• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.334-340
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• 2003

In order to fabricate new sustained delivery device of nerve growth factor (NGF), we developed NGF-loaded biodegradable poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA, the mole ratio of lactide to glycolide 75:25, molecular weight: 83,000 and 43,000 g/mole, respectively) film by novel and simple sandwich solvent casting method for the possibility of the application of neural tissue engineering. PLGA was copolymerized by direct condensation reaction and the molecular weight was controlled by reaction time. Released behavior of NGF from NGF-loaded films was characterized by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and degradation characteristics were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The bioactivity of released NGF was identified using a rat pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cell based bioassay. The release of NGF from the NGF-loaded PLGA films was prolonged over 35 days with zero-order rate of 0.5-0.8 ng NGF/day without initial burst and could be controlled by the variations of molecular weight and NGF loading amount. After 7 days NGF released in phosphate buffered saline and PC-12 cell cultured on the NGF-loaded PLGA film for 3 days. The released NGF stimulated neurite sprouting in cultured PC-12 cells, that is to say, the remained NGF in the NGF/PLGA film at 37 $^{\circ}C$ for 7 days was still bioactive. This study suggested that NGF-loaded PLGA sandwich film is released the desired period in delivery system and useful neuronal growth culture as nerve contact guidance tube for the application of neural tissue engineering.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.356-362
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• 2011

The branched polycarbonates (B-PCs) with two different branching agents were synthesized from melt polymerization. The contents of branching agent were in the range of 0.001~0.005 mol%. The chemical structure of the synthesized PC was determined by FTIR, $^1H$ NMR, and $^{13}C$ NMR, spectroscopy. The molecular weight, glass transition and degradation temperatures were determined by GPC, DSC, and TGA. The molecular weight of the phloro type B-PC had a lower value than the other one, and the glass transition temperature increased with molecular weight. Compared with linear PC, the rheological properties of the B-PC indicated an increase of complex viscosity in the low frequency region and shear thinning tendency. Power law index(n) representing shear thinning was calculated by linear regression and the values were in the range of 0.483~0.996. The rheological properties of the B-PCs were measured by a dynamic rheometer.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1068-1078
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• 2004

In this paper we investigated the characteristics of surface degradation in silicone rubber due to corona exposure and recovery mechanism. It was shown that surface free energy was 22.42 mJ/$m^2$ on initial sample but surface free energy was approximately increased to 71.14 mJ/$m^2$ after 45 minutes. However, surface free energy on silicone rubber after corona discharge treatment was completely recovered within a short time due to diffusion of low molecular weight(LMW) silicone fluid. It was shown that corona discharge insured the increase of diffusible LMW chains, which could lead to recover the surface hydrophobicity. 200～370 g/mol distribution of LMW silicone fluid which was extracted by solvent-extraction with gel permeation chromatography (GPC) was contributed to recovery. The surface degradation characteristics on silicone rubbers and the recovery mechanism based on our results were discussed.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.581-588
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• 2021

In this study, soil slurry bioreactors were used to treat soils containing 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) for 35 days. Five different soil samples were taken from manufactured gas plant (MGP) and coal tar disposal sites. Soil properties, such as carbon content and particle distribution, were measured. These properties were significantly correlated with percent biodegradation and degradation rate. The cumulative amount of PAH degraded (P), degradation rate (K_m), and lag phase (𝜆) constants of PAHs in different MGP soils for 16 PAHs were successfully obtained from nonlinear regression analysis using the Gompertz equation, but only those of naphthalene, anthracene, acenaphthene, fluoranthene, chrysene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, and benzo(g,h,i)perylene are presented in this study. A comparison between total non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic PAHs indicated higher maximum amounts of PAH degraded in the former than that in the latter owing to lower partition coefficients and higher water solubilities (S). The degradation rates of total non-carcinogenic compounds for all soils were more than four times higher than those of total carcinogenic compounds. Carcinogenic PAHs have the highest partitioning coefficients (K_oc), resulting in lower bioavailability as the molecular weight (MW) increases. Good linear relationships of K_m, 𝜆, and P with the octanol-water partitioning coefficient (K_ow), MW, and S were used to estimate PAH remaining, lag time, and biodegradation rate for other PAHs.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.995-1001
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of solid-state fermentation on soybean using three microbial strains under four different fermentation times. Soybean was fermented for 12, 24, 36 or 48 hours with highly proteolytic microbes, either Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (BA), B. subtilis (BS), or B. subtilis var. natto (BN), and levels of total protein concentration, protein distribution, and antioxidant activity were analyzed. Total protein was highest in the BS 12 h group (9.21 ㎍·µL^-1) and lowest in BN 48 h (6.80 ㎍·µL^-1), respectively (p < 0.001). Furthermore, three microbes decomposed large molecular weight proteins as well as major allergens of soybean such as β-conglycinin, Gly m Bd 30K, and glycinin. Each treatment group showed the highest degradation rate at 48 h fermentation and among the three microbes, BS showed a relatively higher degradation rate. The radical scavenging ability, known as an indicator of antioxidant activity, showed a significant increase in all treatment groups except BA 24 h. The results from this study suggest that protein concentration, and degradation and antioxidant activity were affected by different types of microbial trains and fermentation period and that B. subtilis fermentation might be the most effective way to increase nutritional and functional properties of soybean.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1420-1427
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• 2013

A novel acetylalginate esterase (AcAlgE) gene was previously cloned and characterized from Sphingomonas sp. MJ-3. In this study, the synergistic effects of MJ-3 AcAlgE, and KS-408 alginate lyase on the degradation of acetylalginate from Pseudomonas aeruginosa were investigated by using high-field 1H-NMR and an FPLC-equipped peptide column. The alginate lyase coupled assay of AcAlgE showed that degradation of high molecular weight acetylalginate was more difficult than degradation of acid hydrolyzed acetylalginate. The degradation of acetylalginate by alginate lyase was easier after AcAlgE was used to remove the acetyl group from acetylalginate. This result showed that the recombinant AcAlgE enhanced the degradation of acetylalginate by alginate lyase.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.1076-1083
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• 2023

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a biodegradable and biocompatible bioplastic. Effective PHB degradation in nutrient-poor environments is required for industrial and practical applications of PHB. To screen for PHB-degrading strains, PHB double-layer plates were prepared and three new Bacillus infantis species with PHB-degrading ability were isolated from the soil. In addition, phaZ and bdhA of all isolated B. infantis were confirmed using a Bacillus sp. universal primer set and established polymerase chain reaction conditions. To evaluate the effective PHB degradation ability under nutrient-deficient conditions, PHB film degradation was performed in mineral medium, resulting in a PHB degradation rate of 98.71% for B. infantis PD3, which was confirmed in 5 d. Physical changes in the degraded PHB films were analyzed. The decrease in molecular weight due to biodegradation was confirmed using gel permeation chromatography and surface erosion of the PHB film was observed using scanning electron microscopy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on B. infantis showing its excellent PHB degradation ability and is expected to contribute to PHB commercialization and industrial composting.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2005

A phenanthrene-degrading bacterium HS362, which is capable of using phenanthrene as a sole carbon and energy source, was isolated from oil contaminated soil. This strain is a gram negative, rod shaped organism that is most closely related to Sphingomonas paucimobilis based on biochemical tests, and belongs to the genus Sphingomonas based on fatty acids analysis. It exhibited more than $99.2{\%}$ nucleotide sequence similarity of 16S rDNA to that of Sphingomonas CF06. Thus, we named this strain as Sphingomonas sp. HS362. It degraded $98{\%}$ of phenanthrene after 10 days of incubation when phenanthrene was added at 500 ppm and $30{\%}$ even when phenanthrene was added at 3000 ppm. Sphingomonas sp. HS362 could also degrade low molecular weight PAHs(Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) such as indole and naphthalene, but was unable to degrade high molecular weight PAHs such as pyrene and fluoranthene. The optimum temperature and pH for phenanthrene degradation were $30^{\circ}C$ and $4{\~}8$, respectively. Sphingomonas sp. HS362 could degrade phenanthrene effectively in the concentration range of NaCl of up to $1{\%}$. Its phenanhrene degrading ability was enhanced by preculture, suggesting the possibility of induction of phenanthrene degrading enzymes. Starch and surfactants such as SDS, Tween 85, and Triton X-100 were also able to enhance phenanthrene degradation by Sphingomonas sp. HS362. It carries five plasmids and one of them, plasmid p4, is considered to be involved in the degradation of phenanthrene according to the plasmid curing experiment by growing at $42^{\circ}C$.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.205-209
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• 2014

Medical polymers require sterilization and must be able to maintain material properties for a specified shelf life. Sterilization can be achieved by using gamma or e-beam exposure. In this study, accelerated aging tests of poly(ether-block-amide) (PEBA) copolymer samples is presented. PEBA copolymer samples with different polyether content that result in Shore hardness of 35D to 72D, were sterilized using e-beam radiation followed by accelerated aging at $55^{\circ}C$. E-beam sterilization effect on molecular weight and mechanical property has performed and analyzed. The average molecular weight significantly reduced as a result of ageing. The enlarged proportion of low molecular weight chains in the aged samples is consistent with the generation of degradation products produced by oxidative chain scission. Also E-beam materials have shown decreased tensile strength and elongation. Overall, this study demonstrated that the medical grade PEBA was significantly affected by radiation exposure over aging time, particularly at high irradiation doses. For medical use in case of radiation sterilization required, it is recommended to avoid Pebax material. If Pebax material must be in use for medical device, recommend to use alternate sterilization method such as Ethylene Oxide sterilization.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.295-304
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• 2008

This study examined the oxidative polycondensation reaction of 2-[(pyridin-4-yl-) methyleneamino] pyridine-3-ol (2-PMAP) using air $O_2$ and NaOCl oxidants at various temperatures and times in aqueous alkaline and acidic media. Under these reactions, the optimum reaction conditions using air $O_2$ and NaOCl oxidants were determined for 2-PMAP. The number-average molecular weight ($M_n$), weight average molecular weight ($M_w$), and polydispersity index (PDI) values of O-2-PMAP synthesized in aqueous alkaline media were found to be 960, 1230, and $1.281\;g\;mol^{-1}$ using NaOCl, and 1030, 1520, and $1.476\;g\;mol^{-1}$ using air $O_2$, respectively. At the optimum reaction conditions, the yield of O-2-PMAP in aqueous alkaline media was 92.50% and 85.70% for air $O_2$ and NaOCl oxidants, respectively. The yield of O-2-PMAP in aqueous acidic media was 88.5% and 88.0% for NaOCl and air $O_2$ oxidants, respectively. O-2-PMAP was characterized by $^1H-$, $^{13}C$-NMR, FT-IR, UV-vis, SEC, and elemental analysis. TGA-DTA analysis revealed O-2-PMAP and its oligomer metal complex compounds, such as $Co^{+2}$, $Ni^{+2}$, and $Cu^{+2}$, to be stable against thermal decomposition and their weight losses at $1000^{\circ}C$ were found to be 73.0, 58.0, 53.5%, and 50.0%, respectively. In addition, the antimicrobial activities of the monomer and oligomer were tested against E. Coli (ATCC 25922), E. Faecelis (ATCC 29212), P. Auroginasa (ATCC 27853), and S. Aureus (ATCC 25923).