (Mw=8,517) was higher than those of the control and the other chitosan (MW=4,078). The low molecular weight chitosan (MW=8,517) with a high charge density (18.32 mV) fulfilled the requirements for a suitable model gene delivery system with respect to the condensing ability of DNA, complex formation, and transfection efficacy.