• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.232-238
• /
• 2004

MPEG-PCL diblock copolymers consisting of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) and $\varepsilon$-caprolactone (CL) as drug carriers were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization MPEG-PCL diblock copolymers were characterized by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. After freeze milling of block copolymers and albumin bovine-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC-BSA) as model protein, the wafers loaded FITC-BSA were fabricated by direct compression method. The release profiles of FITC-BSA were examined using pH 7.4 PBS for 14 days at 37$^{\circ}C$. The release amount was determined by fluorescence intensity by using the fluorescence spectrophotometer. The morphological change of wafers was observed by digital camera and scanning electron microscope. The release rate and initial burst of BSA increased with increasing PEG molecular weights and decreasing PCL molecular weights in the segments of MPEG -PCL diblock copolymers.

• Macromolecular Research
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.72-78
• /
• 2009

Size control of therapeutic carriers in drug delivery systems has become important due to its relevance to biodistribution in the human body and therapeutic efficacy. To understand the dependence of particle size on the formation condition during nanoprecipitation method, we prepared nanoparticles from biodegradable, amphiphilic block copolymers and investigated the particle size and structure of the resultant nanoparticles according to various process parameters. We synthesized monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) block copolymer, MPEG-PCL, with different MPEG/PCL ratios via ring opening polymerization initiated from the hydroxyl end group of MPEG. Using various formulations with systematic change of the block ratio of MPEG and PCL, solvent choice, and concentration of organic phase, MPEG-PCL nanoparticles were prepared through nanoprecipitation technique. The results indicated that (i) the nanoparticles have a dual structure with an MPEG shell and a PCL core, originating from self-assembly of MPEG-PCL copolymer in aqueous condition, and (ii) the size of nanoparticles is dependent upon two sequential processes: diffusion between the organic and aqueous phases and solidification of the polymer.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.9-15
• /
• 2010

Aim of the study: As an injectable scaffold, MPEG-PCL diblock copolymer was applied in bone tissue engineering. In vivo bone formation was evaluated by soft X-ray, histology based on the rat calvarial critical size defect model. Materials and Methods: New bone formation was evaluated with MPEG-PCL diblock copolymer in rat calvarial critical size bone defect. No graft was served as control. 4, 8 weeks after implantation, gross evidence of bone regeneration was evaluated by histology and soft X-ray analysis. Results: The improved and effective bone regeneration was achieved with the BMP-2 and osteoblasts loaded MPEG-PCL diblock copolymer. Conclusion: It was confirmed that MPEG-PCL temperature sensitive hydrogels was useful as an injectable scaffold in bone regeneration.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.464-470
• /
• 2006

Diblock copolymers consisting of methoxy Poly (ethylene glycol) (MPEG) and poly (${\epsilon}-ca$ prolactone) (PCL), poly(${\delta}-valerolactone$) (PVL), poly(L-lactide) (PLLA), or poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) were prepared to compare the characterization of diblock copolymers as a drug carrier. MPEG-PCL, MPEG-PVL, MPEG-PLLA, and MPEG-PLGA diblock copolymers were synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization of ${\epsilon}$-caprolactone or ${\delta}$-valerolactone in the presence of $HCl{\cdot}Et_2O$ as a monomer activator at room temperature and by the ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide or a mixture of L-lactide and glycolide in the presence of stannous octoate at $130^{\circ}C$, respectively. The synthesized diblock copolymers were characterized with $^1H-NMR$, GPC, DSC, and XRD. The micellar characterization of MPEG-polyester diblock copolymers in an aqueous phase was carried out by using NMR, dynamic light scattering, AFM, and fluorescence techniques. Most micelles exhibited a spherical shape in AFM. Thus, ore confirmed that the micelles formed with MPEG-polyester diblock copolymers have possibility as a potential hydrophobic drug delivery vehicle because a hydrophobic drug could be preferentially distributed in the micelle core.

• Proceedings of the KSLP Conference
• /
• 2016.03a
• /
• pp.42-42
• /
• 2016

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2006.10a
• /
• pp.262-262
• /
• 2006

Biodegradable and amphiphilic di-block and tri-block copolymers, prepared with monomethoxy poly ethylene glycol (MPEG) and ${\varepsilon}-caprolactone\;({\varepsilon}-CL)$, were used for the application of W1/O/W2 multi- emulsion capsules. The effects of topology and the ratio of hydrophilic moiety of PCL-based polymers on the encapsulation efficiency of the $W_{1}/O/W_{2}$ multi-emulsion capsules containing Ascorbic Acid-2-Glucoside (AA-2-G) were investigated. The ratio of PEG and PCL was 1:0.5, 1:0.75, 1:1, and 1:1.25. PEG-PCL block copolymers were added to the first step of the preparation of $W_{1}/O$ emulsions. The dispersion stability, the particle size, the morphology of the $W_{1}/O/W_{2}$ multi-emulsion capsules were observed using an on-line turbidity meter, dynamic light scattering (DLS), a confocal microscopy (with FITC) and an optical microscopy. Biodegradable behavior of the PEG-PCL block copolymers and release behavior of AA-2-G were also observed by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.211-217
• /
• 2004

The sol to gel transition of aqueous solution of block copolymers consisting of methoxy poly (ethylene glycol) (MPEG) and biodegradable polyesters such as $\varepsilon$-caprolactone and L-lactide was investigated as a function of temperature. MPEG-PCL was prepared by ring opening polymerization of $\varepsilon$-caprolactone in the presence of HClㆍEt$_2$O as monomer activator at room temperature. Also, MPEG-PLLA was prepared by ring opening polymerization of L-lactide in the presence of stannous octoate at 115$^{\circ}C$. The properties of block copolymers were investigated by $^1$H-NMR, IR, and GPC as well as the observation of thermo sensitive phase transition in aqueous solution. As the hydrophobic block length increased, the sol to gel transition temperature increased and curve of that steepen to lower concentration. To confirm the gel formation at body temperature, we observed the formation of gel in the mice body after injection of 20 wt% aqueous solution of each block copolymer. After surging, we investigated the gelation in mice. The results obtained in this study confirmed the feasibility as biomaterials of injectable implantation for controlled release of drug and protein delivery.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.28-34
• /
• 2006

A series of methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) $(MPEG)-poly(\varepsilon-co-L-lactide)$ (PCLA) diblock copolymers were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of a mixture of $\varepsilon-caprolactone$ and L-lactide with different ratios in the presence of $Sn(Oct)_2$. The characterization of MPEG-PCLA diblock copolymers were examined by $^1H-NMR$, GPC, DSC, and XRD. Kinetic study on ring-opening polymerization of monomer mixtures was carried out in various conditions such as a variation with polymerization time, amount of catalyst, and temperature. The highest conversion obtained in 1.2 ratic of initiator venn catalyst at $110\;^{\circ}C$. The biodegradable characterization of MPEG-PCLA diblock copolymers in aqueous solution was carried out by using GPC for $1\~14$ weeks. The biodegradability of MPEG-PCLA diblock copolymers increased as the L-lactide content of diblock copolymers increased. In conclusion, we confirmed the dependence of polymerization rate according to various conditions. In addition, we can control the biodegradability of MPEC-PCLA diblock copolymers by changing the ratio of PCL and PLA block segment.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.344-351
• /
• 2004

Poly(ethylene glycol)-based diblock and triblock polyester copolymers stimulating to temperature were studied as injectable biomaterials in drug delivery system because of their nontoxicity, biocompatibility and biodegradability. We synthesized the diblock copolymers consisting of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) (M$_{n}$=750 g/mole) and poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (PCL) by ring opening polymerization of $\varepsilon$-CL with MPEG as an initiator in the presence of HCl . Et$_2$O. The aqueous solution of synthesized diblock copolymers represented sol phase at room temperature and a sol to gel phase transition as the temperature increased from room temperature to body temperature. To confirm the in vivo gel formation, we observed the formation of gel in the mice body after injection of 20 wt% aqueous solution of each block copolymer. After 2 months, we observed the maintenance of gel without dispersion in mice. In this study, we synthesized diblock copolymers exhibiting sol-gel phase transition and confirmed the feasibility as biomaterials of injectable implantation.n.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.196-201
• /
• 2006

Poly (ethylene glycol)-based diblock and triblock thermo- sensitive polyester copolymers were investigated for application on tissue engineering and injectable biomaterials in drug delivery system due to their nontoxicity, biocompatibility and biodegradability. We synthesized the diblock copolymers consisting of methoxy poly (ethylene glycol) (MPEG) (Mn=750 g/mole) and poly $(\varepsilon-caprolactone)$ (PCL) by ring opening polymerization of $\varepsilon-CL$ with MPEG as an initiator in the presence of HCl $Et_2O$. The effect of diblock copolymers on in vivo osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCS) with and without the presence of osteogenic supplements (dexamethasone) was investigated. Thin sections were cut from paraffin embedded tissues and histological sections were stained by H&E, von Kossa, and immunohistochemical staining for osteocalcin. In conclusion, dexamethasone containing thermo- sensitive hydrogel might be improved osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. We expect the osteoinduction effect to be excellent when it uses stem cell or other osteogenic materials.