• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.277-279
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• 1998

An extracellular polymer (exo-polymer) with hepatoprotective properties was produced after a 6-day submerged mycelial culture of Ganoderma lucidum WK-003. The glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) activities in the serum of intoxicated Sprague-Dawley rats were decreased from 871 to 263 by the oral administration of the exo-polymer (20 mg/kg/day) for 4 consecutive days. Rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, galactose, and glucose were found in the exo-polymer along with aspartic acid, glutamic acid, histidine, serine, glycine, arginine, alanine, tryptophan, valine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, and leucine.

• Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.163-174
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• 2014

The objective of this study is to prepare an artificial extracellular matrix (ECM) for cell culture by using polymer hydrogels. The polymer used is a cytocompatible water-soluble phospholipid polymer: poly[2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC)-n-butyl methacrylate-p-nitrophenyloxycarbonyl poly(ethylene oxide) methacrylate (MEONP)] (PMBN). The hydrogels are prepared using a cross-linking reaction between PMBN and diamine compounds, which can easily react to the MEONP moiety under mild conditions. The most favorable diamine is the bis(3-aminopropyl) poly(ethylene oxide) (APEO). The effects of cross-linking density and the chemical structure of cross-linking molecules on the mechanical properties of the hydrogel are evaluated. The storage modulus of the hydrogel is tailored by tuning the PMBN concentration and the MEONP/amino group ratio. The porous structure of the hydrogel networks depends not only on these parameters but also on the reaction temperature. We prepare a hydrogel with $40-50{\mu}m$ diameter pores and more than 90 wt% swelling. The permeation of proteins through the hydrogel increases dramatically with an increase in pore size. To induce cell adhesion, the cell-attaching oligopeptide, RGDS, is immobilized onto the hydrogel using MEONP residue. Bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (BPAECs) are cultured on the hydrogel matrix and are able to migrate into the artificial matrix. Hence, the RGDS-modified PMBN hydrogel matrix with cross-linked APEO functions as an artificial ECM for growing cells for applications in tissue engineering.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.702-707
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• 2014

Corneal endothelium is mono-inner cell layer of cornea and lay on Descmet's membrane which comprised of various proteins called extracellular matrix such as fibronectin, collagen, laminin, and proteoglycan, etc. In this study, we fabricated transparent poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) film because PLGA is widely used for tissue engineering based on their properties. We investigated the behaviors of rabbit corneal endothelial cells (rCEnCs) on PLGA film surfaces coated with various cell-adhesive molecules like fibronectin, laminin, collagen type I and IV and FNC coating mix. The morphologic images, proliferation and adhesion assay, immunofluorescence for ZO-1 and $Na^+/K^+-ATPase$ and RT-PCR for expression of specific markers were conducted. These results showed that PLGA film plays a role as CEnC carriers in vitro and the cell-adhesive molecules give positive effects on the behaviors of rCEnC.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.151-154
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• 2002

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.144-150
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• 2015

Gellan gum as a natural polysaccharide has good heat resistance, acid resistance and enzymes resistance. However, one of the drawbacks of gellan gum might be the lower mechanical strength. In this work, gellan gum scaffolds were mixed with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microsphere in order to improve mechanical properties. The gellan gum scaffolds with various contents of PLGA microsphere were prepared for the regeneration of disc tissues. To evaluate the mechanical strength of hybrid structure of gellan gum and PLGA microsphere, compression strength of the fabricated scaffolds was measured. MTT analysis, SEM observation, histological evaluation and RT-PCR were performed to confirm the effect on the cell growth and extracellular matrix secretion. As a result, it showed the best cell proliferation and extracellular matrix secretion in gellan gum sponge containing 50% PLGA microspheres. In conclusion, this study confirmed that the hybrid structure of gellan gum and PLGA microspheres was found suitable in regeneration of the intervertebral disc.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.12
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• pp.655-661
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• 2016

Polymer brush is a soft material unit tethered covalently on the surface of scaffolds. It can induce functional and structural modification of a substrate's properties. Such surface coating approach has attracted special attentions in the fields of stem cell biology, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine due to facile fabrication, usability of various polymers, extracellular matrix (ECM)-like structural features, and in vivo stability. Here, we summarized polymer brush-based grafting approaches comparing self-assembled monolayer (SAM)-based coating method, in addition to physico-chemical characterization techniques for surfaces such as wettability, stiffness/elasticity, roughness, and chemical composition that can affect cell adhesion, differentiation, and proliferation. We also reviewed recent advancements in cell biological applications of polymer brushes by focusing on stem cell differentiation and 3D supports/implants for tissue formation. Understanding cell behaviors on polymer brushes in the scale of nanometer length can contribute to systematic understandings of cellular responses at the interface of polymers and scaffolds and their simultaneous effects on cell behaviors for promising platform designs.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.632-637
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• 2013

It has been widely accepted that costal cartilage cells (CCs) have more excellent initial proliferation capacity than articular cartilage cells as well as the easiness for isolation and collection. This study demonstrated that CCs might be one of the substitutes for articular cartilage cells by tissue engineered cartilage. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) has been extensively tested and used as scaffold material but it was limited by the low attachment of cells and the induction of inflammatory cells. Base on previous our studies, we confirmed demineralized bone particle (DBP) had the power of the reduction of inflammatory reaction and the stimulation proliferation of cells. We fabricated PLGA scaffold loaded with 10, 20, 40 and 80 wt% DBP and then tested the possibility of the regeneration of cartilage using CCs. Assays of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) carried out to evaluate the attachment and proliferation of CCs in DBP/PLGA scaffolds. Glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) and collagen contents assay were conducted to confirm the effects of DBP on formation of extracellular matrix. This study demonstrated that DBP/PLGA scaffolds showed significant positive effects on cell growth and proliferation due to the vitality of DBP as well as the possibility of the application of CCs for tissue engineered cartilage.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.277-284
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• 2005

The loss or failure of an organ or tissue can occur because of accident or disease, for which tissue or organ transplantation is a generally accepted treatment. However, this approach is extremely limited due to donor shortage. Tissue engineering is a new and exciting strategy, in which patients who need a new organ or tissue are supplied with a synthetic organ or tissue. In this approach, tissues are engineered using a combination of the patient's own cells and a polymer scaffold. The polymer scaffold potentially mimics many roles of extracellular matrices in the body. Various polymers have been studied and utilized to date in tissue engineering approaches. However, no single polymer has been considered ideal for all types of tissues and approaches. This paper discusses the design parameters of those polymers potentially useful in tissue regeneration.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.141-147
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• 2013

Poly(lactide-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) has been widely used in the drug delivery and tissue engineering applications because of its good mechanical strength and biodegradation profile. However, cell attachment to the scaffold is low compared with that on fibrin although cells can be attached to the polymer surface. In this study, PLGA scaffolds were soaked in cells-fibrin suspension and polymerized with dropping fibrinogen-thrombin solution. Cellular proliferation activity was observed in PLGA/fibrin-seeded costal cartilage cells (CC) on 1, 3, and 7 days using the MTT assay and SEM. The effects of fibrin on the extracellular matrix (ECM) formation were evaluated using CC cell-seeded PLGA/fibrin scaffolds. The PLGA/fibrin scaffolds elicited more production of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and collagen than the PLGA scaffold. In this study, fibrin incorporated PLGA scaffolds were prepared to evaluate the effects of fibrin on the cell attachment and proliferation in vitro and in vivo. In this result, we confirmed that proliferation of cells in PLGA/fibrin scaffolds were better than in PLGA scaffolds. The PLGA/fibrin scaffolds provide suitable environment for growth and proliferation of costal cartilage cells.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.993-997
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• 2007

The upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor can be effective for treating simple organic compounds containing high concentration of ammonia nitrogen. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency was about 80% at ammonia nitrogen concentration up to 6,000 mg-N/L. This result also showed that it would be possible to treat propionate effectively at free ammonia nitrogen concentration up to 724 mg-N/L if sufficient time was allowed for adaptation. However the specific methanogenic activity (SMA) of granule was lower than that of granule in the reactor with lower ammonia nitrogen concentration. At 8,000 mg-N/L, the inhibition of high ammonia concentration was observed with evidence of increase of the volatile suspended solids (VSS) concentration in the effluent. It might be ascribed to the decrease in the content of extracellular polymer (ECP), which resulted to the sloughing off of obligated proton-reducing acetogens and heterogenotrophic methanogens from the exterior of granular sludge. This caused a great portion of the finely sludge to be easily washed out. Therefore, failure to maintain the balance between these two groups of microorganism cause accumulation of the hydrogen partial pressure in the reactor, which could have inhibited the growth of acetate utilizing methanogens.