• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.137-142
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• 2019

Numerous efforts are being made to develop an ideal dermal filler that should be bio-compatibility, non-immunogenicity, long-lasting and biodegradable without a toxic secretion. Biomaterials of dermal fillers are hyaluronic acid filler, calcium filler, PMMA filler and collagen filler depending on the ingredient. Although hyaluronic acid (HA) is most widely used, it has shortages such as short shelf life and low mechanical strength compare to extracellular matrix (ECM). The cartilage ECM composed of collagen type II, proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and in a minor part with glycoproteins. In this study, we developed a cartilage ECM injectable filler capable of improving biocompatibility and longevity compared with hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers. The ECM hydrogel was cross-linked by the reaction of N-(3-Dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC)/N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) for mechanical enhancement. Prepared ECM filler was compared with cross-linked HA by butanediol diglycidyle ether (BDDE), which is the most widely used natural polymers for dermal filler. In the results, the articular cartilage ECM hydrogel has great potential as a dermal filler to improve the biophysical and biological performance.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.383-389
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• 2023

A high-performance forward osmosis (FO) membrane was prepared using polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel as a support layer. Through the UV-induced polymerization and subsequent phase separation of PEGDA, the crosslinked, hydrophilic, and porous PEGDA suppor layer was obtained. To achieve high FO flux and salt selectivity using the fabricated PEGDA support, a selective layer was synthesized via the toluene-assisted interfacial polymerization (TIP), in which toluene is used as an organic solvent. The prepared PEGDA-based FO membrane showed higher FO water flux and lower salt selectivity compared with commercial HTI membranes using 1.0 M NaCl draw solution and DI water feed solution. We propose the strategy to fabricate high-performance FO membranes utilizing supports formed with new hydrophilic materials and fabrication processes.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.117-122
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• 2017

Despite the fact that porcine embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are a practical study tool, in vitro long-term maintenance of these cells is difficult in a two-dimensional (2D) microenvironment using cellular niche or extracellular matrix proteins. However, a three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment, similar to that enclosing the inner cell mass of the blastocyst, may improve in vitro maintenance of self-renewal. Accordingly, as a first step toward constructing a 3D microenvironment optimized to maintain porcine ESC self-renewal, we investigated different culture dimensions for porcine ICM-derived cells to enhance the maintenance of self-renewal. Porcine ICM-derived cells were cultured in agarose-based 3D hydrogel with self-renewal-friendly mechanics and in 2D culture plates with or without feeder cells. Subsequently, the effects of the 3D microenvironment on maintenance of self-renewal were identified by analyzing colony formation and morphology, alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity, and transcriptional and translational regulation of self-renewal-related genes. The 3D microenvironment using a 1.5% (w/v) agarose-based 3D hydrogel resulted in significantly more colonies with stereoscopic morphology, significantly improved AP activity, and increased protein expression of self-renewal-related genes compared to those in the 2D microenvironment. These results demonstrate that self-renewal of porcine ICM-derived cells can be maintained more effectively in a 3D microenvironment than in a 2D microenvironment. These results will help develop novel culture systems for ICM-derived cells derived from diverse species, which will contribute to stimulating basic and applicable studies related to ESCs.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.69-77
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• 2014

Purpose: The functional ophthalmic lenses containing fluorine-substituted aniline group (2,4-difluoroaniline, 2,6-difluoroaniline, 3,4-difluoroaniline) were manufactured and the physical and optical characteristics of copolymerized ophthalmic lens were investigated. Methods: HEMA (2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate), NVP (N-vinyl pyrrolidone), MA (methacrylic acid), the cross-linker EGDMA (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) and the initiator AIBN (azobisisobutyronitrile) were used as a basic combination and fluorine-substituted aniline group (2,4-difluoroaniline, 2,6-difluoroaniline, 3,4-difluoroaniline) were used as additives for preparing the hydrogel soft contact lenses. The hydrogel ophthalmic lens was manufactured by cast mould method and the ophthalmic lenses were stored in a 0.9% NaCl normal saline for 24 hrs. Results: The optical transmittance of the sample with addition 2,4-difluoroaniline showed that the UV-B(9.8~51.4%), UV-A(58.8~79.2%) and visible transmittance(87.0~90.4%). In the case of 2,6-difluoroaniline were measured the UV-B(80.2~83.2%), UV-A(85.8~86.4%), and visible transmittance(90.8~91.4%). Also, the optical transmittance of ophthalmic lens containing 3,4-difluoroaniline were measured the UV-B transmittance of 3.8~30.4%, UV-A transmittance of 47.8%~74.4% and the visible transmittance of 86.2~91.0% respectively. Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, 2,4-difluoroaniline and 3,4-difluoroaniline can be used effectively as additive for UV-blocking ophthalmic contact lenses.