• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.69 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2024

In this study, two types of biodegradable film prototypes were produced using plastic resin containing rice powder. The application of these biodegradable films in sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam) fields and their impacts of plant growth, yield, and the soil environment were assessed, in comparison with Polyethylene (PE) film. The light transmittance of the biodegradable film containing 30% of 350 mesh rice powder (BF30-350RP) was 0.8%, which was lower than the 2.0% light transmittance of the biodegradable film containing 40% of 500 mesh rice powder (BF40-500RP) and 2.7% light transmittance of PE film. Surface temperature measurements on clear day indicated that the PE film exhibited the lowest temperature, with the minimal difference observed between BF40-500RP and BF30-350RP. Assessment of the damage ratio resulting from agricultural work revealed a ranking of 0.4% for the PE film, 3.3% for BF500-400RP, and 5.3% for BF350-30RP. Visible decomposition of BF40-500RP and BF30-350RP commenced after 40 and 30 days of outdoor exposure, reaching 62.3% and 70.4% decomposition at 90 days post-exposure, respectively. The decomposition of biodegradable films applied to sweetpotato fields progressed more slowly in BF40-500RP than in BF30-350RP. The BF40-500RP film on the surface of the ridges was decomposed by 5%, 30%, 55%, and 90% after 30, 60, 90, and 120 days after planting sweetpotato cuttings, respectively. Both types of biodegradable films at the ridge and furrow borders were completely decomposed after 75 days of sweetpotato planting. In a field where the surface was sealed by mulching without growing sweetpotatoes, the soil moisture and its deviation were lower in the order of PE film, BF40-500RP, and BF30-350RP, but the differences were not significant. The soil temperature was higher for PE film mulching than for the biodegradable films containing rice powder, but the differences were small. Two months after sweetpotato planting, the daily average soil moisture decreased by 2.5%point for BF30-350RP mulching, 1.5%point for BF40-500RP mulching, and 1.1%point for PE film mulching over seven days. Soil temperature was similar for both biodegradable film mulches, but increased steadily for the PE film mulch, reaching a daily average of 0.1℃ higher than for the biodegradable films. Sweetpotato vine growth and tuber yield were similar for all the mulching films tested.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.42-46
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• 2003

Cell attachment and proliferation on the polymer films of triblock copolymer(ester-ether)s comprising po1y (L-1actide) (PLLA) and poly (oxyethylene-co-oxypropylene)(PN) were investigated using 3T3 fibroblasts. It was found that on the tissue culture polystyrene(TCPS) and the PLLA control film the cells could spread well while on the copolymer films the cells showed a rounded morphology without spreading and proliferated weakly. Especially, little cells proliferated on the films of copolymer having a LN composition of 20 wt%. While the water absorption of the copolymer films increased with increasing PN content, the contact angle against water of copolymer films immersed in aqueous medium was almost identical, being slightly lower than that of the PLLA film. These properties were compatible with the results of cell attachment. The in vitro hydrolysis of the films of triblock and multiblock type copolymers was faster with increasing PN content. The increased hydrolyzability, the flexibility and the decreased cell attachment suggested that these copolymers may have high potential as biodegradable materials for medical use.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.939-943
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• 1999

Recently there has been an explosion of interest in the topic of biodegradable polymers for medical applications. In this study, films were prepared by solution casting method using natural polymers (xanthan, locust bean, guar gum, chitosan and algin) as biomaterials. Biocompatibility of films prepared from natural polymer as a skin implant was evaluated. These biodegradable films were subcutaneously implanted in the back of rats and their biodegradability was investigated by the evaluation of changes in structure, film weight and hematology as a function of time for the biotransformation. The result of rats test showed that locust bean and guar gum induced some suspects of non-biocompatibility in the tissue by foreign body reaction 24 and 48 hrs after implantation. These results showed the potential of partial biodegradable films prepared from natural polymer for ideal skin biomaterials at short period.

• 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.

• Composites Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.40-45
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• 2015

The purpose of the present work was to preparation and study of full biodegradable Eco-friendly bio-composites by using renewable resources. In this study, wheat protein isolate (WPI) films were formed by cross linking with resorcinol through solution casting method for packaging applications. By varying the resorcinol content (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 wt %), its effect on mechanical properties of the wheat protein isolate film was measured. The addition of 20% resorcinol led to an overall increase in the tensile strength from 5.2 to 18.6 MPa and modulus increase from 780 to 1132 MPa than WPI films. The % elongation was increased from 2.8 to 9.05 when compared to unmodified WPI film. A thermal phase transition of the prepared WPI was assessed by means of DSC. FTIR is evident that the characteristic WPI spectral IR bands shifted on cross-linking with resorcinol.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.691-709
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• 2007

Concerns on environmental waste problems caused by non-biodegradable petrochemical-based plastic packaging materials as well as consumer's demand for high quality food products has caused an increasing interest in developing biodegradable packaging materials using annually renewable natural biopolymers such as polysaccharides and proteins. However, inherent shortcomings of natural polymer-based packaging materials such as low mechanical properties and low water resistance are causing a major limitation for their industrial use. By the way, recent advent of nanocomposite technology rekindled interests on the use of natural biopolymers in the food packaging application. Polymer nanocomposites, especially natural biopolymer-layered silicate nanocomposites, exhibit markedly improved packaging properties due to their nanometer size dispersion. These improvements include increased mechanical strength, decreased gas permeability, and increased water resistance. Additionally, biologically active ingredients can be added to impart the desired functional properties to the resulting packaging materials. Consequently, natural biopolymer-based nanocomposite packaging materials with bio-functional properties have huge potential for application in the active food packaging industry. In this review, recent advances in the preparation and characterization of natural biopolymer-based nanocomposite films, and their potential use in food packaging applications are addressed.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.21-26
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• 1998

Polyvinyl alcohol[PVA] is useful for the production of water-soluble packaging, paper, textile sizes. PVA and Chitosan are known as biodegradable polymers. PVA/chitosan blend films were prepared by solution blends method in the weight ratio of chitosan for the purpose of useful biodegradable films. Thermal and mechanical properties of PVA/chitosan blend films such as DSC, impact strength, tensile strength and morphology by SEM were determined. As a result, The ratio of 10.0wt% PVA/chitosan blend films were similar to PVA. Blend films were completely degraded pH 4.0 better than 7.0, 10.0 in the buffer solution. Also, Blend films were rapidly degraded enzyme(${\beta}-glucosidase$) solution better than pH solution by Enzymolysis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.394-399
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• 2017

To resolve environmental pollution caused by synthetic packaging materials, biodegradable films have been studied as an alternative. In this study, we prepared rockfish skin gelatin (RFG) and nano-clay (Cloisite $Na^+$ and Cloisite 10A) composite films to compare the effects of nano-clay on the physical properties of RFG film. Gelatin was extracted from rockfish skin and used to prepare RFG film with sorbitol as a plasticizer. Tensile strength (TS), water vapor permeability (WVP), and water solubility (WS) of the RFG film were 15.0 MPa, $2.70{\times}10^{-9}g\;m/m^2\;s\;Pa$, and 53.8%, respectively. Addition of nano-clay to the RFG film increased TS and decreased WVP and WS. The X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopic results suggest that RFG/nano-clay composite films formed an exfoliated structure. These results indicate that RFG/nano-clay composite films can be applied as biodegradable packaging materials in the food industry.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 1994

A new local drug delivery device to treat otitis media (OM) has been developed. This device consists of a biodegradable poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) film containing antibiotic (ampicillin, AMP), which can be placed into the middle ear cavity and release the therapeutic concentration of AMP for prolonged period. Biodegradable films containing AMP (10 w/w%) were prepared by solution casting method using a suspension of the drug in a $PLLA/CH_{2}Cl_{2}$ solution (molecular weight of PLLA, 100,000 (100 K) and 300,000 (300 K), respectively). PLLA-AMP films were characterized by FTIR, DSC, and SEM. In vitro release of AMP from AMP-PLLA films were examined. The release pattern of AMP from AMP-PLLA films remained consistent from 1 day to 14 days, and the release rates of AMP from AMP-100K-PLLA film and AMP-300K-PLLA film were $0.7384\;{\mu}g/ml/day$, $0.4107\;{\mu}g/ml/day$, respectively.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.133-141
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• 2017

This article described the development of transparent antimicrobial oxo-biodegradable (AOB) film with the function of enhanced freshness of food by employing oxo-biodegradable masterbatch (MB) and antimicrobial MB together with organic metal salt, organic acid, or unsaturated fatty acid. Antibacterial test of the AOB film with the different contents of the antimicrobial MB resulted in the significant freshness extension of plum. Tensile strength and elongation rate of the AOB films before UV treatment were similar to those of polyethylene films used as control. The reduced mechanical properties of AOB film after UV treatment (340 nm) suggested that the AOB film could be degraded by oxo biodegradation. The developed AOB films can effectively prevent decomposition of food by providing antibacterial function and preserving freshness.