• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.12-22
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• 2004

The plasma surface modification of natural rubber vulcanizate was carried out using chlorodifluoromethane in a radio-frequency (13.56 MHz) electrodeless bell type plasma reactor. The modification was qualitatively assessed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The frictional force of the plasma-treated surface was found to decrease with the time of plasma treatment. An increase in the surface polarity, as evidenced by the decrease in contact angle of a sessile drop of water and ethylene glycol on the natural rubber vulcanizate surface, was noted with the plasma modification. In the case of similar plasma treatment of glass surface, only a reduction in the polarity was observed. The use of geometric and harmonic mean methods was found to be useful to evaluate the London dispersive and specific components of surface free energy. Irrespective of the method used for evaluation, an increasing trend in the surface free energy was noted with increasing plasma treatment time. However, the harmonic mean method yielded comparatively higher values of surface free energy than the geometric mean method. The plasma surface modification was found to vary the frictional coefficient by influencing the interfacial, hysteresis and viscous components of friction in opposing dual manners.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.440-447
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• 2012

The branched copolyester was synthesized and its molecular weight, $T_g$, 1/2 method temperature ($T_{1/2}$) and rheological properties were characterized for the application of toner binder. The linear copolyester had low molecular weight and melt elasticity obtained by dimethylterephthalate (DMT), ethylene glycol (EG) and 2,2-bis(4-(2-hydroxypropoxy) phenyl)propane (HPP). The branched copolyesters prepared with various branching agents such as 2-(hydroxymethyl)-2-ethylpropane-1,3-diol (trimethylol propane, TMP), 2,2-bi(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol (pentaerythritol, PER), 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic anhydride (trimellitic anhydride, TMA) and glycerol to improve the physical properties of the linear copolyester. The effect of branching agents on the molecular weight and melt elasticity of the branched copolyester was examined. The branched copolyesters prepared by adding over 15 mol% of branching agent showed relatively high molecular weight and melt elasticity, and $T_{1/2}$ value of $140^{\circ}C$. Therefore, the highly branched copolyesters were deemed suitable as a hot-melt toner of laser print process.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.760-766
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• 2014

Bead type super-absorbent resins to be used for release-control were prepared by modification of the inverse suspension polymerization, and their physical properties were characterized. Acrylic acid and acrylamide were used as monomers, and N,N-methylenebisacrylamide was used as crosslinker, controlling the viscosity of monomer solution by adding hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC). SEM studies of the synthesized beads verified that the bead surfaces had many pores with their diameters of several tens nm. The bead sizes were in the range of $500{\sim}3000{\mu}m$, depending on the viscosity of the monomer solution. Both absorbent amount and absorbent rate of the beads were inversely proportional to the bead size, and the maximum water absorbent amount of 1 g beads was determined to be ca. 170~200 g for 5 hrs. The absorbent rate was also dependent on pH change of the aqueous solution, exhibiting the maximum rate in pH ranging from 5 to 11. The absorbent rate decreased as the concentration of salt (NaCl and $MgCl_2$) or ethanol and ethylene glycol increased. Release time of the water absorbed into the bead resins was 700 hrs, confirming the usefulness of the resin for the good release-control materials.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.423-428
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• 2015

Impedancemetric $NO_x$ (NO and $NO_2$) gas sensors were designed with a stacked-layer structure and fabricated using $LaCr_xCo_{1-x}O_3$ (x = 0, 0.2, 0.5, 0.8 and 1) as the receptor material and $Li_{1.3}Al_{0.3}Ti_{1.7}(PO_4)_3$ plates as the solid-electrolyte transducer material. The $LaCr_xCo_{1-x}O_3$ layers were prepared with a polymeric precursor method that used ethylene glycol as the solvent, acetyl acetone as the chelating agent, and polyvinylpyrrolidone as the polymer additive. The effects of the Co concentration on the structural, morphological, and $NO_x$ sensing properties of the $LaCr_xCo_{1-x}O_3$ powders were investigated with powder X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and its response to 20~250 ppm of $NO_x$ at $400^{\circ}C$ (for 1 kHz and 0.5 V), respectively. When the as-prepared precursors were calcined at $700^{\circ}C$, only a single phase was detected, which corresponded to a perovskite-type structure. The XRD results showed that as the Co concentration of the $LaCr_xCo_{1-x}O_3$powders increased, the crystal structure was transformed from an orthorhombic phase to a rhombohedral phase. Moreover, the $LaCr_xCo_{1-x}O_3$ powders with $0{\leq}x<0.8$ had a rhombohedral symmetry. The size of the particles in the $LaCr_xCo_{1-x}O_3$powders increased from 0.1 to $0.5{\mu}m$ as the Co concentration increased. The sensing performance of the stack-structured $LaCr_xCo_{1-x}O_3/Li_{1.3}Al_{0.3}Ti_{1.7}(PO_4)_3$ sensors was found to divide the impedance component between the resistance and capacitance. The response of these sensors to NO gas was more sensitive than that to $NO_2$ gas. Compared to other impedancemetric sensors, the $LaCr_{0.8}Co_{0.2}O_3/Li_{1.3}Al_{0.3}Ti_{1.7}(PO_4)_3$ sensor exhibited good reversibility and reliable sensingresponse properties for $NO_x$ gases.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.407-411
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• 2005

YAG:Tb($Y_3Al_5O_{12}:Tb$) phosphor particles were prepared by spray pyrolysis from spray solution containing various types of flux materials. The effects of type of flux, organic material and post-treatment temperature on the characteristics of morphology, crystallinity and photoluminescence of YAG:Tb phosphor particles were investigated. Citric acid and ethylene glycol used as organic additive improved the photoluminescence intensity of the YAG:Tb phosphor particles without destruction of the morphology after post-treatment at high temperature. However, the spherical shape of the precursor particles obtained by spray pyrolysis from spray solution containing high amount of flux material disappeared after post-treatment at $1300^{\circ}C$. YAG:Tb phosphor particles prepared from spray solution containing lithium carbonate flux had fine size and regular morphology after post-treatment. Lithium carbonate used as flux material was also efficient in improvement of the photoluminescence intensity of the YAG:Tb phosphor particles. The optimum photoluminescence intensity of the YAG:Tb phosphor particles prepared from spray solution containing lithium carbonate flux was 189％ of that of the phosphor particles prepared from spray solution without flux material.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1782-1789
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• 2012

We have developed a novel type of polymer nanogel loaded with anticancer drug based on bio-derived poly(${\gamma}$-glutamic acid) (${\gamma}$-PGA). ${\gamma}$-PGA is a highly anionic polymer that is synthesized naturally by microbial species, most prominently in various bacilli, and has been shown to have excellent biocompatibility. Thiolated ${\gamma}$-PGA was synthesized by covalent coupling between the carboxyl groups of ${\gamma}$-PGA and the primary amine group of cysteamine. Doxorubicin (Dox)-loaded ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels were fabricated using the following steps: (1) an ionic nanocomplex was formed between thiolated ${\gamma}$-PGA as the negative charge component, and Dox as the positive charge component; (2) addition of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) induced hydrogen-bond interactions between thiol groups of thiolated ${\gamma}$-PGA and hydroxyl groups of PEG, resulting in the nanocomplex; and (3) disulfide crosslinked ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels were fabricated by ultrasonication. The average size and surface charge of Dox-loaded disulfide cross-linked ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels in aqueous solution were $136.3{\pm}37.6$ nm and $-32.5{\pm}5.3$ mV, respectively. The loading amount of Dox was approximately 38.7 ${\mu}g$ per mg of ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogel. The Dox-loaded disulfide cross-linked ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels showed controlled drug release behavior in the presence of reducing agents, glutathione (GSH) (1-10 mM). Through fluorescence microscopy and FACS, the cellular uptake of ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels into breast cancer cells (MCF-7) was analyzed. The cytotoxic effect was evaluated using the MTT assay and was determined to be dependent on both the concentration and treatment time of ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels. The bio-derived ${\gamma}$-PGA nanogels are expected to be a well-designed delivery carrier for controlled drug delivery applications.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.437-443
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• 2015

Purpose: This study evaluated the optical and physical and characteristics of soft contact lens polymerized with addition of 3-chloropyridine-4-carboxylic acid and 3-fluoropyridine-4-carboxylic acid in the basic hydrogel contact lens material. In particular, the utility of 3-chloropyridine-4-carboxylic acid and 3-fluoropyridine- 4-carboxylic acid as a hydrogel contact lens material was investigated. Methods: In this study, 3-chloropyridine-4-carboxylic acid and 3-fluoropyridine-4-carboxylic acid were used as additives. Also, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, acrylic acid, methyl methacrylate and a cross-linker EGDMA were co-polymerized in the presence of AIBN as an initiator. Results: The physical properties of the produced polymers were measured as followings. The water content of 34.54~37.15%, refractive index of 1.4320~1.4342, tensile strength of 0.2872~0.3608 kgf and contact angle of $57.82{\sim}79.57^{\circ}$, UV-B transmittance of 76.8~82.4% and UV-A transmittance of 84.6~86.6% were obtained respectively. Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, contact lens material containing 3-chloropyridine-4-carboxylic acid and 3-fluoropyridine-4-carboxylic acid is expected to be able to used as a material for high wettability and UV-block hydrogel contact lens.

• Biomaterials Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.328-336
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• 2018

Background: Biogenic fabrication of silver nanoparticles from naturally occurring biomaterials provides an alternative, eco-friendly and cost-effective means of obtaining nanoparticles. It is a favourite pursuit of all scientists and has gained popularity because it prevents the environment from pollution. Our main objective to take up this project is to fabricate silver nanoparticles from lichen, Usnea longissima and explore their properties. In the present study, we report a benign method of biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from aqueous-ethanolic extract of Usnea longissima and their characterization by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. Silver nanoparticles thus obtained were tested for antimicrobial activity against gram positive bacteria and gram negative bacteria. Results: Formation of silver nanoparticles was confirmed by the appearance of an absorption band at 400 nm in the UV-vis spectrum of the colloidal solution containing both the nanoparticles and U. longissima extract. Poly(ethylene glycol) coated silver nanoparticles showed additional absorption peaks at 424 and 450 nm. FTIR spectrum showed the involvement of amines, usnic acids, phenols, aldehydes and ketones in the reduction of silver ions to silver nanoparticles. Morphological studies showed three types of nanoparticles with an abundance of spherical shaped silver nanoparticles of 9.40-11.23 nm. Their average hydrodynamic diameter is 437.1 nm. Results of in vitro antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus pyrogenes, Streptococcus viridans, Corynebacterium xerosis, Corynebacterium diphtheriae (gram positive bacteria) and Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneuomoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (gram negative bacteria) showed that it was effective against tested bacterial strains. However, S. mutans, C. diphtheriae and P. aeruginosa were resistant to silver nanoparticles. Conclusion: Lichens are rarely exploited for the fabrication of silver nanoparticles. In the present work the lichen acts as reducing as well as capping agent. They can therefore, be used to synthesize metal nanoparticles and their size may be controlled by monitoring the concentration of extract and metal ions. Since they are antibacterial they may be used for the treatment of bacterial infections in man and animal. They can also be used in purification of water, in soaps and medicine. Their sustained release may be achieved by coating them with a suitable polymer. Silver nanoparticles fabricated from edible U. longissima are free from toxic chemicals and therefore they can be safely used in medicine and medical devices. These silver nanoparticles were stable for weeks therefore they can be stored for longer duration of time without decomposition.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.143-148
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• 2018

Objective: The favored method of preserving fertility in young female cancer survivors is cryopreservation and autotransplantation of ovarian tissue. Reducing hypoxia until angiogenesis takes place is essential for the survival of transplanted ovarian tissue. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of angiopoietin-1 (Angpt-1), angiopoietin-2 (Angpt-2), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in ovarian tissue grafts that were cryopreserved using two methods. Methods: Ovarian tissues harvested from ICR mice were divided into three groups: group I (control), no cryopreservation; group II, vitrification in EFS (ethylene-glycol, ficoll, and sucrose solution)-40; and group III, slow freezing in dimethyl sulfoxide. We extracted mRNA for VEGF, Angpt-1, and Angpt-2 from ovarian tissue 1 week following cryopreservation and again 2 weeks after autotransplantation. We used reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to quantify the levels of VEGF, Angpt-1, and Angpt-2 in the tissue. Results: Angpt-1 and Angpt-2 expression decreased after cryopreservation in groups II and III. After autotransplantation, Angpt-1 and Angpt-2 expression in ovarian tissue showed different trends. Angpt-1 expression in groups II and III was lower than in group I, but Angpt-2 in groups II and III showed no significant difference from group I. The vitrified ovarian tissues had higher expression of VEGF and Angpt-2 than the slow-frozen ovarian tissues, but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Our results indicate that Angpt-2 may play an important role in ovarian tissue transplantation after cryopreservation although further studies are needed to understand its exact function.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.251-258
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• 2013

This study aims to find out a suitable cryoprotective agent (CPA) for cryopreservation and its optimum concentration in order to conduct planned artificial seed production of Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas and to preserve superior sperm. For this, we tried to understand toxicity and the effect of cryopreservation by CPA type and concentrations first and then looked into cell damage of the sperm after thawing. Toxicity analysis on the sperm of Pacific oyster according to different CPA and immersion time shows that dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) comes first when it comes to survival rate and mobility followed by ethylene glycol (EG), glycerol and methanol. To identify the optimum CPA and its level, filtered seawater was used as a diluent before cryopreservation for 30 days. As a result, cryopreserved sperm of Pacific oyster with 15% of DMSO showed the highest survival rate and activation. Also, we observed the cryopreserved and thawed sperm with Scanning electron micrographs by CPAs and concentrations. Consequently, DSMO showed the lowest cell damage followed by EG, methanol, glycerol and the level was 15, 20, 10, 5% respectively. In a nutshell, it is proven that the optimum CPA and its level is 15% of DMSO.