• Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.47-59
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• 2015

A bioactive and multifunctional elastin-like polymer (ELP) was produced by genetic engineering techniques to develop new artificial matrices with the ability to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM). The basic composition of this ELP is a thermo- and pH-sensitive elastin pentapeptide which has been enriched with RGD-containing domains, the RGD loop of fibronectin, for recognition by integrin receptors on their sequence to promote efficient cell attachment. Hydrogels of this RGD-containing polymer were obtained by crosslinking with hexamethylene diisocyanate, a lysine-targeted crosslinker. These materials retain the "smart" nature and temperature-responsive character, and the desired mechanical behavior of the elastin-like polymer family. The influence of the degree of crosslinking on the morphology and properties of the matrices were tested by calorimetric techniques and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Their mechanical behavior was studied by dynamical mechanical analysis (DMA). These results show the potential of these materials in biomedical applications, especially in the development of smart systems for tissue engineering.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.109-115
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• 2001

Pore-filled ion-exchange membranes in which polypropylene(PP) microporous membrane was used as a nascent membrane were prepared by an in-situ cross-linking technique. Poly(vinylbenzyl chloride)(PVBCI) reacted with piperazine(PIP) or 1,4-diaminobicyclo[2,2,2]octane(DABCO) in a di-methylforamide(DMF) solution was filled in the pores of the microporous base membrane. After gellation the remaining chloromethyl groups were, then reacted with an amine such as trimethylamine to form positively charged, ammonium site. This will produce the pore-filled anion-exchange membrane. It was shown that this simple 2 step procedure gave dimensionally stable, pore-filled membranes in which the MG of polymer gel and degree of cross-linking could be easily controlled by the concentration of PVBCI and cross-linker in the starting DMF solution. Specially, high water permeability (7.8 kg/$m^2$hr, host membrane: PP3, MG: 73%, degree of cross-linking: 10%, crosslinker: PIP) at ultra low pressure(100 kPa) indicates the produced pore-filled membranes is usable as a water softening membrane.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.333-340
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• 2009

This paper is designed with the purpose of improving the efficiency of the sulfonic acid ion exchange membranes by radiation induced graft polymerization. It has been shown that the porous hollow fiber membranes could cause permeability blocking between pores and ion exchanged graft chains. Addition of crosslinker such as N-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate will permit to increase the permeation flux. In this research, the ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) and diethylene glycol dimethacrylate (DDMA) with different length are used as crosslinkers. The ion exchanged cross-linked membrane (EDMA, DDMA) containing sulfonic acid group by radiation induced grafted polymerization are sn died for adsorb metal ions (Pb). It has been shown that adsorbed metal ions ($Pb^{2+}$) for the EDMA and DDMA membranes with the density of sulfonic acid groups, 1.40 mmol/g and 2.14 mmol/g, respectively are 13.82 mg/g, 17.37 mg/g, accordingly.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.376-380
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• 2010

Donor-$\pi$-acceptor (D-$\pi$-A) type chromophore-based polymers were newly synthesized. These polymers exhibited absorption peak due to intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) in a visible range as well as absorption peak due to carbonyl group in both solution and film state by measuring UV visible spectra. The addition of $Eu^{3+}$ ion into the polymers induced red-shift in absorption due to ICT and the color changes from yellow to red in the solution and film were observed by naked eyes. The contents of crosslinking agent influenced the features and solubility of the polymers. In addition, the contents of crosslinking agent and the $Eu^{3+}$ ion addition improved film-forming ability.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.632-637
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• 2014

A microfluidic method for the in situ production of monodispersed alginate hydrogels using biocompatible polymer gelation by crosslinker mass transfer is described. Gelation of the hydrogel was achieved in situ by the dispersed calcium ion in the microfluidic device. The capillary number (Ca) and the flow rate of the disperse phase which are important operating parameters mainly influenced the formation of three distinctive flow regions, such as dripping, jetting, and unstable dripping. Under the formation of dripping region, monodispersed alginate hydrogels having a narrow size distribution (C.V=2.71%) were produced in the microfluidic device and the size of the hydrogels, ranging from 30 to $60{\mu}m$, could be easily controlled by varying the flow rate, viscosity, and interfacial tension. This simple microfluidic method for the production of monodisperse alginate hydrogels shows strong potential for use in delivery systems of foods, cosmetics, inks, and drugs, and spherical alginate hydrogels which have biocompatibility will be applied to cell transplantation.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.253-260
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• 2010

In this study, we prepared and evaluated a series of biocompatible and biodegradable block copolymer hydrogels with a delayed swelling property for tissue expander application. The hydrogels were synthesized via a radical crosslinking reaction of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) diacrylate and poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)(PLGA-PEG-PLGA) triblock copolymer diacrylate as a swelling/degradation controller (SDC). For the synthesis of various SDCs that can lead to different degradation and swelling properties, various PLGA-PEG-PLGA triblock copolymers with different LA/GA ratios and different PLGA block lengths were synthesized and modified to have terminal acrylate groups. The resultant hydrogels were flexible and elastic even in the dry state. The in vitro degradation tests showed that the delayed swelling properties of the hydrogels could be modulated by varying the chemical composition of the biodegradable crosslinker (SDC) and the block ratio of SDC/PEG. The histopathologic observation after implantation of hydrogels in mice was performed and evaluated by macrography and microscopy. Any significant inflammation or necrosis was not observed in the implanted tissues. Due to their biocompatibility, elasticity, sufficient swelling pressure, delayed swelling and controllable degradability, the hydrogels could be useful for tissue expansion and other biomedical applications.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.469-476
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• 2009

In this study, biodegradable superporous hydrogels(SPHs) with fast swelling and superabsorbent properties were prepared using biodegradable crosslinkers and their physicochemical properties were characterized. A biodegradable crosslinker (PLA-PEG-PLA DA) was synthesized by a ring opening polymerization of D,L-lactide (LA) using hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) as a macroinitiator, followed by diacrylation of the end groups for the introduction of polymerizable vinyl groups. Various kinds of hydrogels with different chemical compositions were prepared and characterized in terms of swelling ratio, swelling kinetics, and biodegradation properties. The synthetic results were confirmed by $^1H$-NMR, FT-IR and GPC measurements, and the porous structures of the prepared SPHs and their porosities were identified by a scanning electron microscope and mercury porosimetry, respectively. The physicochemical properties of SPHs could be controlled by varying their chemical compositions and their cytotoxicity were found to be very low by MTT assay.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3781-3789
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• 2012

Background: Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive tumors with a dismal prognosis. The membrane cytoskeletal crosslinker Ezrin participates in several functions including cell proliferation, adhesion, motility and survival. There is increasing evidence that Ezrin is overexpressed in vast majority of malignant tumors and regulates tumor progression. However, its roles in pancreatic cancer remain elusive. Methods: Three pairs of specific Ezrin siRNAs were designed and synthetized and screened to determine the most efficient one for construction of a hairpin RNA plasmid targeting Ezrin. After transfection into the Panc-1 pancreatic cancer cell line, real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting were performed to examine the expression of mRNA and protein. The MTT method was applied to examine the proliferation and the drug sensibility to Gemcitabine. Flow cytometry was used to assess the cycle and apoptosis, while capacity for invasion was determined with transwell chambers. Furthermore, we detected phosphorylated-Erk1/2 protein and phosphorylated-Akt protein by Western blotting. Results: Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting revealed that Ezrin expression was notably down-regulated at both mRNA and protein levels by RNA interference (P< 0.01). Proliferation was inhibited and drug resistance to gemcitabine was improved (P< 0.05). Flow cytometry showed that the proportion of cells in the G1/G0 phase increased (P< 0.01), and in G2/M and S phases decreased (P< 0.05), with no apparent differences in apoptosis (P> 0.05). The capacity for invasion was markedly reduced (P< 0.01). In addition, down-regulating Ezrin expression had no effect on phosphorylated-Akt protein (P>0.05), but could decrease the level of phosphorylated-Erk1/2 protein (P< 0.05). Conclusions: RNA interference of Ezrin could inhibit its expression in the pancreatic cancer cells line Panc-1, leading to a potent suppression of malignant behavior in vitro. Assessment of potential as a target for pancreatic cancer treatment is clearly warranted.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.656-661
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• 2012

The palladium nanoparticles were self-assembled to make Pd-POSS using POSS-$NH_3{^+}$ (polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane) as a crosslinker. Graphene oxide (GO) was produced by the reaction of graphite under a strong acid and oxidizer and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) was covalently grafted on the surface of graphene to make PAA-grafted graphene through the radical polymerization of acrylic acid and GO along with a reduction process under $NaBH_4$. The nanocomposites of Pd-POSS and PAA-grafted graphene were fabricated via ionic interactions between positively charged Pd-POSS and negatively charged PAA-grafted graphene. Pd-POSS nanoparticles were attached to the surface of PAA-grafted graphene through ionic interactions. The thermal stability of Pd-POSS/PAA-grafted graphene was higher than that of PAA and PAA-grafted graphene. The composition, structure, surface morphology, and thermal stability of the Pd-POSS/PAA-grafted graphene were studied by FE-SEM, AFM, TEM, FTIR, and TGA.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.224-229
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• 2009

The dielectric properties of semi-IPN poly(phenylene oxide)(PPO) blend/$BaTiO_3$(BT) composites are investigated. The composites are fabricated via melt-mixing of crosslinker and peroxide in precursor PPO composite obtained by precipitating the suspension consisted of PPO, BT and toluene into methylethyl ketone, poor solvent of PPO. The permittivity of the precursor PPO composites shows higher value than that of integral-blended PPO composites by extruder and coincides with the theoretical value calculated by logarithmic rule of mixture. The blend of PPO and cross-linked triallyl isocyanurate is most effective for lowering the permittivity and loss tangent owing to the suppression of the orientation polarization of matrix. In contrast, 4,4'-(1,3-phenylene diisopropylidene) bisaniline, which has amine unit in its structure, increases the permittivity as well as loss tangent of the composite, but it has the ability to densify the matrix resin and the interfacial adhesion between the matrix and filler to improves flexural strength and modulus.