• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.609-613
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• 2008

Poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (PCL-PEG-PCL) multiblock copolymers at various hydrophobic-hydrophilic ratios were successfully synthesized by the chain extension of triblock copolymers through isocyanate (hexamethylene diisocyanate). Biodegradable films were prepared from the resulting multiblock copolymers using the casting method. The mechanical properties of the films were improved by chain extension of the triblock copolymers, whereas the films prepared by the triblock copolymers were weak and brittle. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) of the multiblock copolymer film showed that the hydrophilic PEG had segregated on the film surface. This is consistent with the observed contact angle of the films.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 1999

This paper describes how the gold particles self assemble on the specific phase on the microphase separated block copolymer thin film and form a well ordered patterns. For this study, polystyrene-polybutadiene-polystyrene (PS-PB-PS) triblock copolymer (30wt % PS) thin films (${\sim}100nm$) having a cylindrical morphology were cast from 0.1wt% toluene solution to be used as polymer thin film templates. The films having either vertical PS cylinders or in-plane PS cylinders in PB matrix from each different solvent evaporation condition were obtained. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy(TEM) was used to study the surface and bulk morphologies of block copolymer thin films. Small amount of gold particles was evaporated on a block copolymer thin film template to obtain a nano-scale pattern. When an as-cast thin film template was used, gold particles preferentially self assemble on the low surface tension PB phase and a relatively well ordered pattern in nano-scale was produced. However, after the formation of a low surface energy PB rich layer upon annealing, a gold self-assembled pattern was not observed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Fiber Society Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.299-300
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• 2007

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.560-567
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• 1997

A new approach to obtain stable $W_1/O/W_2$ multiple emulsions has been studied ; The basis of the interfacial interaction between a PCL-PEO-PCL triblock copolymer and a lipophilic emulsifier in the dispersed oil phase was examined. $W_1/O/W_2$ multiple emulsions were prepared by the two-step method. Arlacel P-l35 was used as a liphophilic emulsifier and Synperonic PE/F 127 as a hydrophilic one. Eutanol-G was used as an oil phase. NaCl was encapsulated within the multiple emulsion droplets as the internal marker and its release rate studies were carried out. The suability of the multiple emulsions have been assessed by measuring Separation Ratios(%) and microscopic observations. The release of NaCl was significantly reduced in $W_1/O/W_2$ multiple emulsions containing PCL-PEO-PCL triblock copolymer(2k-4k-2k or 6k-4k-6k) in the oil phase. It may be concluded that the copolymer and the emulsifier form effective interfacial complex to enhance stability and to control the release rate. The effective diffusion coefficients of the NaCl were estimated as $2.64{\times}10^{-15}s$and $3.23{\times}10^{-16}gcm^2/s$ for the $W_1/O/W_2$ multiple emulsion containing 1.2 wt % of PCL-PEO-PCL triblock copolymers with compositions of 2k-4k-2k and 6k-4k-2k, respectively. The rate of release decreased with the increase of the initial concentration of NaCl. The results were examined in view of Higuchi mechanism. A kinetic model which is similar to the model for release of dispersed drugs from a polymeric matrix was found to be suitable for the release of NaCl from $W_1/O/W_2$ multiple emulsions.

• 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.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.911-912
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• 2008

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 2003

The self-assembly of asymmetric ABC triblock copolymers in the ordered structure is investigated using an isothermal-isobaric molecular dynamics simulation. Unlike symmetric A BC triblock copolymers, more fascinating mophologies are observed in asymmetric ones because of a larger difference of incompatibility between the components. Various modes of self-assembly in assymmetric ABC triblock copolymers are also observed depending on the block composition. When the composition of block A Is changed from 0.125: to 0.25 at the same $f_B$ : 0.25, the morphological transition from the “cylinder in cylinder” to “cylinders at cylinder” structure is observed in the simulation. In the case of ABC triblocks with $f_B$=0.5, a lamellar-type structure is changed to a cylinder-type structure with increasing the length of block A. When the midblock length increases further to $f_B$=0.625, the “spheres on cylinder” structure is observed in both the $A_{10}$$B_{50}$$C_{20}$ and $A_{20}$$B_{50}$$C_{10}$ triblocks. From these results, the phase diagram of ABC triblock copolymers can be constructed.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.504-510
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• 2003

The aim of this study is to prepare biodegradable microspheres without the use of surfactants or emulsifiers for a novel sustained delivery carriers of protein drugs. A poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone)/poly(ethylene glycol)/poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (CEC) triblock copolymer was synthesized by the ring-opening of $\varepsilon$-caprolactone with dihydroxy poly (ethylene glycol) to prepare surfactant-free microspheres. When dichloromethane (DCM) or ethyl formate (EF) was used as a solvent, the formation of microspheres did not occur. Although the microspheres could be formed prior to lyophilization under certain conditions, the morphology of microspheres was not maintained during the filtration and lyophilization process. Surfactant-free microspheres were only formed when ethyl acetate (EA) was used as the organic solvent and showed good spherical micro-spheres although the surfaces appeared irregular. The content of the protein in the micro-sphere was lower than expected, probably because of the presence of water channels and pores. The protein release kinetics showed a burst release until 2 days and after that sustained release pattern was showed. Therefore, these observations indicated that the formation of microsphere without the use of surfactant is feasible, and, this the improved process, the protein is readily incorporated in the microsphere.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.1638-1642
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• 2012

A series of poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) tri and multiblock copolymers with relatively high molecular weights were synthesized through the coupling reaction between the bis(acyl chloride) of carboxylated PLA and mono or dihydroxy PEG. The coupling reaction and the copolymer structures were monitored by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The melting temperature (Tm) of PEG blocks decreased with the presence of PLA sequences attaching to PEG blocks. The CMC values were determined to be 10-145 mg/L depending on the length of PLA and PEG blocks and the structure of the block copolymers.

• Proceedings of the Korean Fiber Society Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.179-180
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• 2003

ABA triblock copolymer made up of long middle block(B) and sho.1 terminal blocks(A) is being widely used as thermoplastic elastomers. Block copolymers with non-polar hydrophobic polystyrene and polar hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) blocks has been prepared and the physical properties of the solutions of PS-PEG-PS in polar (dimethyl formamide, DMF) and non-polar solvent (benzene) were investigateded[-3]. (omitted)