• Korean Membrane Journal
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2007

To prepare chemically stable asymmetric microporous membranes with a hydrophilic surface, which would be expected to have better antifouling properties, poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) blend membranes were prepared by the phase inversion process. PVDF mixture solutions in N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) blended with several polar potential ionic polymers such as polyacrylonitrile (PAN), poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (NIPAM) were used for the formation of the PVDF blend membranes. They were then characterized with several analytical methods such as FESEM, FTIR, contact angle measurement, pore size distribution and permeability measurement. Regardless of different polar polymers blended, they all showed a finger-like structure with more hydrophilic surface than the pristine PVDF membrane. For all the PVDF blend membrane, due to the polar potential ionic polymers used, the flux of those was improved. Especially the PVDF blend membrane with NIPAM showed the highest flux among the membranes prepared. Also antifouling property of the PVDF membrane was improved by the use of the polar polymers.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.670-679
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• 2002

1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU, carmustine) is one of the effective chemotherapeutic agents which has been used clinically for treating malignant glioma. Poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA, molecular weight: 20000 g/mole. mole ratio of lactide to glycolide 75 : 15) is a well known biodegradable polymer used as a drug carrier for drug delivery system. In this study, we investigated the BCNU release behaviour of BCNU-loaded PLGA wafers containing poly (N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) or polyethyleneoxide (PEO) and the effect of hydrophilic polymers incoporated in the wafers. BCNU-loaded PLGA microparticles with or without hydrophilic polymers were prepared by a spray drying method and fabricated into wafers by direct compression. Encapsulation efficiency of BCNU-loaded PLGA microparticles containing PVP and PEO was 85 ∼ 97% and crystallinity of BCNU encapsulated in PLGA decreased significantly initial release amount and release rate of BCNU increased with the increasing PVP or PEO amount. Morphological change and mass loss of wafers during the release test were confirmed that hydration and degradation of PLGA would be facilitated with an increase of hydrophilic polymers.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 2001

Surfaces of PTFE and PVDF were modified by ion-assisted reaction (IAR) in which 1 keV $Ar^{+}$ ions were irradiated on the surface of the polymer with varying ion dose in an oxygen gas environment, and Cu, Pt, Al and Ag thin films were deposited on the modified polymers. Wettability of the modified polymers was largely improved by the formation of hydrophilic groups due to chemical reaction between polymer surface and the oxygen gas during IAR. The change in wettability in the modified polymers was also related to the change in surface morphology and roughness. Adhesion between metal films and polymers modified by IAR was significantly improved, so that no detachment was possible in the $Scotch^{TM}$ tape test. The increase of adhesion strength between the metal film and the modified PVDF was mainly attributed to the formation of hydrophilic groups, which interacted with the metal film. In the case of the modified PTFE, the enhanced adhesion to metal film could be explained by the change in surface morphology together with the formation of hydrophilic groups. The electrical properties of the metal films on the modified polymers were also investigated.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.103-120
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• 2010

Surface modification of microfiltration and ultrafiltration membranes has been widely used to improve the protein adsorption resistance and permeation properties of hydrophobic membranes. Several surface modification methods for converting conventional membranes into low-protein-binding membranes are reviewed. They are categorized as either physical modification or chemical modification of the membrane surface. Physical modification of the membrane surface can be achieved by coating it with hydrophilic polymers, hydrophilic-hydrophobic copolymers, surfactants or proteins. Another method of physical modification is plasma treatment with gases. A hydrophilic membrane surface can be also generated during phase-inverted micro-separation during membrane formation, by blending hydrophilic or hydrophilic-hydrophobic polymers with a hydrophobic base membrane polymer. The most widely used method of chemical modification is surface grafting of a hydrophilic polymer by UV polymerization because it is the easiest method; the membranes are dipped into monomers with and without photo-initiators, then irradiated with UV. Plasma-induced polymerization of hydrophilic monomers on the surface is another popular method, and surface chemical reactions have also been developed by several researchers. Several important examples of physical and chemical modifications of membrane surfaces for low-protein-binding are summarized in this article.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.9-15
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• 2004

The copolymerization of HEMA with different hydrophilic and hydrophobic co-monomers allows for the manipulation of their intrinsic properties. 2-Hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA)-based hydrogels thus are of great interest due to their outstanding physico-mechanical properties and chemical stability. The idea to use HEMA in order to create thermo-sensitive polymers was based on our assumption that thermal-sensitivity comes from a suitable hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance of macromolecules. In this work we have chosen N-vinyl pyrrolidone as a hydrophilic co-monomer with the relatively hydrophobic HEMA due to its good polymerizing properties as well as its non-toxicity in a polymer state and deserved recognition as a biocompatible material. As a result, copolymerization of NVP and HEMA was successful in obtaining new types of thermo-sensitive polymers composed of hydrophilic and hydrophobic monomers.

• Proceedings of the Korean Fiber Society Conference
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• 1991.06b
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• pp.71-71
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• 1991

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.241-247
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• 2008

Paclitaxel is a taxane diterpene amide, which was first extracted from the stem bark of the western yew, Taxus brevifolia. This natural product has proven to be useful in the treatment of a variety of human neoplastic disorders, including ovarian cancer, breast and lung cancer. Paclitaxel is a highly hydrophobic drug that is poorly soluble in water. It is mainly given by intravenous administration. Therefore, The pharmaceutical formulation of paclitaxel ($Taxol^{(R)}$; Bristol-Myers Squibb) contains 50% $Cremophor^{(R)}$ EL and 50% dehydrated ethanol. However the ethanol/Cremophor EL vehicle required to solubilize paclitaxel in $Taxol^{(R)}$ has a pharmacological and pharmaceutical problems. To overcome these problems, new formulations for paclitaxel that do not require solubilization by $Cremophor^{(R)}$ EL are currently being developed. Therefore this study utilized a supercritical fluid antisolvent (SAS) process for cremophor-free formulation. To select hydrophilic polymers that require solubilization for paclitaxel, we evaluated polymers and the ratio of paclitaxel/polymers. HP-${\beta}$-CD was used as a hydrophilic polymer in the preparation of the paclitaxel solid dispersion. Although solubility of paclitaxel by polymers was increased, physical stability of solution after paclitaxel/polymer powder soluble in saline was unstable. To overcome this problem, we investigated the use of surfactants. At 1/20/40 of paclitaxel/hydrophilic polymer/ surfactant weight ratio, about 10 mg/mL of paclitaxel can be solubilized in this system. Compared with the solubility of paclitaxel in water ($1\;{\mu}g/mL$), the paclitaxel solid dispersion prepared by SAS process increased the solubility of paclitaxel by near 10,000 folds. The physicochemical properties was also evaluated. The particle size distribution, melting point and amophorization and shape of the powder particles were fully characterized by particle size distribution analyzer, DSC, SEM and XRD. In summary, through the SAS process, uniform nano-scale paclitaxel solid dispersion powders were obtained with excellent results compared with $Taxol^{(R)}$ for the physicochemical properties, solubility and pharmacokinetic behavior.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.371-378
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• 2021

The formation of hydrophilic surface based on polymers has received great attention due to the anti-adhesion of bacteria on solid substrates. Anti-adhesion coatings are aimed at suppressing the initial step of biofilm formation via non-cytotoxic mechanisms, and surfaces applied hydrophilic or ionic polymers showed the anti-adhesion effect for bioentities, such as proteins and bacteria. This is attributed to the formation of surface barrier from hydration layers, repulsions and osmotic stresses from polymer brushes, and electrostatic interactions between ionic polymers and cell surfaces. The antifouling polymer coating is usually fabricated by the grafting method through the bonding with functional groups on surfaces and the deposition method utilizing biomimetic anchors. This mini-review is a summary of representative antifouling polymers, coating strategies, and antibacterial efficacy. Furthermore, we will discuss consideration on the large area surface coating for application to public facilities and industry.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.55-59
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• 1988

The size of furosemide was reduced by the recrystallization method in order to increase the dissolution rate of the drug. Surfactants or hydrophilic polymers were used to suppress the aggregation in the crystal formation-growth process of microparticles by dispersing action. Dissolution rate of microparticles increased remarkably due to the size reduction of microparticle. The particle size decreased with increasing the concentration of the drug and the dispersing agents, i.e., surfactants or hydrophilic polymers. No polymorphic transition occurred during the microcrystallization process, but the habit of crystal formation was altered in the case of anionic surfactant.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.187-206
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• 1993

Since the advent of recombinant DNA technology coupled with other biotechnology a variety of therapeutically effective proteins and peptides have been extensively invesitigated and many of them are now on clinical trial. They, however, suffer from some problems such as immunogenicity, antigenicity, instability and short half-life in circulation due to their proteinous natures. These drawbacks can be overcome successfully by conjugating proteins and peptides with hydrophilic polymers such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), albumin or dextran. The resulting soluble conjugates showed reduced antigenicity and immunogenicity, increased circulatory half-life, enhanced stability against proteolytic degradation. Comparing with the unmodified proteins and peptides, the therapeutic potential of conjugates is greatly enhanced. Clinical applications of these conjugates have shown promising results for the future use.