• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.521-527
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• 2001

The miscibility, molecular interaction and tensile properties of the blends of poly (${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone) (PCL) with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) have been studied. The measured glass transition temperature values of PCL/PVC blends were found to be well fitted by Fox equation. We found that PCL/PVC blends are amorphous up to 23% PCL content. The blends showed the highest Young's modulus and yield strength at 5% PCL content and the highest tensile strength at 11% PCL content. The blends with low contents of PCL(up to 13%) show increased tensile strength and decreased elongation of PCL/PVC blends. Consequently, the antiplasticization phenomenon is observed in the PCL/PVC blends.

• Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.735-750
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: The major challenge of tissue engineering is to develop constructions with suitable properties which would mimic the natural extracellular matrix to induce the proliferation and differentiation of cells. Poly(${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone) (PCL-PEG-PCL, PCEC), chitosan (CS), nano-silica ($n-SiO_2$) and nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA) are biomaterials successfully applied for the preparation of 3D structures appropriate for tissue engineering. METHODS: We evaluated the effect of n-HA and $n-SiO_2$ incorporated PCEC-CS nanofibers on physical properties and osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, thermogravimetric analysis, contact angle and mechanical test were applied to evaluate the physicochemical properties of nanofibers. Cell adhesion and proliferation of hDPSCs and their osteoblastic differentiation on nanofibers were assessed using MTT assay, DAPI staining, alizarin red S staining, and QRT-PCR assay. RESULTS: All the samples demonstrated bead-less morphologies with an average diameter in the range of 190-260 nm. The mechanical test studies showed that scaffolds incorporated with n-HA had a higher tensile strength than ones incorporated with $n-SiO_2$. While the hydrophilicity of $n-SiO_2$ incorporated PCEC-CS nanofibers was higher than that of samples enriched with n-HA. Cell adhesion and proliferation studies showed that n-HA incorporated nanofibers were slightly superior to $n-SiO_2$ incorporated ones. Alizarin red S staining and QRT-PCR analysis confirmed the osteogenic differentiation of hDPSCs on PCEC-CS nanofibers incorporated with n-HA and $n-SiO_2$. CONCLUSION: Compared to other groups, PCEC-CS nanofibers incorporated with 15 wt% n-HA were able to support more cell adhesion and differentiation, thus are better candidates for bone tissue engineering applications.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.117-120
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• 2006

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.323-328
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• 2015

Poly(${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone) (PCL) nanofibers and PCL/silica membranes were synthesized by sol-gel derived electrospinning and casting, respectively. Smooth PCL nanofibers were obtained from the precursor containing N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). PCL/silica membranes were prepared by varying the tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) contents from 0 to 40 vol% to investigate the effect of silica addition on mechanical properties and cytotoxicity of the membranes. Although the strength of the membranes decreased from 12 to 8 MPa with increasing the silica content, the strength remained almost constant 7 weeks after dipping in phosphate buffered saline solution (PBS). The strength reduction was attributed to the presence of a patterned surface pores and micro-pores present in the walls between pores. The crystal structure of the membranes was orthorhombic and the crystallite size decreased from 57 to 18 nm with increasing the silica content. From the agar overlay test, the PCL/silica membranes exhibited neither deformation and discoloration nor lysis of L-929 fibroblast cells.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.304-310
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• 1986

A. calcoaceticus C10 grown on cyclohexanol as sole source of carbon and energy produced cyclohexanol dehydrogenase(CDH) and glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) concomitantly. CDH and GDH were different in coenzyme, induction and electrophoretic patterns. CDH depended for activity on $NAD^+$ only, while GDH required $NAD^+$ or $NADP^+$ alternatively. CDH was produced in the medium added cyclohexanol, but GDH was produced in various media such as LB, LB added 0.2% glucose or cyclohexanol and cyclohexanol medium. Productivity of CDH in A. calcoaceticus C10 was enhanced about 8 times by the addition of 0.2% cyclohexanol to LB medium after 4 hours as much as LB medium only. Production of CDH was induced by cyclohexanol, cyclohexanone, cyclohexan-1,2-diol and cyclohexene oxide, but not induced by ${\varepsilon}-caprolactone$ and adipate.

• Korea-Australia Rheology Journal
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.101-105
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• 2000

The crystallization behavior of homo polypropylene (PP) and PP in the PP-poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (PCL) blends during isothermal crystallization has been investigated using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and advanced rheometric expansion system (ARES). From the storage modulus data of the homo PP and PP-PCL blends during isothermal crystallization, the volume fraction of crystallized material ($X_t$) of the homo PP and PP in the PP-PCL blends was calculated using the various rheological models. The results of $X_t$ of the homo PP and PP in the PP-PCL blends from ARES measurement were compared with the results from DSC. The $X_t$ of the homo PP was found to be higher in the ARES measurement than in the DSC. The crystallization rate of the homo PP was found to be faster in the rheological measurements than in the thermal analysis. The $X_t$ of PP in the PP-PCL blends with various compositions was obtained from the thermal analysis and rheological measurements. The $X_t$ of PP in the PP-PCL blends obtained from the thermal analysis and rheological measurements are not consistent. This discrepancy of $X_t$ may be due to the morphological changes resulted from the different crystallization kinetics of PP in the PP-PCL blends.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.139-148
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• 2008

Biodegradable and elastic poly(L-lactide-co-$\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (PLCL) was electrospun to prepare nanofibers, and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) was then grafted onto their surfaces under aqueous conditions using $^{60}Co-{\gamma}$ irradiation. The graft yield increased with increasing irradiation dose from 5 to 10 kGy and the nanofibers showed a greater graft yield compared with the firms. SEM confirmed that the PLCL nanofibers maintained an interconnected pore structure after grafting with NIPAAm. However, overdoses of irradiation led to the excessive formation of homopolymer gels on the surface of thc PLCL nanofibers. The equilibrium swelling and deswelling ratio of the PNIPAAm-g-PLCL nanofibers (prepared with 10 kGy) was the highest among the samples, which was consistent with the graft yield results. The phase-separation characteristics of PNIPAAm in aqueous conditions conferred a unique temperature-responsive swelling behavior of PNIPAAm-g-PLCL nanofibers, showing the ability to absorb a large amount of water at < $32^{\circ}C$, and abrupt collapse when the temperature was increased to $40^{\circ}C$. In accordance with the temperature-dependent changes in swelling behavior, the release rate of indomethacin and FITC-BSA loaded in PNIPAAm-g-PLCL nanofibers by a diffusion-mediated process was regulated by the change in temperature. Both model drugs demonstrated greater release rate at $40^{\circ}C$ relative to that at $25^{\circ}C$. This approach of the temperature-controlled release of drugs from PNIPAAm-g-PLCL nanofibers using gamma-ray irradiation may be used to design drugs and protein delivery carriers in various biomedical applications.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.326-334
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• 2002

The purpose of this work was the producing of a biodegradable poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (PCL) microcapsule and the analyzing of form and features for the manufacturing conditions which could be observed in a prospective drug delivery systems (DDS) through drug release. The effects of different stirring rates, stirring times and concentrations of emulsifier for the diameter and form of the microcapsules were observed using image analyzer (IA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). As a result, the microcapsules were made in wrinkle and spherical forms with a mean particle size of 40~300$\pm$20 $mu extrm{m}$. PCL microcapsules containing drugs were confirmed using FT-IR spectra. The role of interfacial adhesion between PCL and drug was determined by contact angle measurements. The drug release test of PCL microcapsules was characterized by UV/vis. spectra. It was found that the drug release rate of the microcapsules prepared with high concentration emulsifier was significantly fast.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.103-108
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• 2002

The viscosity effect of matrix polymer on melt exfoliation behavior of an organoclay in poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (PCL) was investigated. The viscosity of matrix polymer was controlled by changing the molecular weight of poly($\varepsilon$-eaprolactone), the processing temperature, and the rotor speed of a mini-molder. Applied shear stress facilitates the diffusion of polymer chains into the gallery of silicate layers by breaking silicate agglomerates down into smaller primary particles. When the viscosity of PCL is lower, silicate agglomerates are not perfectly broken into smaller primary particles. At higher viscosity, all of silicate agglomerates are broken down into primary particles, and finally into smaller nano-scale building blocks. It was also found that the degree of exfoliation of silicate layers is dependent upon not only the viscosity of matrix but thermodynamic variables.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.520-526
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• 2007

The effects of poly($({\varepsilon}$-caprolactone) (PCL) on poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) (ABS) and polycarbonate (PC) blends were studied. Blends of ABS/PC (70/30, wt%) with PCL as a compatibilizer were prepared by a twin screw extruder. From the glass transition temperature $(T_g)$ results of the ABS/PC blends with PCL, the $T_g$(PC) of the ABS/PC (70/30) blends decreased with increasing PCL content. From the results of the morphology of the ABS/PC (70/30) blends with PCL, the phase separation between the ABS and PC phases became less significant after adding PCL in the ABS/PC blends. In addition, the morphological studies of the ABS/PC blends etched by NaOH indicated that the shape of the droplet was changed from regular round to irregular round by adding PCL in the ABS/PC blends. These results for the mechanical properties of the ABS/PC blends with PCL indicated that the tensile, flexural and impact strengths of the ABS/PC (70/30) blends peaked at a PCL content of 0.5 phr. From the results for the rheological properties of the ABS/PC (70/30) blends with PCL content, the storage modulus, loss modulus and complex viscosity increased at PCL content up to 5 phr. From the above results of the $T_g$, mechanical properties, morphology and complex viscosity of the ABS/PC blends with PCL, it was concluded that the compatibility was increased with PCL addition in the ABS/PC (70/30, wt%) blends and that the optimum concentration of PCL as a compatibilizer is 0.5 phr.