• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.392-397
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• 2022

We present the structural and optical properties of Au@TiO₂ core-shell microsphere structure prepared by a hydrothermal synthesis method. As a way to improve the efficiency of organic solar cells, the Au@TiO₂ core-shell microsphere was synthesized to use the local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) phenomenon. The synthesized results were confirmed to have the Au@TiO₂ core-shell structure using a high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. An absorption was observed to occur at 527 nm belonging to the visible light region using a visible light spectroscopy, which supports the LSPR phenomenon. We suggest that the Au@TiO₂ core-shell microsphere is highly likely to be applied to organic solar cells including dye-sensitized solar cells. In addition, we expect it to be widely used not only in the energy but also in the bio as well as in the environmental fields.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.167-174
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• 2022

Background: 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (20(S)-PPD), one of the main active metabolites of ginseng, performs a broad spectrum of anti-tumor effects. Our aims are to search out new strategies to enhance anti-tumor effects of natural products, including 20(S)-PPD. In recent years, fasting has been shown to be multi-functional on tumor progression. Here, the effects of fasting combined with 20(S)-PPD on hepatocellular carcinoma growth, apoptosis, migration, invasion and cell cycle were explored. Methods: CCK-8 assay, trypan blue dye exclusion test, imagings photographed by HoloMonitorTM M4, transwell assay and flow cytometry assay were performed for functional analyses on cell proliferation, morphology, migration, invasion, apoptosis, necrosis and cell cycle. The expressions of genes on protein levels were tested by western blot. Tumor-bearing mice were used to evaluate the effects of intermittent fasting combined with 20(S)-PPD. Results: We firstly confirmed that fasting-mimicking increased the anti-proliferation effect of 20(S)-PPD in human HepG2 cells in vitro. In fasting-mimicking culturing medium, the apoptosis and necrosis induced by 20(S)-PPD increased and more cells were arrested at G0-G1 phase. Meanwhile, invasion and migration of cells were decreased by down-regulating the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 in fasting-mimicking medium. Furthermore, the in vivo study confirmed that intermittent fasting enhanced the tumor growth inhibition of 20(S)-PPD in H22 tumor-bearing mice without obvious side effects. Conclusion: Fasting significantly sensitized HCC cells to 20(S)-PPD in vivo and in vitro. These data indicated that dietary restriction can be one of the potential strategies of chinese medicine or its active metabolites against hepatocellular carcinoma.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.121-129
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• 2022

Despite considerable efforts, cancer remains an aggressive killer worldwide. Chemotherapeutic drugs that are currently in use lead to destructive side effects and have not succeeded in fulfilling expectations. For centuries, medicinal plants are used for treating various diseases and are also known to have anticancer activity. The main aim of this research was to evaluate antiproliferative activity of saffron, clove, fenugreek, and green tea on Vero and MDA-MB-231 cell lines and to subsequently analyze the effect of these extracts on IRAK-4, TAK1, IKK-alpha, IKK-beta, NF-Kappa B, IRF3, IRF7 genes in Toll Like Receptors (TLRs) pathway. Antiproliferative assay was done by Neutral Red Dye uptake assay. Methanolic extract of green tea was found to be most effective against both cell lines as IC₅₀ was achieved at least concentration of the extract. For molecular studies, MDAMB-231 cells were sensitized with methanolic extract of green tea at same IC₅₀, and RT-PCR was performed to determine the relative expression of genes. Expression of IRAK-4, TAK1, IKK-beta, NF-Kappa B, IRF3 genes was down regulated and IRF7 and IKKalpha was upregulated. Green tea has a potential cytotoxic effect on both cell lines which was demonstrated by its effect on the expression of (TLRs) pathway genes.

• Clean Technology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.306-313
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• 2014

Nanoporous $TiO_2$ films are commonly used as working electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). So far, there have been attempts to synthesize films with various $TiO_2$ nanostructures to increase the power-conversion efficiency. In this work, vertically aligned rutile $TiO_2$ nanorods were grown on fluorinated tin oxide (FTO) glass by hydrothermal synthesis, followed by deposition of an anatase $TiO_2$ film. This new method of anatase $TiO_2$ growth avoided the use of a seed layer that is usually required in hydrothermal synthesis of $TiO_2$ electrodes. The dense anatase $TiO_2$ layer was designed to behave as the electron-generating layer, while the less dense rutile nanorods acted as electron-transfer pathwaysto the FTO glass. In order to facilitate the electron transfer, the rutile phase nanorods were treated with a $TiCl_4$ solution so that the nanorods were coated with the anatase $TiO_2$ film after heat treatment. Compared to the electrode consisting of only rutile $TiO_2$, the power-conversion efficiency of the rutile-anatase hybrid $TiO_2$ electrode was found to be much higher. The total thickness of the rutile-anatase hybrid $TiO_2$ structures were around $4.5-5.0{\mu}m$, and the highest power efficiency of the cell assembled with the structured $TiO_2$ electrode was around 3.94%.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.667-671
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• 2014

In this study, we suggest a facile method to control conditions of single component independently when preparing consisting two-component metal oxides nanofiber by simply dispersing nanoparticles in precursor solution. The well dispersed $SiO_2$ nanoparticles in $TiO_2$ nanofibers were successfully synthesized through a simple electrospinning process. The as-synthesized nanodfibers were investigated via FE-SEM, XRD and EDS for structural studies, furthermore, the analysis of UV-VIS and photocatalytic activity were carried out for demonstrate the effect of $SiO_2$ nanoparticles dispersed in $TiO_2$ nanofibers. As a result, $TiO_2$ nanofibres dispersed with $SiO_2$ nanoparticles have enhanced photocatalytic activity than that of $TiO_2$ nanofibres only. In this strategy, the introduction of $SiO_2$ nanoparticles in $TiO_2$ nanofibers were attribute to enlarge absorption in the visible region (380~440 nm). Additionally, $Br{\o}nsted$ acid sites generated in each metal oxide of Ti and Si increase OH radicals efficiently as well as it limit recombination loss by holding photogenerated electrons for high efficient photocatalytic activity.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.65-71
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• 2016

In this study, Antimony Tin Oxide (ATO) ion storage layer and $TiO_2$ working electrode were fabricated using Nano Particle Deposition System. NPDS is the cutting-edge technology among the dry deposition methods. Accelerated particles are deposited on the substrate through the nozzle using NPDS. The thicknesses for coated layers were measured and layer's morphology was acquired using SEM. The fabricated electrochromic cell's transmittance was measured using UV-Visible spectrometer and power source at 630 nm. As a result, the integrated electrochromic/DSSC hybrid system was successfully fabricated as an energy harvesting system. The fabricated electrochromic cell was self-operated using DSSC as a power source. In conclusion, the electrochromic cell was operated for 500 cycles, with 49% of maximum transmittance change. Also the photovoltaic efficiency for DSSC was measured to be 2.55% while the electrochromic cell on the integrated system had resulted in 26% of maximum transmittance change.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.129-141
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• 1994

Intracellular ions which have a major role in cellular function have been reported to affect repair of radiation damage. Recently it has been reported that ouabain sensitizes A549 tumor cellls but not CCL-120 normal cells to radiation. Ouabain inhibits the $Na^+-K^+$-pump rapidly thus it increases intracellular Na concentration, Vanadate which is distributed extensively in almost all living organisms is known to be a $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase inhibitors, This study was performed to see any change in radiosensitivity of tumor cell by vanadate and any role of $Na^+-K^+$ATPase in radiosensitization. Experiments have been carried out by pretreatment with vanadate in human cell line(A549, JMG) and mouse cell line(L1210, spleen). For the cell survival MTT assay was performed for A549 and JMC cells and frypan blue dye exclusion test for L120, and spleen cells. Measurements of $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity in control, vanadate treated cell, radiation treated cell (9 Gy for A549 and JMG, 2 Gy for L1201, spleen), and combined $10^{-6}M$ vanadate and radiation treated cells were done. The results were summerized as fellows. 1. L1210 cell was most radiosensitive, and spleen cell and JMG cell were intermediate, and A549 cell was least radiosensitive. 2. Mininum or no cytotoxicity was seen with vanadate below concentration of $10^{-6}M$. 3. In A549 cells there was a little change in radiosensitivity with treatment of vanadate. However radiation sensitization was shown in low dose level of radiation i. e. 2- Gy. In JMG cells no change in radiosensitivity was noted. Both L1210 and spleen cell had radiosensitization but change was greater in tumor cell. 4. $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity was inhibited significantly in tumor cell by treatment of vanadate. 5. Radiaiton itself inhibited $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity of tumor cell with high $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase concention. Increase in radiosensitivity by vanadate was closely associated with orginal $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase contents. From the above results vanadate had little cytotoxicity and it sensitized tumor cells to radiation. Inhibitory effect of vanadate on $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity might be one of the contributing factors for radiosensitization to tumor cells which has greater enzyme activity than that of normal cell. It was suggested vanadate could be used as a potential radiosensitizer for tumor cells.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.08a
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• pp.259-259
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• 2011

염료감응형 태양전지(Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells:DSSC)는 환경 친화적이며, 저가의 공정에 대한 가능성으로 기존의 고가의 결정질 실리콘 태양전지의 경제적인 대안으로 각광을 받고 있다. 최근 염료감응형 태양전지는 투명 전도성 산화막(Transparent Conducting Oxide : TCO)으로 사용되는 Fluorine Tin Oxide (FTO)가 증착된 유리기판 위에 주로 제작된다. FTO는 낮은 비저항과 가시광선 영역에서 높은 투과도를 가지는 우수한 전기-광학적 특성을 갖지만, 비교적 공정이 까다로운 Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)법으로 제조하며, 전체 공정비용의 60%를 차지하는 높은 생산단가로 인해 현재 FTO를 대체할 재료개발 연구가 활발히 진행되고 있다. 그 중 ZnO (Zinc Oxide)는 우수한 전기-광학적 특성과 비교적 저렴한 가격으로 새로운 TCO로써 주목받고 있다. ZnO는 넓은 energy band gap (3.4 [eV])의 육방정계 울자이트(hexagonal wurtzite) 결정 구조를 가지는II-VI족 n형 반도체 물질이며, III족 금속원소인 Al, Ga 및 In 등의 불순물을 첨가하면 TCO로서 우수한 전기-광학적 특성과 안정성을 나타낸다. 이들 물질중 $Zn^{2+}$ (0.060 nm)의 이온반경과 유사한 $Ga^{2+}$0.062 nm) 이온이 ZnO의 격자반경을 최소화 시킬 수 있다는 장점으로 최근 주목 받고 있다. 하지만 Ga-doped ZnO (GZO)의 경우 DSC에 사용되는 루테늄 계열의 산성 염료 하에 장시간 두면 표면이 파괴되는 문제가 발생하며, $TiO_2$ paste를 Printing 후 열처리하는 과정에서도 박막의 파괴가 발생할 수 있다. 이를 방지하기 위해 $TiO_2$ Blocking Layer를 GZO 투명전극 위에 증착하였다. 또한, $TiO_2$ Blocking Layer를 적용한 GZO 박막을 전면전극으로 이용하여 DSC를 제작하여 효율을 확인하였다. 2wt%의 $Ga_2O_3$가 도핑된 ZnO 박막은 20mTorr 400$^{\circ}C$에서 Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD)에 의해 성장되었고, $TiO_2$박막은 Ti 금속을 타겟으로 이용하여 30mTorr 400$^{\circ}C$에서 증착되었다. Scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM)을 이용한 박막 분석 결과 $TiO_2$가 증착된 GZO 박막의 경우 표면 파괴가 일어나지 않았다. Solar Simulator을 이용하여 I-V특성 측정결과 상용 FTO를 사용한 DSC 수준의 효율을 나타내었다. 이에 따라 Pulsed Laser Deposition을 이용해 제작된 GZO 기판은 $TiO_2$ Blocking Layer를 이용하여 표면 파괴를 방지할 수 있었으며, 이는 향후 염료감응형 태양전지의 투명전극에 적용 가능 할 것으로 판단된다.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2013

It is expected that progress in building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems, improving the functionality and design of buildings, will be accelerated in the coming years. While the dye sensitized solar cell is considered one of the most important technologies in the BIPV field, the transparent silicon based thin film solar cell fabricated by thin film processes has drawn attention as a novel alternative. When the selective transmitting layer is applied to the solar cell, the conversion efficiency is improved due to the re-reflection of infrared light into an absorber layer with the transmission of visible light through the solar cell. In this work, we prepared Al-Ti based oxide thin films using cost-effective sputter deposition and examined their selective transmitting characteristics with various compositions. The transmittance and reflectance of the Al-Ti based oxide thin film changed with the variation of its composition, and the selective transmitting property was observed in the sample with the 25 nm-thick AlTiO layer. It is considered that the realization of transparent solar cells and the improvement of their conversion efficiency can be achieved by introducing the Al-Ti based selective transmitting layer.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.274-278
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• 2012

$TiO_2$ can be used optically and is applied on many areas such as gas sensor, solar cell and photocatalysis. Electrospun nanofibers have received great interest for development and utilization in some novel applications, such as chemical sensors, dye-sensitized solar cell and photo catalysis. In this study, pure $TiO_2$ and Ga-doped $TiO_2$ nanofibers synthesized by a modified electrospinning method. The Ga doped $TiO_2$ solution is prepared by mixing poly vinyl pyrrolidone, ethyl alcohol, and titanium (IV) isopropoxide. By electrospinning these sols, nanofibers were fabricated. These fibers are heat-treated at $800^{\circ}C$ in air. The prepared pure $TiO_2$ and Ga-doped $TiO_2$ nanofibers samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Raman spectroscopy.