• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2022

The various DNA-protein interactions associated with the expression of genetic information involve double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) bending. Due to the importance of the formation of the dsDNA bending structure, dsDNA bending properties have long been investigated in the biophysics field. Conventionally, DNA bendability is characterized by innate averaging data from bulk experiments. The advent of single-molecule methods, such as atomic force microscopy, optical and magnetic tweezers, tethered particle motion, and single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurement, has provided valuable tools to investigate not only the static structures but also the dynamic properties of bent dsDNA. Here, we reviewed the single-molecule methods that have been used for investigating dsDNA bendability and new findings related to dsDNA bending. Single-molecule approaches are promising tools for revealing the unknown properties of dsDNA related to its bending, particularly in cells.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.74-80
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• 2009

Electrospinning process is the useful and unique method to produce nanofibers from metal precursor and polymer solution by controlled viscosity. In this study, the NiZn ferrite nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning with a aqueous metal salts/polymer solution that contained polyvinyl pyrrolidone and Fe (III) chloride, Ni (II) acetate tetrahydrate and zinc acetate dihydrate in N,N-dimethylformamide. The applied electric field and spurting rate for spinning conditions were 10 kV, 2 ml/h, respectively. The obtained fibers were treated at $250^{\circ}C$ for 1 h to remove the polymer. Finally, the NiZn ferrite fibers were calcined at $600^{\circ}C$ for 3 h and annealed at $900{\sim}1200^{\circ}C$ in air. By tuning the viscosity of batch solution before electrospinning, we were able to control the microstructure of NiZn ferrite fiber in the range of $150{\sim}500\;nm$ at 770 cP. The primary particle size in $600^{\circ}C$ calcined ferrite fiber was about 10 nm. The properties of those NiZn ferrite fibers were determined from X-ray diffraction analysis, electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and magnetic measurement.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.586-592
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• 2012

Iron oxides ($Fe_3O_4$) are metabolically secreted after endocytosed by cells, indicating no cytotoxicity. Therefore, they are widely used as a contrast agent before photographing of magnetic resonance imaging. In this study, iron oxide nanoparticles are synthesized by the co-precipitation method and subsequently immobilized with a homing peptide (AP), which specifically interacts with interleukin-4 receptor located on the membrane of endothelial and bladder cancer cells. The size of AP-immobilized iron oxide particle is about 39 nm. Intracellular uptake of the AP-immobilized iron oxide nanoparticles was investigated using bladder cancer cells and fibroblasts as the control. As the result, the nanoparticles are specificially uptaken by bladder cancer cells. However, the nanoparticles are not specificially uptaken by fibroblast. It could be said that the AP-immobilized iron oxide nanoparticles have a potential to be used as a contrast agent for early diagnosis of cancer.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.82-87
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• 2013

Preliminary studies on the synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles including nanoporous carbon materials have been done via a direct carbonization process from resol, ferric nitrate and triblock copolymer F127. The results show that the nanoporous magnetite/carbon ($Fe_3O_4$/carbon) with a low $Fe_3O_4$ content (1 wt%) possesses an ordered 2-D hexagonal (p6mm) structure, uniform nanopores (3.6 nm), high surface areas (up to 635 $m^2/g$) and pore volumes (up to 0.48 $cm^3/g$). Magnetite nanoparticles with a small particle size (10.2 nm) were confined in the matrix of amorphous carbon frameworks with superparamagnetic property (7.7 emu/g). The nanoporous magnetite/carbon showed maximum adsorption amount (995 mg/g) of ibuprofen after 24 h at room temperature. The nanoporous magnetite/carbon was separated from solution easily by using a magnet. The nanoporous magnetite/carbon material is a good adsorbent for hydrophobic organic drug molecules, i.e. ibuprofen.

• Composites Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.31-35
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• 2008

In order to design light weight and high efficient electromagnetic wave absorbing materials, hollow magnetic particles have been introduced in this study. The electroless plating method has been utilized to coat Ni and Fe on the substrates of synthesized polystyrene particles of submicron size. Removing polystyrene particles by heat treatment resulted in hollow structures. Observation by SEM, TEM and EDS confirmed the surface morphology and coating thickness of Ni and Fe. Polymeric composites containing hollow particles were tested in order to compare the electromagnetic properties between Ni coated and Fe costed particles. The composite of 30 wt% Fe hollow particles showed the higher complex permeability than Ni hollow particles or the conventional barium ferrite particles.