• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.231-237
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• 2008

Biodegradable poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone-co-L-lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) (PCLA-b-PEG) copolymers were synthesized via solution polymerization by varying the feed composition of $\varepsilon$-caprolactone ($\varepsilon$-CL) and L-lactide (LLA) ($\varepsilon$-CL: LLA= 10:0, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7, 0: 10). The feed ratio based on weight is in accordance with the copolymer composition except for the case of $\varepsilon$-CL: LLA=3:7 (C3L7), which was verified by $^1H$-NMR. Two different approaches were used for the exceptional case, which is an extension of the reaction time or the sequential introduction of the monomer. A copolymer composition of $\varepsilon$-CL: LLA=3:7 could be obtained in either case. The chemical microstructure of PCLA-b-PEG was determined using the $^{13}C$-NMR spectra and the effect of the sequential structure on the thermal properties and crystallinity were examined. Despite the same composition ratio of the copolymer, the microstructure can differ according to the reaction conditions.

• Clean Technology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.53-61
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• 2006

A PGSS (Particles from Gas Saturated Solutions) process designed to generate nano-particles using supercritical fluids has been conducted for the fabrication of Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microparticles that encapsulate a protein drug. It is demonstrated that the polymer and the dry powder of a protein can be mixed under supercritical carbon dioxide conditions and that the protein component retains its biological activity. In this experiment, the mixture of polymer which is plasticized and dry powder protein was sprayed to form solid polymer that encapsulate the protein. It is found that supercritical fluid process give fine tuning of particle size and particle size distribution by simple manipulations of the process parameters. Porous particles were formed with irregular shape. Protein encapsulated in the polymer was found to have enzymatic activity without significant loss of its initial value.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2006

A series of methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) $(MPEG)-poly(\varepsilon-co-L-lactide)$ (PCLA) diblock copolymers were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of a mixture of $\varepsilon-caprolactone$ and L-lactide with different ratios in the presence of $Sn(Oct)_2$. The characterization of MPEG-PCLA diblock copolymers were examined by $^1H-NMR$, GPC, DSC, and XRD. Kinetic study on ring-opening polymerization of monomer mixtures was carried out in various conditions such as a variation with polymerization time, amount of catalyst, and temperature. The highest conversion obtained in 1.2 ratic of initiator venn catalyst at $110\;^{\circ}C$. The biodegradable characterization of MPEG-PCLA diblock copolymers in aqueous solution was carried out by using GPC for $1\~14$ weeks. The biodegradability of MPEG-PCLA diblock copolymers increased as the L-lactide content of diblock copolymers increased. In conclusion, we confirmed the dependence of polymerization rate according to various conditions. In addition, we can control the biodegradability of MPEC-PCLA diblock copolymers by changing the ratio of PCL and PLA block segment.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.124-130
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• 2012

The uniform nanofibers of poly(L-lactide-$co$-${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone) (PLCL) with different contents of marine collagen (MC) were successfully prepared by electrospinning method. The effects of the major parameters in electrospinning process such as tip to target distance (TTD), voltage, nozzle size and flow rate on the average diameter of the electrospun nanofiber were investigated in generating composite nanofiber. The diameter and morphology of the nanofibers were confirmed by a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Also, we measured a water contact angle to determine the surface wettability of the nanofibers. The average diameter of the nanofibers decreased as the value of TTD, MC contents, and voltages increased in comparison with that of pristine PLCL nanofiber. In contrast, the diameter of the nanofibers increased as the flow rate and inner diameter of nozzle increased in comparison with that of pristine PLCL. In addition, the hydrophilicity of the nanofiber and attachment of MG-63 cells on the sheets increased as incorporated collagen contents increased. Therefore, the marine collagen would be a potential material to enhance cellular interactivity of synthetic materials by mimicking the natural tissue.

• 한국당과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.57-57
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• 2006

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.54-59
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• 2002

ABA triblock copolymers of L-lactide and trimethylene carbonate with several different compositions were prepared by sequential ring-opening polymerization in the presence of diethylene glycol. Also chain-extension reactions of the resulting copolymers were carried out using hexamethylene diisocyanate to produce relatively high molecular weight polymers, which could be cast into elastomeric tough films. The polymers with certain L-lactide contents were partially crystalline, exhibiting two-phase morphology. The polymer films showed reversible elastic behavior under tensile tension, providing a novel thermoplastic elastomer possessing desirable properties such as biodegradability and good mechanical properties.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.210-211
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• 2006

A series of L-LA polymerizations initiated by $Sn(Oct)_{2}\;([LA]_{0}/[Sn]_{0}=200)$ were carried out in scR22 at $130^{\circ}C$ and 300 bar, where $[LA]_{0}$ is the initial L-lactide concentration and $[Sn]_{0}$ is the initial $Sn(Oct)_{2}$ concentration. The reaction time dependences of monomer conversion and PLLA MW improved. The monomer conversion and PLLA MW increased with increasing reaction time. The effect of temperature on monomer conversion and PLLA MW was investigated in a series of polymerizations conducted at temperatures ranging from 90 to $150^{\circ}C$ and at a constant pressure of 200 bar. In all of these experiments, the ratio of monomer to R22 concentration was held constant at 12.4 wt.-%. Increasing the reaction temperature from 90 to $130^{\circ}C$ resulted in increased monomer conversion from 11.5 to 72.2 %.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2006

We report a new approach to fabricate electrospun polymer nonwoven mats with porous surface morphology by varying the collector temperature during electrospinning. Polymers such as poly(L-lactide) (PLLA), polystyrene (PS), and poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) were dissolved in volatile solvents, namely methylene chloride (Me) and tetrahydrofuran (THF), and subjected to electrospinning. The temperature of the collector in the electrospinning device was varied by a heating system. The resulting nonwoven mats were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field emission SEM (FESEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). We observed that the surface morphology, porous structure, and the properties such as pore size, depth, shape, and distribution of the nonwoven mats were greatly influenced by the collector temperature.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.385-390
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• 2000

To demonstrate the effect of formulation conditions on the controlled release of protein from poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres for use as a parenteral drug carrier, ovalbumin (OVA) microspheres were prepared using the W/O/W multiple emulsion solvent evaporation and extraction method. Methylene chloride or ethyl acetate was applied as an organic phase and poly(vinyl alcohol) as a secondary emulsion stabilizer. Low loading efficiencies of less than 20％ were observed and the in vitro release of OVA showed a burst effect in all batches of different microspheres, followed by a gradual release over the next 6 weeks. Formulation processes affected the size and morphology, drug content, and the controlled release of OVA from PLGA microspheres.

• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.287-295
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• 2009

$\beta$-Tricalcium phosphate ($\beta$-TCP) particles reinforced bioresorbable plastics poly-L-lactide (PLLA) composites were prepared by injection molding. The nominal weight ratio of $\beta$-TCP was selected as 5, 10 and 15%. In order to clarify effects of the PLLA crystallinity on the mechanical properties, the specimens were heat treated isothermally. Results of differential scanning calorimetry indicated that the PLLA crystallinity increased with increasing heat treatment temperature. Bending and compressive tests were conducted on the specimen with different $\beta$-TCP contents and crystallinities. The results show that the bending and compressive moduli increased with increasing $\beta$-TCP contents and crystallinity. On the other hand, bending strength decreased with increasing $\beta$-TCP contents. Maximum bending strength was obtained at the heat treatment of $70^{\circ}C$ for 24 h, whereas compressive 0.2% proof strength increased with increasing heat treatment temperature. This difference is attributed to the difference in the microscopic damages.