• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.424-429
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• 2009

In this study, we demonstrate that the biological unnatural amino acid incorporation method can be utilized in vivo to synthesize an alkyne-terminated telechelic protein, Synthesis of terminally-functionalized polymers such as telechelic polymers is recognized to be important, since they can be employed usefully in many areas of biology and material science, such as drug delivery, colloidal dispersion, surface modification, and formation of polymer network. The introduction of alkyne groups into polymeric material is particularly interesting since the alkyne group can be a linker to combine other materials using click chemistry. To synthesize the telechelic recombinant protein, we attempted to incorporate the L-homopropargylglycine into the recombinant GroES fragment by expressing the recombinant gene encoding Met at the codons for both N- and C-terminals of the protein in the Met auxotrophic E. coli via Hpg supplementation. The Hpg incorporation rate was investigated and the incorporation was confirmed by MALDI-TOF analysis of the telcchelic recombinant protein.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.222-231
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• 2009

Shirasu-porous-glass (SPG) membrane emulsification is highly attractive in the field of toner industries, foods and drug delivery systems because of its easy control of particle size in micro-scale, narrow size distribution and multiple emulsion. The particle size and morphology of emulsion droplets can be controlled by changing the type of initiators, additives, monomers, crosslinkers and inhibitors in SPG membrane emulsification. In this paper, principles of SPG membrane emulsification, influence of process parameters and industrial applications have been addressed.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2003

The objective of this study was to develop a polymeric drug delivery system for camptothecin (CPT), capable of improving its therapeutic index and reducing its side effects. A monomeric conjugate, 3,6-endo-methylene-1,2,3,6-tetrahydrophthalimidoethanoylcamptothecin in (ETECPT) between CPT and 3,6-endo-methylene-1,2,3,6-tetrahydrophthalimidoethanoic acid was synthesized. Its homo-and copolymer with acrylic acid (AA) were prepared by photopolymerization using 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone (DMP) as a photoinitiator. The monomer and its polymers were characterized by IR, $^1$H- and $^{13}$ C-NMR spectra. The ETECPT content in poly(ETECPT-co-AA) obtained by elemental analysis was 82 wt%. The number-average molecular weights of the polymers determined by gel permeation chromatography were as follows: M$_{n}$ = 11,400 for poly(ETECPT), M$_{n}$ = 17,900 for poly(ETECPT-co-AA). The $IC_{50}$/ values of ETECPT and its polymers against cancer cells were much larger than that of CPT. Our results from the in vivo antitumor activity indicated that all polymers show high antitumor activity than CPT at a dose of 100 mg/kg./kg.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.548-552
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• 2004

Intracanal disinfection of infected root canal is one of important treatment procedure. This in vitro study aimed to evaluate whether the surface polymers of controlled release drug (CRD) can effectively control the release rate of chlorhexidine for root canal disinfection. Four CRD prototypes were prepared: Group A (n=12); The core device (absorbent paper point) was loaded with 40% CHX solution as control. Group B (n=12); same as group A, but the device was coated with chitosan. Group C (n=12); same as group A and then coated three times with 5% PMMA. Group D (n=12); same as group A and then coated three times with 3% PLGA. All CRD prototypes were soaked in 3 mL distilled water for experimental periods and the concentrations of released CHX from each CRD prototype were determined using a UV spectrophotometer. Results showed that release rate of CHX were the greatest in the non-coated group (control group), followed by the chitosan-coated group, the PLGA-coated group, and the PMMA-coated group (P < 0.05). This data indicate that surface polymers can control the release rate of CHX from the CRD prototypes.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2014

In this paper, we made a new polycationic polymeric liposome composed of low molecular weight polyethylenimine (PEI) and 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid (PCDA). PCDA liposome was prepared by ultraviolet irradiation. PEI was further conjugated on the surface of the polymerized PCDA liposome using coupling reagents to make PCDA-PEI. The blue-to-red transition of PCDA liposome was observed during the coupling reaction. The size distribution of liposome and complexes with plasmid DNA was measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The complex formation was also identified by agarose gel electrophoresis and PicoGreen reagent assay. We confirmed the complex formation of the polymeric liposome with DNA and then performed transfection and cytotoxicity assay in HEK 293 and HeLa cells. As a result, PCDA-PEI showed significant gene transfection efficiency and low cytotoxicity. This study shows that PEI-conjugated PCDA liposome could be an efficient gene or drug delivery carrier.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.239-247
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• 2011

Simvastatin is an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, which catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, an early and rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of cholesterol. Simvastatin has good permeability, but it also has low solubility (BCS class II), which reduces its bioavailability. To overcome this problem, a solid dispersion is formed using a spray-dryer with polymeric material carrier to potentially enhance the dissolution rate and extend drug absorption. As carriers for solid dispersion, Gelucire$^{(R)}$44/14 and Gelucire$^{(R)}$ 50/13 are semisolid excipients that greatly improve the bioavailability of poorly-soluble drugs. To avoid any toxic effects of an organic solvent, we used aqueous medium to melt Tween$^{(R)}$ 80 and distilled water. The structural behaviors of the raw materials and the solid dispersion were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The DSC and PXRD data indicated that the crystalline structure of simvastatin was transformed to an amorphous structure through solid dispersion. Then, solid dispersion-based tablets containing 20 mg simvastatin were prepared with excipients. Dissolution tests were performed in distilled water and artificial intestinal fluid using the USP paddle II method. Compared with that of the commercial tablet (Zocor$^{(R)}$ 20 mg), the release of simvastatin from solid dispersion based-tablet was more efficient. Although the stability study is not complete, this solid dispersion system is expected to deliver poorly water-soluble drugs with enhanced bioavailability and less toxicity.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.35-47
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• 1992

Hydrogel coated ring shaped ocular inserts (containing the antibiotic, tylosin tartrate) were used in an evaluation of the effectiveness of polymeric ocular drug release devices for treating infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis. The in vivo experiments represent the first experiments using hydrogel ocular inserts containing an antibiotic for treating infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis. In the infection tests, ten calves. were challenged with $2.4{\times}10^8{\sim}1.6{\times}10^9$ Moraxella bovis (a bacterium) colonies per eye following two ten minute ultraviolet radiation eye preconditioning exposures. Ninety five percent of the eyes (19 of 20 eyes) were successfully infected by this method. All infected eyes were monitored for the presence of the bacteria quantitiatively, and clinical observations were made for 14 days. The test was performed by three consecutive steps: 1) inoculation with 2 ultraviolet (UV) radiations, 2) growth of bacterial colonies and 3) treatment with medicated ring-shaped devices. The first. bacteriological measurements after 2 UV exposures were performed at day 3 of the tests. At day 7 after inoculation of both eyes of a calf with M. bovis, a medicated or a non-medicated ring-shaped device was inserted into each eye of a calf. The eye receiving the non-medicated ring was taken as a control for comparison with the eye that received a medicated ring. During the next 7 day period following a medicated ring insertion, the number of bacteria in the treated eyes dropped dramatically to negligible levels (0 to 30 colony forming units/swab), while the control eyes which received a non-medicated ring still exhibited a relatively high number of bacteria ($10^3\;to\;10^6$ colony forming units/swab). The number of bacteria was significantly reduced by the antibiotic released from the medicated ocular insert.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.191-196
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• 2001

Biodegradable polymeric microspheres were studied for their usefulness as carriers for the delivery of vaccine antigens. However, protein antigen could be denatured during microencapsulation processes due to the exposure to the organic phase and stress condition of cavitation and shear force. Therefore this study was carried out to re-evaluate the degree of protein denaturation during microencapsulation with poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) copolymer. PLGA microspheres containing ovalbumin (OVA), prepared by W/O/W multiple emulsification method, were suspended in pH 7.4 PBS and incubated with shaking at $37.5^{\circ}C$. Drug released medium was collected periodically and analyzed for protein contents by micro-BCA protein assay. In order to evaluate the protein integrity, release medium was subjected to the analyses of SDS-PAGE and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). And enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was introduced to measure the immunoreactivity of entrapped OVA and to get an insight into the three-dimensional structure of epitope. The structures of entrapped protein were not affected significantly by the results of SDS-PAGE and SEC. However, immunoreactivity of released antigen was varied, revealing the possibility of protein denaturation in some microspheres when it was evaluate by ELISA method. Therefore, in order to express the degree of protein denaturation, antigenicity ratio (AR) was obtained as follows: amount of immunoreactivity of OVA/total amount of OVA released ${\times}100(%)$. ELISA method was an efficient tool to detect a protein denaturation during microencapsulation and the comparison of AR values resulted in more accurate evaluation for immunoreactivity of entrapped protein.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.183-188
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• 2003

The controlled delivery of anticancer agents using biodegradable polymeric implant has been developed to solve the problem of penetration of blood brain barrier and severe systemic toxicity. This study was performed to prepare 5-FU-loaded poly (L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) wafer fabricated microparticles prepared by two different method and to evaluate their release profile for the application of the treatment of brain tumor. 5-FU-loaded PLGA microparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). SEM observation of the 5-FU-loaded PLGA microparticles prepared by rotary solvent evaporation method showed that 5-FU was almost surrounded by PLGA and significant reduction of crystallinity of 5-FU was confirmed by XRD. In case of release profile of 5-FU from 5-FU-loaded PLGA wafer fabricated microparticles prepared by mechanical mixing, the release profile of 5-FU followed near first order release kinetics. In contrast to the above result, release profile of 5-FU from 5-FU-loaded PLGA wafer fabricated microparticles prepared by rotary solvent evaporation method followed near zero order release kinetics. These results indicate that preparation method of the 5-FU-loaded PLGA microparticles to fabricate into wafers was contributed to drug release profile.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2008

The enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect is used extensively for the passive targeting of many macromolecular drugs for tumors. Indeed, the EPR concept has been a gold standard in polymeric anticancer drug delivery systems. This study investigated the tumoral distribution of self-assembled nanoparticles based on the EPR effect using fluorescein and radio-labeled nanoparticles. Self-assembled nanoparticles were prepared from amphiphilic chitosan derivatives, and their tissue distribution was examined in tumor-bearing mice. The size of the nanoparticles was controlled to be 330 run, which is a size suited for opening between the defective endothelial cells in tumors. The long-circulating polymer nanoparticles were allowed to gradually accumulate in the tumors for 11 days. The amount of nanoparticles accumulated in the tumors was remarkably augmented from 3.4%ID/g tissue at 1 day to 25.9%ID/g tissue at 11 days after i.v. administration. The self-assembled nanoparticles were sustained at a high level throughout the 14 day experimental period, indicating their long systemic retention in the blood circulation. The ${\gamma}$-images provided clear evidence of selective tumor localization of the $^{131}I$-labeled nanoparticles. Confocal microscopy revealed the fluorescein-labeled nanoparticles to be preferentially localized in the perivascular regions, suggesting their extravasation to the tumors through the hyperpermeable angiogenic tumor vasculature. This highly selective tumoral accumulation of nanoparticles was attributed to the leakiness of the blood vessels in the tumors and their long residence time in the blood circulation.