• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.270-275
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• 2006

The dyeability of poly(lactic acid) [PLA] with a range of commercial disperse dye was examined and compared to that of poly(ethylene terephthalate) [PET] in addition to the colour and fastness of the resultant dyeings. A screening exercise in which twenty dyes of differing energy types and chemical classes were applied to PLA revealed a substantial variation between the dyes in terms of dye uptake (12-88 % at 4 % o.w.f.). Nine dyes exhausted above 70 % and were selected for further study, which involved comparison of shade and fastness of PLA dyeings with those of the corresponding PET dyeings. Differences in shade depended on hue while wet fastness of each of the PLA dyeings was either the same or 0.5-1.0 point lower than its PET counterpart. In all but one case, dye photostability in PLA was found to be very similar to that in PET. Dye build-up profiles on PLA were also investigated and from these results mixtures of compatible dyes identified.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2009

To overcome the stability problem of hydrophilic quantum dot (Q-dot), cellular uptake of hydrophobic instead of hydrophilic Q-dot was studied in the hope to find a simple method to use Q-dot as a cellular imaging probe. Hydrophobic Q-dot and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) were co-dissolved in chloroform to prepare stable films. Due to the cellular compatibility of PLLA, adherent cells were cultured on the film to observe the degree of Q-dot uptake and cytotoxicity of the prepared films. The results show that Q-dots were absorbed into NIH3T3 and EMT6 cells. Cellular uptake was also observed when hydrophobic Q-dots were coated directly on a glass plate. PLLA/Q-dot film and Q-dot coated on glass plate did not show major cytotoxicity. In vivo tumor model was also used to show the uptake of Q-dot from the PLLA/Q-dot film to the tumor site.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.69-77
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• 2011

In this study, poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) microparticles containing gemcitabine hydrochloride were prepared by a supercritical fluid process, called aerosol solvent extraction system (ASES), utilizing supercritical carbon dioxide as antisolvent. The influence of process parameters such as temperature, pressure, $CO_2$ and solution flow rate, solution concentration, and feed ratio of drug to polymer on the morphology and characteristics of the microparticles was studied in detail. The gemcitabine-loaded microparticles exhibited a spherical shape with a smooth surface. The entrapment efficiency of gemcitabine increased with increasing temperature, solution concentration and $CO_2$ flow rate and with decreasing drug/polymer feed ratio. The maximum drug loading obtained from the ASES process was found to be about 11%. The ASES-processed PLLA microparticles containing gemcitabine showed a relatively high initial burst due to the presence of surface pores on the microparticles and the poor affinity between drug and polymer.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.821-828
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• 2002

Regular and highly interconnected macroporous poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) scaffolds with pore size of 10∼300 ㎛ were fabricated through thermally induced phase separation of a PLLA-dioxane-water ternary system in the presence of a small amount of Pluronics. Addition of Pluronics to the ternary system raised the cloud-point temperature curve in the order of P-123< F-68< F-127. The Pluronics act as nuclei for the phase separation. This assistance is enhanced with increasing length of the hydrophilic PEO blocks in the Pluronics molecules. Liquid-liquid spinodal phase separation was induced at higher temperatures in the systems containing Pluronics because the spinodal region is raised to higher temperature. The absorption of Pluronics onto the interface stabilizes a macro scale structure and increases the interconnection of pores.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.299-306
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• 2014

ZnO pillared saponite was synthesized via a microwave hydrolysis method. To enhance interfacial compatibility between zinc oxide (ZnO) pillared saponite and poly lactic acid (PLA), ZnO pillared organic saponite was prepared by intercalation modification of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. Moreover, PLA/ZnO pillared organic saponite nanocomposites were prepared by melting processing. The microstructure analysis of PLA/ZnO pillared organic saponite nanocomposites showed that ZnO pillared organic saponite was exfoliated and homogeneouslydispersed in PLA matrix. The property results showed that ZnO pillared organic saponite improved the mechanical properties and thermal stabilities of PLA/ZnO pillared organic saponite nanocomposites. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) demonstrated that ZnO pillared organic saponite restrained the appearance of cold crystallization, lowered the glass transition temperature and melting temperature of PLA, and improved the crystallinity of PLA. The results demonstrated that ZnO pillared organic saponite had a good interfacial compatibility and heterogeneous nucleation effect in PLA matrix, and also played an active role in accelerating the crystallization process of PLA.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.533-538
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• 2021

Objective: Pluripotent stem cell-derived lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) show great promise in their therapeutic application in the field of regenerative medicine related to lymphatic vessels. We tested the approach of forced differentiation of mouse embryonal stem cells into LECs using biodegradable poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanospheres in conjugation with growth factors (vascular endothelial growth factors [VEGF-A and VEGF-C]). Methods: We evaluated the practical use of heparin-conjugated PLGA nanoparticles (molecular weight ~15,000) in conjugation with VEGF-A/C, embryoid body (EB) formation, and LEC differentiation using immunofluorescence staining followed by quantification and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Results: We showed that formation and differentiation of EB with VEGF-A/C-conjugated PLGA nanospheres, compared to direct supplementation of VEGF-A/C to the EB differentiation media, greatly improved yield of LYVE1(+) LECs. Our analyses revealed that the enhanced potential of LEC differentiation using VEGF-A/C-conjugated PLGA nanospheres was mediated by elevation of expression of the genes that are important for lymphatic vessel formation. Conclusion: Together, we not only established an improved protocol for LEC differentiation using PLGA nanospheres but also provided a platform technology for the mechanistic study of LEC development in mammals.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2005

Poly(L-lactic acid-co-succinic acid-co-l,4-butane diol) (PLASB) was synthesized by direct condensation copolymerization of L-lactic acid (LA), succinic acid (SA), and 1,4-butanediol (BD) in the bulk using titanium(IV) butoxide as a catalyst. The weight-average molecular weight ofPLASB was $2.1{\times}10^{5}$ when the contents of SA and BD were each 0.5 mol/100 mol of LA. Electrospinning was used to fabricate porous membranes from this newly synthesized bioabsorbable PLASB dissolved in mixed solvents of methylene chloride and dimethylformamide. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images indicated that the fiber diameters and nanostructured morphologies of the electrospun membranes depended on the processing parameters, such as the solvent ratioand the polymer concentration. By adjusting both the solvent mixture ratio and the polymer concentration, we could fabricate uniform nanofiber non-woven membranes. Cell proliferation on the electrospun porous PLASB membranes was evaluated using mouse fibroblast cells; we compare these results with those of the cell responses on bulk PLASB films.

• 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.

• Korea-Australia Rheology Journal
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.125-131
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• 2007

Biodegradable polymeric blends are expected to be widely used by industry due to their environmental friendliness and comparable mechanical and thermal properties. Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) are such biodegradable polymers which aim to replace commodity polymers in future applications. Since cost and brittleness of PLA is quite high, it is not economically feasible to use it alone for day to day use as a packaging material without blending. In this study, blends of PLA and PBS with various compositions were prepared by using a laboratory-scale twin-screw extruder at $180^{\circ}C$. Morphological, thermal, rheological and mechanical properties were investigated on the samples obtained by compression molding to explore suitability of these compositions for packaging applications. Morphology of the blends was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Morphology showed a clear phase difference trend depending on blend composition. Modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) thermograms of the blends indicated that the glass transition temperature ($T_g$) of PLA did not change much with the addition of PBS, but analysis showed that for PLA/PBS blend of up to 80/20 composition there is partial miscibility between the two polymers. The tensile strength and modulus were measured by the Instron Universal Testing Machine. Tensile strength, modulus and percentage (%) elongation at break of the blends decreased with PBS content. However, tensile strength and modulus values of PLA/PBS blend for up to 80/20 composition nearly follow the mixing rule. Rheological results also show miscibility between the two polymers for PBS composition less than 20% by weight. PBS reduced the brittleness of PLA, thus making it a contender to replace plastics for packaging applications. This work found a partial miscibility between PBS and PLA by investigating thermal, mechanical and morphological properties.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.249-253
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• 2013

From poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) synthesized using $CO_2$, a PLA/PPC/PLA layered film is prepared by coextrusion and then stretched to uniaxial orientation. The mechanical, optical, and barrier properties and shrinkage of the prepared film were investigated in detail. The maximum shrinkage of PLA/PPC/PLA film reached to 60% at $75^{\circ}C$. With increasing PPC content, the ratio of shrinkage of the film was increased and its shrinkagerate was increased. The ratio of shrinkage of the film decreased with increasing stretching temperature. The prepared film has oxygen and vapor transmission barrier properties. In this study, the PLA/PPC/PLA film is expected to be commercialized as a environmentally friendly shrinkable film.