• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2006

Biodegradable $\beta$-tricalcium phosphate ( $\beta$-TCP)/poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) composites were synthesized by in-situ polymerization with microwave energy. The influence of the $\beta$-TCP content in $\beta$-TCP/PLGA composites on the molecular weight, crystallinity, microstructure and mechanical properties was investigated. As the molecular weight of composites decreased, the $\beta$-TCP content increased up to 10 wt.%, while the excess addition of the $\beta$-TCP content above 10 wt.% the molecular weight increased with increasing of the $\beta$-TCP content. This behavior would be due to the superheating effect or nonthermal effect induced by microwave energy. It was found that the bending strength and Young's modulus of the $\beta$-TCP/PLGA composites was proportional to the molecular weight of PLGA. The bending strength of the $\beta$-TCP/PLGA composites ranged from 18 to 38 MPa, while Young's modulus was in the range from 2 to 6 GPa.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.245-251
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• 2006

The novel microsphere blending and multiple emulsion method by single process was tried to prepare sustained release microspheres which release a physiologically active substance for long periods of time. A drug was separately dissolved in each of two or more oils containing biodegradable polymers to give the primary oil phases. The primary oil phases were dispersed in single aqueous phase in succession. From the drug-dispersed solution, the organic solvent was removed to produce microspheres. The accelerated drug release from the microsphere formulation prepared by single process through the multiple emulsion method was very similar to a physical blending of separately prepared microspheres using the same polymers. But long term release was not same. In this study, leuprorelin acetate loaded poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microsphere formulation for one-month delivery was developed by the multi-emulsion method followed by solvent extraction/evaporation method.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.467-476
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• 2005

The main objective of this study was to develop and characterize pH-sensitive biodegradable polymeric materials. For pH-sensitivity, we employed three kinds of moieties: 2-amino-3-(lH-imidazol-4-yl)-propionic acid (H), N-[4-( 4,6-dimethyl-pyrimidin-2ylsulfamoyl)-phenyl]succinamic acid (SM), and 2- {3-[ 4-( 4,6-dimethyl-pyrim­idin- 2-ylsulfamoyl)-phenylcarbamoyl]-propionylamino} -3-(3 H - imidazol-4-yl)-propionic acid (SH). The pH -sensitive diblock copolymers were synthesized by ring opening polymerization and coupling reaction from poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG), $\varepsilon$-caprolactone (CL), D,L-lactide (LA) and pH-sensitive moieties. The pH-sensitive SH molecule was synthesized in a two-step reaction. The first step involved the synthesis of SHM, a methyl ester derivative of SH, by coupling reaction of SM and L-histidine methyl ester dihydrochloride, whereas the second step involved the hydrolysis of the same. The synthesized SM, SHM and SH molecules were characterized by FTIR, $^{1}H$-NMR and $^{13}C$-NMR spectroscopy, whereas diblock copolymers and pH-sensitive diblock copolymer were characterized by $^{1}H$-NMR and GPC analysis. The critical micelle concentrations were determined at various pH conditions by fluorescence technique using pyrene as a probe. The micellization and demicellization studies of pH-sensitive diblock copolymers were also done at different pH conditions. The pH-sensitivity was further established by acid-based titration and DLS analysis.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.173-181
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• 2003

A polymeric micelle drug delivery system was developed to enhance the solubility of poorly-water soluble drug, biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate, DDB. The block copolymers consisting of poly(D,L-lactide) (PLA) as the hydrophobic segment and methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG) as the hydrophilic segment were synthesized and characterized by NMR, DSC and MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy. The size of the polymeric micelles measured by dynamic light scattering showed a narrow monodisperse size distribution with the average diameter less than 50 nm. The MW of mPEG-PLA, 3000 (MW of mPEG, 2 K; MW of PLA, 1K), and the presence of hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments on the polymeric micelles were confirmed by MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy and NMR, respectively. Polymeric micelle solutions of DDB were prepared by three different methods, i.e. the matrix method, emulsion method and dialysis method. In the matrix method, DDB solubility was reached to 13.29 mg/mL. The mPEG-PLA 2K-1K micelle system was compared with the poloxamer 407 micelle system for their critical micelle concentration, micelle size, solubilizing capacity, stability in dilution and physical state. DDB loaded-polymeric micelles prepared by the matrix method showed a significantly increased aqueous solubility (＞5000 fold over intrinsic solubility) and were found to be superior to the poloxamer 407 micelles as a drug carrier.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.373-384
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• 2005

Novel pH-sensitive moieties containing an s-triazine ring were synthesized with sulfonamide and secondary amino groups. The synthesized pH-sensitive moieties were used for the synthesis of a pH-sensitive amphiphilic ABA triblock copolymer. The pH-sensitive triblock copolymer was composed of diblock copolymers, methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly ($\varepsilon$-caprolactone-co-D,L-lactide) (MPEG-PCLA), and pH-sensitive moiety. These copolymers could be dissolved molecularly in both acidic and basic aqueous media at room temperature due to secondary amino and sulfonamide groups. The synthesized s-triazine rings containing pH-sensitive compounds were characterized by ${^1}H-NMR,\;{^13}C-NMR$, and LC/MSD spectral data. The synthesized diblock and triblock copolymers were also characterized by ${^1}H-NMR$ and GPC analyses. The critical micelle concentrations at various pH conditions were determined by fluorescence technique using pyrene as a probe. Furthermore, the micellization and demicellization study of the triblock copolymer was done with pH-sensitive groups. The sensitivity towards pH change was further established by acid-base titration.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.62-66
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• 2020

Controlled drug release is important for effective treatment of cancer. Poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) acid (PLGA) is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved polymer and have been extensively studied as drug delivery carriers with biodegradable and biocompatible properties. However, PLGA drug delivery carriers are limited due to the initial burst release of drug. Certain drugs require an early rapid release, but in many cases the initial rapid release can be inefficient, reducing therapeutic effects and also increasing side effects. Therefore, sustained release is important for effective treatment. Poly Lactic Acid stereo complex (PLA SC) is resistant to hydrolysis and has high stability in aqueous solutions. Therefore, in this work, PLGA based discoidal polymeric particles are modified by Poly Lactic Acid stereocomplex (PLAsc DPPs). PLAsc DPPs are 3 ㎛ in diameter, also showing a relatively sustained release profile. Fluorescein 5(6)-isothiocyanate (FITC) released from PLAsc DPPs was continuously observed until 38 days, which showed the initial release of FITC from PLAsc DPPs was about 3.9-fold reduced as compared to PLGA based DPPs at 1 hour.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.359-364
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• 2006

Di-block copolymers composed of two biocompatible polymers, poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(D,L-lactide), were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization for preparing polymer vesicles (polymersomes). Emulsion solvent evaporation method was used to fabricate the polymersomes. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images confirmed that polymersomes have a hollow structure inside. Confocal laser microscope and optical microscope were also used to verify the hollow structure of polymersomes. Polymersomes having various sizes from several hundred nanometers to a few micrometers were fabricated. The size of the polymersomes could be readily controlled by altering the relative hydrodynamic volume fraction ratio between hydrophilic and hydrophobic blocks in the copolymer structure, and by varying the fabrication methods. They showed greatly enhanced stability with increased molecular weight of PEG. They maintained their physical and chemical structural integrities after repeated cycles of centrifugation/re-dispersion, and even after treatment with surfactants.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.352-356
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• 2003

The objectives of this study were to investigate the influence of gamma irradiation for sterilization on poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) with different molecular weight and the effect of gamma irradiation on the release behavior of 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU, carmustine) from PLGA wafer with various irradiation doses. The effect of gamma irradiation on PLGA was evaluated by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The weight average molecular weight (M$_{w}$) and glass transition temperature (T$_{g}$) of PLGA decreased after gamma irradiation. The extent of M$_{w}$ reduction was dependent on irradiation dose and PLGA molecular weight. Using EPR spectroscopy, we successfully detected gamma irradiation induced free radicals in PLGA. The gamma irradiation increased the release rate of BCNU from PLGA wafer at applied irradiation doses except 2.5 Mrad of irradiation dose in this study.study.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.381-385
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• 2010

Aiphatic diester monomer, 3-[(benzyloxycarbonylamino)butyl]-1,4-dioxane-2,5-dione (BABD), was synthesized with the N-$\varepsilon$-benzyloxy-carbonyl-L-lysine as starting material. This monomer was synthesized to add the functionality to poly(lactic acid)s. BABD unit was successfully incorporated into the PLLA chain which was confirmed by $^1H$ NMR. The copolymer composition could be controlled by the feed ratios of monomer. The $M_n$ of this resultant polymer is expected to reach high molecular weight after the purification of monomer and optimization of polymerization time, though the polymer showed relatively low degree of polymerization ($M_n$＝3300). The copolymer is expected to possess the enhanced hydrophilicity and the possibility of chemical modification on amino group.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.201-207
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• 2019

Nanoxel-$PM^{TM}$ (Nanoxel) is a docetaxel-loaded methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(D,L-lactide) (mPEG-PDLLA). This newly developed and marketed nanoformulation exhibits an improved pharmacokinetic profile, efficacy, and safety. Although the safety of Nanoxel to docetaxel as well as its bioequivalence must be clinically confirmed, all biological activities have not been examined in in vitro or in vivo studies. Here, the toxicity in a cultured cell system and the effects on blood cells were tested with Nanoxel and docetaxel. The in vitro cytotoxicity of Nanoxel was found to be comparable to or slightly lower than that of docetaxel depending on the concentrations tested or the cell types. Neither docetaxel nor Nanoxel induced erythrocytes hemolysis and produced reactive oxygen species up to $100{\mu}M$. However, Nanoxel was able to enhance the aggregatory response of platelets to collagen, whereas docetaxel attenuated such aggregation in a range of $50-100{\mu}M$, while thrombin-induced aggregation was not affected by either of them. Docetaxel or Nanoxel did not alter basal level of $Ca^{2+}$ and 5-hydroxytryptamine-evoked $Ca^{2+}$ transient in vascular smooth muscle cells. These results suggest that the mPEG-PDLLA micellar formulation alters the toxicological properties of docetaxel, and that extra cautions are needed when evaluating the safety of nanomedicine.