• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.285-292
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• 2003

The compatibility of poly(lactic acid)/poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (PLA/PCL) blends as a function of blend composition was studied and triphenyl phosphite (TPP) was applied to PLA/PCL blends as a reactive compatibilizer. Especially the effect of compatibility on the crystallization behavior in both PLA/PCL blends and PLA/PCL blends with TPP was considered. PLA/PCL blends were immiscible based on thermal characteristics of PLA/PCL blends and the miscibility was depend upon the blend composition. The enhancement of compatibility was found in PLA/PCL blends with TPP depend upon its content. The rate of crystallization in PLA/PCL blend varied with blend composition. This was understood as the development of nucleation at the interface of PLA-PCL due to the immiscibility. TPP was acting as a compatibilizer as well as an agent for the acceleration of spherulite growth In PLA. As a result, the crystallization rate increased and the size of spherulite became larger than that of PLA/PCL blend without TPP.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.306-313
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• 2000

Polycaprolactone (PCL) macromer containing terminal methacrylate group was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization. The number average molecular weight of PCL macromer was 11600 g/mole and polydispersity index was 1.09. The synthesized PCL macromer was copolymerized with styrene by stable free radical polymerization using 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO), benzoyl peroxide, and well-defined poly(styrene-g-caprolactone)s were synthesized. The synthesized copolymers was characterized by $^1$H-NMR and gel permeation chromatography equipped with multiangle laser light scattering detector. Thermal properties of graft copolymers were investigated by DSC.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.467-475
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• 2001

A triblock copolymer based on $poly(\varepsilon-caprolactone)$ (PCL) as the hydrophobic part and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as the hydrophilic portion was synthesized by a ring-opening mechanism of ${\varepsilon}-caprolactone$ with PEG containing a hydroxyl group at bot h ends as an initiator. The synthesized block copolymers of PCL/PEG/PCL (CEC) were confirmed and characterized using various analysis equipment such as 1H NMR, DSC, FT-IR, and WAXD. Core-shell type nanoparticles of CEC triblock copolymers were prepared using a dialysis technique to estimate their potential as a colloidal drug carrier using a hydrophobic drug. From the results of particle size analysis and transmission electron microscopy, the particle size of CEC core-shell type nanoparticles was determined to be about 20-60 nm with a spherical shape. Since CEC block copolymer nanoparticles have a core-shell type micellar structure and small particle size similar to polymeric micelles, CEC block copolymer can self-associate at certain concentrations and the critical association concentration (CAC) was able to be determined by fluorescence probe techniques. The CAC values of the CEC block copolymers were dependent on the PCL block length. In addition, drug loading contents were dependent on the PCL block length: the larger the PCL block length, the higher the drug loading content. Drug release from CEC core-shell type nanoparticles showed an initial burst release for the first 12 hrs followed by pseudo-zero order release kinetics for 2 or 3 days. CEC-2 block copolymer core-shell type nanoparticles were degraded very slowly, suggesting that the drug release kinetics were governed by a diffusion mechanism rather than a degradation mechanism irrelevant to the CEC block copolymer composition.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.248-253
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• 2009

Blend films based on the poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (PCL) and amphiphilic biodegradable polymer, poly(ethylene glycol) grafted poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (PCL-g- PEG), were prepared with different blend ratios in order to develop new biomedical material. PCL was the main component in the blend. The miscibility and characteristics of the blends were investigated. The crystallization temperature of the blend shifted to high temperatures with an increase of the graft copolymer contents when the homopolymer PCL was the main component of the blend. The PEG side chain in the blend affected the crystallization rate of the PCL crystals in the blend and alternating extinction bands were observed by optical microscopy. The protein adhesion behavior of the film was influenced by the water uptake of the film.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.523-528
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• 2005

Diblock copolymers with different poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (PCL) block lengths were synthesized by ringopening polymerization of $\varepsilon$-caprolactone in the presence of monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG-OH, MW 2000) as initiator. The self-aggregation behaviors of the diblock copolymer nanoparticle, prepared by the diafiltration method, were investigated by using $^1H$ NMR, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and fluorescence spectroscopy. The PEG-PCL block copolymers formed the nano-sized self-aggregate in an aqueous environment by intrsa- and/or intermolecular association between hydrophobic PCL chains. The critical aggregation concentrations (cac) of the block copolymer self-aggregate became lower with increasing hydrophobic PCL block length. On the other hand, reverse trends of mean hydrodynamic diameters were measured by DLS owing to the increasing bulkiness of the hydrophobic chains and hydrophobic interaction between the PCL microdomains. The hydrodynamic diameters of the block copolymer nanoparticles, measured by DLS, were in the range of 65-270 nm. Furthermore, the size of the nanoparticles was scarcely affected by the concentration of the block copolymers in the range of 0.125-5 mg/mL owing to the negligible interparticular aggregation between the self-aggregated nanoparticles. Considered with the fairly low cac and nanoparticle stability, the PEG-PCL nanoparticles can be considered a potential candidate for biomedical applications such as drug carrier or imaging agent.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.11-15
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• 2003

In order to suppress a repulsive interfacial energy between hydrophilic clay and hydrophobic polymer matrix in preparing a polymer/clay nanocomposite, a third component of amphiphilic nature such as poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (PCL) was introduced into the model system of styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers (SAN)/Na-montmorillonite. Once $\varepsilon$-caprolactone was polymerized in the presence of Na-rnontmorillonite, the successful ring-opening polymerization of $\varepsilon$-caprolactone and the well-developed exfoliated structure of PCL/Na-montmorillonite mixture were confirmed, Thereafter, SAN was melt-mixed with PCL/Na-montmorillonite nanocomposite, which resulted in that SAN matrix and PCL fraction were completely miscible to form homogeneous mixture with retention of the exfoliated state of Na-montmorillonite, exhibiting that PCL effectively stabilizes the repulsive polymer/clay interface and contributes the improvement of mechanical properties of the nanocomposites.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.482-486
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• 2005

The biodegradable poly(${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone)(PCL)/poly(ethylene imine)(PEI) microcapsules containing $Al_2O_3$ and fragrant oil were prepared with different PEI contents. The effects of stirring rate and concentration of the surfactant on the diameter and morphologies of microcapsules were investigated by using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Thermal behaviors were studied by using a differential scanning calorimetry(DSC), and the release behaviors of fragrant oil from microcapsule were characterized by UV/vis. spectrophotometer. As a result, the average particle size of the microcapsules decreased with increasing the stirring rate or concentration of the surfactant. The surface morphologies of the microcapsules were changed from smooth surfaces to skin-like rough surfaces as increasing the PEI content. These results were mainly due to the increased hydrophilic groups at the microcapsule surfaces, resulting in increasing the release rate of fragrant oil in the microcapsules studied.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.379-380
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• 2002

Biodegradable polymers have been regarded as a good alternative to solve the plastic waste problems caused by nondegradable synthetic polymers such as polyethylene and polystyrene. In the soil environment, plastics are mainly being used as a mulching film for agricultural purposes. In this research, the miscibility, tensile properties and biodegradation effect of poly-${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone(PCL) with polyvinyl chloride(PVC) have been studied. After 8 weeks of biodegradation, PCL/PVC(9/91) blend surface showed newly formed many holes. Consequently, the antiplasticization phenomenon and biodegradation were observed in the PCL/PVC blends. It was confirmed that a test for general biodegradation condition can be applied to plastic biodegradation in soil.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2004

The biodegradable poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (PCL) microcapsules containing tocopherol were prepared by oil-in-water emulsion solvent evaporation method. The features of the microcapsules were investigated in the manufacturing conditions and degradation behaviors. The form and structural feature of the microcapsules were measured by scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The surface free energy of the microcapsules was executed using contact angle measurement. As a result, the microcapsules were more stable and spherical with poly(vinyl alcohol) given in a surfactant. The surface free energy and crystallinity of microcapsules were decreased with increasing the core concentration, and degradation of PCL was occurred after 21 days. The release behaviors were examined by Uv/vis. spectrophotometer. It was found that the release rate of the microcapsules was increased with increasing the stirring rate, due to the increased interface between microcapsules and release media.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.202-207
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• 2012

Biodegradable poly(${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone)(PCL) microcapsules containing pseudomonas were prepared by W/O/W emulsion system. The characteristics and release behaviors of the microcapsules were investigated as a function of manufacturing conditions. The morphology and particle distribution of the microcapsules were observed by a scanning electron microscope and a particle size analyzer. The release behaviors of the pseudomonas were determined using a cell culture method. It was found that smooth and spherical microcapsules were formed by W/O/W emulsion system and particle size was in the range of 10 to 60 ${\mu}m$. The release behaviors of the pseudomonas were influenced by the manufacturing conditions. It was indicated that the increase of the surfactant content and stirring rate led to an increased release rate, resulting from the high specific surface area of the smaller particle size, and the increase of the PCL content provided the sustained release behaviors by the delay effect of diffusion in the release medium.