• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1121-1129
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• 2008

A series of steady-state and short-term experiments on a three-phase circulating-bed biofilm reactor (CBBR) for removing toluene from gas streams were conducted to investigate the effect of macroporous-carrier size (1-mm cubes versus 4-mm cubes, which have the same total surface area) on CBBR performance. Experimental conditions were identical, except for the carrier size. The CBBR with 1-mm carriers (the 1-mm CBBR) overcame the performance limitation observed with the CBBR with 4-mm carriers (the 4-mm CBBR): oxygen depletion inside the biofilm. The 1-mm CBBR consistently had the superior removal efficiencies of toluene and COD, higher than 93% for all, and the advantage was greatest for the highest toluene loading, $0.12\;M/m^2-day$. The 1-mm carriers achieved superior performance by minimizing the negative effects of oxygen depletion, because they had 4.7 to 6.8 times thinner biofilm depths. The 1-mm carriers continued to provide protection from excess biomass detachment and inhibition from toluene. Finally, the 1-mm CBBR achieved volumetric removal capacities up to 300 times greater than demonstrated by other biofilters treating toluene and related volatile hydrocarbons.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.38 no.sup2
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• pp.355-362
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• 2008

Purpose: The carrier for the delivery of bone morphogenetic proteins(BMPs) should also serve as a scaffold for new bone growth. In addition, predictable bone formation in terms of the volume and shape should be guaranteed. This study evaluated the ectopic bone formation of recombinant human BMP-2(rhBMP-2) using a micro macroporous biphasic calcium phosphate (MBCP: mixture of ${\beta}TCP$ and HA) block as a carrier in a rat subcutaneous assay model. Materials and Methods: Subcutaneous pockets were created on the back of 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats. In the pockets, rhBMP-2/MBCP and MBCP alone were implanted. The blocks were evaluated by histological and histometric parameters after a healing interval of 2 weeks (each 10 rats; MBCP and rhBMP-2/MBCP) or 8 weeks (each 10 rats; MBCP and rhBMP-2/MBCP). Results: The shape and volume of the block was maintained stable over the healing period. No histological bone forming activity was observed in the MBCP alone sites after 2 weeks and there was minimal new bone formation at 8 weeks. In the rhBMP-2/MBCP sites, new bone formation was evident in the macropores of the block. The new bone area at 8 weeks was greater than at 2 weeks. There was a further increase in the quantity of new bone with the more advanced stage of remodeling. Conclusions: A MBCP block could serve as a carrier system for predictable bone tissue engineering using rhBMPs.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.179-190
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• 2008

Purpose: In this study, the effect of micro-macroporous biphasic calcium phosphate(MBCP) incorporated with inorganic polyphosphate for bone regeneration in the calvaria of rabbit was evaluated. Materials and Methods: The procedure of guided bone regeneration was performed with titanium reinforced expanded polytetrafluoroethylene(TR-ePTFE) membrane. Four animal groups were compared : 1) TR-ePTFE membrane for negative control group, 2) TR-ePTFE membrane filled with MBCP for positive control group, 3) TR-ePTFE membrane filled with MBCP soaked in 4% inorganic polyphosphate for experimental group I, and 4) TR-ePTFE membrane filled with MBCP soaked in 8% inorganic polyphosphate for experimental group II. Results: 1. Negative control group showed the highest new bone formation at 16 weeks. 2. Positive control group showed the smallest new bone formation compared to other groups. 3. 8% inorganic polyphosphate induced more volume of bone formation, otherwise experimental group II did not show significant difference compared to negative control group. Conclusion: These results suggest that inorganic polyphosphate has a promoting effect on bone regeneration, possibly by enhancing osteoconductivity of the carrier and by increasing osteoinductivity of the defected alveolar bone tissue.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.38 no.sup2
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• pp.325-334
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• 2008

Purpose: The carrier used as delivery agent for bone morphogenetic proteins(BMPs) should also act as a scaffold for new bone formation. Moreover, bone formation should be predictable in terms of the volume and shape. This study examined the osteogenic effect of macroporous biphasic calcium phosphate (MBCP) block combined with ePTFE membrane as a carrier for recombinant human bone morphogenetic proteins (rhBMP-2). In addition, the additive effect of ePTFE membrane on bone formation was evaluated. Materials and Methods: Eight-millimeter critical sized calvarial defects were created surgically in 28 male Sprague-Dawley rats. The animals were divided into 2 groups containing 14 animals each. The defects were treated with either rhBMP-2/MBCP block (rhBMP-2/MBCP group) or rhBMP-2/MBCP block/ePTFE membrane (rhBMP-2/MBCP/ePTFE group). A disc-shaped MBCP block (3 mm height and 8 mm diameter) was used as the carrier for the rhBMP-2 and ePTFE membrane was used to cover the rhBMP-2/MBCP block. The histologic and histometric parameters were used to evaluate the defects after 2- or 8-week healing period (7 animals/group/healing interval). Results: The level of bone formation in the defects of both groups was significantly higher at 8 weeks than that at 2 weeks (P < 0.05). The ePTFE membrane has no additional effect compared with the rhBMP-2/MBCP block only. However, at 8 weeks, rhBMP-2/MBCP/ePTFE group showed more even bone formation on the top of the MBCP block than the rhBMP-2/MBCP group. Conclusion: These results suggest that the ePTFE membrane has no additive effect on bone formation when a MBCP block is used as a carrier for rhBMP-2.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.927-932
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• 2009

Toxic and recalcitrant organic pollutants in wastewaters can be effectively treated when advanced oxidation and biodegradation are combined, ideally with intimate coupling, in which both processes occur simultaneously in the same system. One means to achieve intimate coupling is to coat nanoscale $TiO_2$ on the outside of macroporous biofilm carriers. This study investigated the kinetics of photocatalysis with $TiO_2$-coated porous carriers. The carriers were made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and coated with $TiO_2$ using a low-temperature sol-gel process. The $TiO_2$-coated carriers catalyzed the oxidation of methylene blue (MB) effectively under irradiation of UV light. The overall reaction rate with adsorption and photolysis saturated at high MB concentration, and approached the adsorption rate, which was first order for all MB concent rations. This result indicates that adsorbed MB may have slowed photocatalysis by blocking active sites for photocatalysis. The overall kinetics could be described by a quasi-Langmuir model. The estimated maximum specific (per unit mass of $TiO_2$) transformation rate of MB by the $TiO_2$-coated carriers was four times larger than that obtained from slurry-$TiO_2$ reactors. This observation demonstrated that the $TiO_2$ present as a coating on the carriers maintained high efficiency for transforming recalcitrant organic matter via photocatalysis. These findings serve as a foundation for advancement of an intimate coupling of photocatalysis to biodegradation.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.110-117
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• 2000

Relationship between monoclonal antibody (MAb) productivity and growth rate, and effects of high cell density on MAb production rate increased with increasing specifis growth rate in both suspended and immobilized continuous cultures indicate a positively growth-associated relationship between MAb productivity and growth rate. moreover, the specific production rate was higher in the immobilized cell culture than that in suspended one at all dilution rates. In order to clarify these phenomana, MAb mPNA experession and cell cycle distribution were investigated in bacth cultures with immobilized cells and suspended cells. RT-PCR was used for observation of MAb mRNA expression and a two-color bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)/propidium iodide (PI) flow cytometry method for determination of cell cycle distribution. The results revealed that MAb nRNA expression until dead phase, which was longer than in suspended cell. The cell cycle distribution patterns were observed almost the same for both immobilized and suspended cells. Such results may imply that a high cell density state has positive influence on the mRNA expression and on growth-associated Mab productivity of T0405 cells.