• Macromolecular Research
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.325-331
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• 2002

Phase behavior of a PEO-PPO-PEO (Pluronic P103) triblock copolymer in water is investigated using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and rheology. Pluronic P103 shows apparent two gel states in different temperature regions. The first sol-to-gel transition at a lower temperature (i.e., the hard gel I state) turns out to be the hexagonal microphase as evidenced by the combined SANS and SAXS and the frequency dependence of both G′ and G" in rheology. In contrast to the hard gel I, the second sol-to-gel transition (i. e., the hard gel II state) at a higher temperature represents the block copolymer micelles in somewhat disordered state rather than the ordered state seen in the hard gel I. Moreover, turbidity change depending only on the temperature with four distinct regions is observed and the large aggregates with size larger than 5,000 nm are detected with DLS in the turbid solution region. Based upon the present study, two different gelation mechanisms for aqueous PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer solutions are proposed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Rheology Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.61-64
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• 2002

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.791-797
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• 2017

In this study, we optimized a method of PEO-PPO-PEO block copolymer embedding, for solving non-specific protein and biomolecular adsorption and high hydrophobicic surface property, which is widely known as problems of poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) that has frequently been used in basic biological and its applied research. We assessed its surface modification by controlling the concentration of embedded block copolymer, water-soaking time, and recovery time as variables by contact angle measurements. In order to evaluate its antifouling ability, adsorption of FITC-BSA molecules was quantified. Furthermore, we generated oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion as a proof-of-concept experiment to confirm that the optimized surface modification works properly.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.969-975
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• 2009

This article describes the topical delivery and localization of budesonide through the hairless mouse skin. Two poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PCL-PEO) triblock copolymers (T 222 and T 252) having different CL:EO ratios were added in the preparation of budesonide particles stabilized with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and Tween 80 under ultrasonication. For comparison, a commercial PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer (F68) was studied under the same condition. To demonstrate the effects of the triblock copolymer, the particle size of budesonide emulsion, entrapment efficiency, and in vitro release were measured and compared. The budesonide particles stabilized by the triblock copolymers had a diameter of ca. 350 nm with entrapment efficiencies of 66-76%. The In vitro release profiles of all samples showed an initial burst followed by sustained release. The skin penetration and permeation of budesonide were analyzed by using a Frantz diffusion cell. T 222 and T 252 exhibited higher total permeation amounts, but lower budesonide penetration amounts, than F68. The results suggest that the partitioning of budesonide in each skin layer can be adjusted in order to avoid skin thinning and negative immune response arising from the penetration of budesonide in blood vessels.

• Proceedings of the Korea Crystallographic Association Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.49-49
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• 2002

A strategy for the synthesis of more stable and large periodic mesoporous organo-silica materials has been developed for the 2D hexagonal mesoporous organosilica by the core-shell approach using nonionic PEO-PLGA-PEO triblock copolymer templates. The BET surface area of the solvent-extracted hexagonal mesoporous organosilica is estimated to be 1,016 ㎡/g and the pore volume, pore diameter, and wall thickness are 1.447 ㎤/g, 65 Å, and 43 Å, respectively. More hydrophobic PLGA block than the PPO block used for templates of mesoporous silica proves to be quite effective in confining the organosilicates within the PEO phase. Reaction temperature and acid concentration of an initial solution as well as the chemical nature of the bloc k copolymer templates also demonstrate to be important experimental parameters for ordered organosilica mesophase. Moreover, the mesoporous organosilicas prepared with the PEO-PLGA-PEO block templates maintain their structural integrity for up to 25 days in boiling water at 100℃. The mesoporous materials with large pores and high hydrothermal stability prepared in this study has a potential for many applications.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.141-148
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• 2016

In this work, mesoporous silica (SBA-15) was synthesized via self-assembly process using triblock copolymer ($PEO_{20}PPO_{70}PEO_{20}$, P123) as template and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as silica source under acidic condition. SBA-15 have high surface area ($704m^2g^{-1}$) and uniform pore size (8.4 nm) with well-ordered hexagonal mesostructure. Spiropyran-functionalized SBA-15 (Spiropyran-SBA-15) was synthesized via post-synthesis process using 3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl isocyanate (TESPI) and 1-(2-Hydroxyethyl)-3,3-dimethy-lindolino-6'-nitrobenzopyrylo-spiran (HDINS). Spiropyran-SBA-15 was produced with hexagonal array of mesopores without damage of mesostructre. Surface area and pore size of Spiropyran-SBA-15 were $651m^2g^{-1}$ and 8.0 nm, respectively. Optochemical properties of Spiropyran-SBA-15 was studied with chemical vapors such as EtOH, THF, $CHCl_3$, Acetone and HCl. Main peaks of photofluorescence of Spiropyran-SBA-15 exhibited blue shift in the range of 603.4~592.1 nm after exposure under EtOH, THF, $CHCl_3$, and Acetone vapors. Normalized peak intensities decreased in the range of 0.8~0.3. The main peak of photofluorescence of Spiropyran-SBA-15 showed significant blue shift of 592.1 nm after exposure under HCl vapor, while normalized peak intensity decreased to 0.1.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2001

The aggregation behavior of nystatin (NYS) in the presence of pluronic F127, triblock copolymer of poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly (propylene oxide) (PPO), was measured and correlated with hemolytic activity. Antifungal activity was also studied using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model strain. The critical aggregation concentrations (CAC) of the drug were 50.1, 108.0, 134.2, 154.3, and $217.9\;{\mu}M$ at 0.1%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0% pluronic F127 solution, respectively. The levels of NYS required to start lysis of erythrocytes were about 80, 100, 125, 150, and $200\;{\mu}M$ at 0.1%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0% pluronic F127 solution, respectively. It was $50\;{\mu}M$ in the absence of the polymer. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) of NYS-pluronic F127 lyophilizate were same at $3\;{\mu}g/ml$, while MIC and MFC of pure NYS are $3\;{\mu}g/ml$ and $12\;{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. By modulating the aggregation behavior of NYS, pluronic F127 was able to reduce the toxicity of the drug without compromising the MIC and MFC.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.2342-2348
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• 2014

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) were grafted to both ends of Pluronic$^{(R)}$ F68 ($(EO)_{75}(PO)_{30}(EO)_{75}$) triblock copolymer to produce poly{(lactic acid)$_m$-co-(glycolic acid)$_n$}-b-poly(ethylene oxide)$_{75}$-b-poly(propylene oxide)$_{30}$-b-poly(ethylene oxide)$_{75}$-b-poly{(lactic acid)$_m$-co-(glycolic acid)$_n$} (PLGA-F68-PLGA) pentablock copolymers. Molecular weights of PLGA blocks were controlled and five kinds of pentablock copolymers with different PLGA block lengths were synthesized using in-situ ring-opening polymerization of D,L-lactide and glycolide with tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate ($Sn(Oct)_2$) catalyst. PLGA-F68-PLGA pentablock copolymers were characterized by $^1H$- and $^{13}C$-NMR, GPC, and TGA. The numbers (2m, 2n) of repeating units for lactic acid and glycolic acid inside PLGA segments were obtained as (48, 17), (90, 23), (125, 40), (180, 59), and (246, 64), with $^1H$-NMR measurement. From NMR data, the resultant molecular weights were determined in the range of 12,700-29,700, which were similar to those obtained from GPC. Polydispersity index was increased in the range of 1.32-1.91 as the content of PLGA blocks increased. TG and DTG thermograms showed discrete degradation traces for PLGA and F68 blocks, which indicate the weight fractions of PLGA blocks in pentablock copolymers can be calculated by TG profile and it is possible to remove PLGA block selectively. Hydrodynamic radius and radius of gyration of pentablock copolymer micelle were obtained in the range of 46-68 nm and 31-49 nm, respectively, in very dilute (i.e. 0.005 wt %) aqueous solution of THF:$H_2O$ = 10:90 by volume at $25^{\circ}C$.