• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2019

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) are multipotent stromal cells that have great potential to differentiate into a variety of cell types such as osteocytes, chondrocytes, and myocytes. Although there have been many studies on their clinical availability, little is known about how intracellular signals can be modulated by topographic features of the extracellular matrix (ECM). In this study, we investigated whether and how microwavy-patterned extracellular matrix (ECM) could affect the signaling activity of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a key cellular adhesion protein. The fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based FAK biosensor-transfected cells are incubated on microwavy-patterned surfaces and then platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) are treated to trigger FAK signals, followed by monitoring through live-cell FRET imaging in real time. As a result, we report that PDGF-induced FAK was highly activated in cells cultured on microwavy-patterned surface with L or M type, while inhibited by H type-patterned surface. In further studies, PDGF-induced FAK signals are regulated by functional support of actin filaments, microtubules, myosin-related proteins, suggesting that PDGF-induced FAK signals in hMSC upon microwavy surfaces are dependent on cytoskeleton (CSK)-actomyosin networks. Thus, our findings not only provide new insight on molecular mechanisms on how FAK signals can be regulated by distinct topographical cues of the ECM, but also may offer advantages in potential applications for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.299-313
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• 2024

Electrochemical machining (ECM) is an effective manufacturing method for difficult-to-machine materials and is widely used in the precision manufacturing of aerospace components. In recent years, the requirements for the machining accuracy and surface integrity of ECM have become increasingly stringent. To further improve the machining quality, this work investigated the intricate laws between electrolyte filtration accuracy and machining quality. Electrolytes with different filtration accuracies were compared, and a numerical simulation was used to evaluate the change in temperature and bubble rate of the flow field in the machining area. Experiments were conducted on ECM of Ti-6Al-4V (TC4) alloy workpieces using electrolytes with different filtration accuracy. The workpiece machining accuracy and surface quality were analyzed, and the repetition accuracy of the workpiece was evaluated. The intricate laws between electrolyte filtration accuracy and machining quality were explored. It was found that when the electrolyte filtration accuracy is improved, so too is the machining quality of the ECM. However, once the filtration accuracy has reached a certain value, the machining quality has extremely limited improvement. By evaluating the repetition accuracy of processed workpieces in electrolytes with different filtration accuracies, it was found that when the filtration accuracy reaches a certain value, there is no positive correlation between the repetition accuracy and filtration accuracy. The result shows that, for the workpiece material and conditions considered in this paper, an electrolyte with 0.5㎛ filtration accuracy is suitable for the wide application of precision ECM.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.345-359
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• 2024

Deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the trabecular meshwork (TM) increases aqueous humour outflow resistance leading to elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP) in primary open-angle glaucoma, which remains the only modifiable risk factor. Resveratrol has been shown to counteract the steroid-induced increase in IOP and increase the TM expression of ECM proteolytic enzymes; however, its effects on the deposition of ECM components by TM and its associated pathways, such as TGF-β-SMAD signalling remain uncertain. This study, therefore, explored the effects of trans-resveratrol on the expression of ECM components, SMAD signalling molecules, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and tissue plasminogen activator in dexamethasone-treated human TM cells (HTMCs). We also studied the nature of molecular interaction of trans-resveratrol with SMAD4 domains using ensemble docking. Treatment of HTMCs with 12.5 µM trans-resveratrol downregulated the dexamethasone-induced increase in collagen, fibronectin and α-smooth muscle actin at gene and protein levels through downregulation of TGF-β1, SMAD4, and upregulation of SMAD7. Downregulation of TGF-β1 signalling by trans-resveratrol could be attributed to its effect on the transcriptional activity due to high affinity for the MH2 domain of SMAD4. These effects may contribute to resveratrol's IOP-lowering properties by reducing ECM deposition and enhancing aqueous humour outflow in the TM.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.75-78
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• 2007

Recently, the need for micro mold or micro mechanical parts has been rapidly increased. As feature size decreases, conventional machining processes show their limitation. Micro electrical discharging machining (EDM) and electrochemical machining (ECM) have many advantages in micro machining. They can be used to make structures of micro scale, or even nano scale size. In this paper, the application of micro EDM and ECM has been investigated.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.313-318
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• 2015

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent endopeptidases that degrade the extracellular matrix (ECM) and regulate the extracellular microenvironment. Despite the significant role that MMP activity plays in cell-cell and cell-ECM interactions, migration, and differentiation, analyses of MMPs in vitro and in vivo have relied upon their abundance using conventional immunoassays, rather than their enzymatic activities. To resolve this issue, diverse nanoprobes have emerged and proven useful as effective activity-based detection tools. Here, we review the recent advances in luminescent nanoprobes and their applications in in vitro diagnosis and in vivo imaging of MMP activity. Nanoprobes with the purpose of sensing MMP activity consist of recognition and detection units, which include MMP-specific substrates and luminescent (fluorescent or bioluminescent) nanoparticles, respectively. With further research into improvement of the optical performance, it is anticipated that luminescent nanoprobes will have great potential for the study of the functional roles of proteases in cancer biology and nanomedicine. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(6): 313-318]

• Design & Manufacturing
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• v.2 no.5
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• pp.43-47
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• 2008

Micro Electrochemical Machining(Micro ECM) has traditionally been used in highly specialized fields such as those of the aerospace and defense industries. It is now increasingly being applied in other industries where parts with difficult-to-cut material, complex geometry and tribology such as compute. hard disk drive(HDD) are required. Pulse Electrochemical Micro-machining provides an economical and effective method for machining high strength, high tension, heat-resistant materials into complex shapes such as turbine blades of titanium and aluminum alloys. Usually aluminum alloys are used bearings to hard disk drive in computer. In order to apply aluminum alloys to bearing used in hard disk drive, this paper presents the characteristics of Micro ECM for aluminum alloy.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.22 no.12 s.177
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• pp.163-169
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• 2005

Micro hole is ode of basic elements for micro device or micro parts. Micro electrochemical machining (ECM) can be applied to the machining of micro holes less than 50 ${\mu}m$ in diameter, which it is not easy to apply other techniques to. For the machining of passivating metals such as stainless steel, machining conditions should be chosen carefully to prevent a passive layer. The machining conditions also affect the machining resolution, In this paper, machining characteristics of micro ECM were investigated according to machining conditions such as electrolyte concentration and pulse conditions. From the investigation, optimal machining conditions were suggested for micro ECM of stainless steel.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.1202-1205
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• 2005

Micro hole is one of basic elements for micro device or micro parts. By micro ECM, micro holes less than $50\mu{m}$ in diameter can be machined easily. Machining characteristics of micro ECM were investigated according to machining conditions such as electrolyte concentration and pulse conditions. From the investigation, optimal machining conditions were suggested for micro ECM of stainless steel. For the micro machining with high resolution, the change of machining gap should be predicted. By using electrochemical principle equations, the change of machining gap was simulated.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.443-447
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• 2003

The BEM (Boundary Element Method) is a computational technique for the approximate solution of problems in continuum mechanics. In the BEM both volume and surface integrals transformed into boundary integral equations. So, we applied the ECM (Electrochemical Machining) process to boundary problem, because our focus is only deformed shape. The ECM process is modeled as a two-dimensional problem assuming constant properties of electrolyte, and an incremental formulation is used with automatic mesh regeneration. As a result the final shape is roughly agreed with experimental shape. But, it has an error of exact shape, because a chemically factor is not considered

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.119-121
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• 1999

Tumor cell interaction with the extracellular matrix is defined as the critical event of tumor invasion that signals the initiation of a metastatic cascade. Sesquicillin has been identified as an inhibitor of melanoma cell adhesion to the components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in cultured broth of fungal strain F60063. Sesquicillin strongly inhibited the adhesion of B16 melanoma cells to laminin, fibronectin, and typeIV collagen. It also inhibited B16 melanoma cell invasion of reconstituted basement membrane Matrigel in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that sesquicillin is a new class of nonpeptidic ECM adhesion inhibitor having anti-invasive activity.