• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.215-223
• /
• 2001

Cadmium is an ubiquitous toxic metal and chronic exposure to cadmium results in the accumulation of cadmium in the liver and kidneys. In contrast, acute exposure leads to damage mainly in the liver. Apoptosis induced by cadmium has been shown in many tissues in vivo and in cultured cells in vitro. However, the molecular mechanism of cadmium-induced apoptosis is not clear in hepatocyte. To investigate the induction of apoptosis in the hepatocyte, we used mouse hepatoma cell line, Hepalclc7 cells, and analysed the molecules that involved in cadmium-induced apoptosis. Cadmium induced the genomic DNA fragmentation, PARP cleavage, and activation of caspase-3 like protease. Caspase-9 cysteine protease was activated in a time-dependent manner but caspase-8 cysteine protease was not significantly activated in cadmium-treated Hepalclc7 cells. Cadmium also induced mitochondrial dysfunction including cytochrome c release from mitochondria, change oj mitochondrial membrane potential tranition, and tranlocation of Bax Protein into mitochondria. These results strong1y indicated that the signal Pathway of apoptotic death in cadmium-treated Hepalclc7 cells is modulated by caspase cascade via mitochondria.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.132-136
• /
• 2007

Zinc is essential metal and plays a role in a wide variety of physiological and biochemical processes. Prostate gland contains high level of zinc, generally 3-10 folds higher than other organs. Prostatic zinc uptake is resulted from the existence of zinc transporter (ZnT) protein families in membrane. In this study, we investigated the difference of zinc uptake efficiency of zinc-aspartate complex (Zn-Asp) into various organs compared with $ZnSO_4$. We observed that Plasma zinc concentration in both $ZnSO_4$ and Zn-Asp administrated group was increased progressively following administration, and reached a peak level at 2 hr. The increasing pattern of zinc concentration was similar to each groups, however the zinc concentration of Zn-Asp administrated group was higher than that of $ZnSO_4$ administrated group. We found that prostatic zinc level of Zn-Asp administrated group was higher than $ZnSO_4$ administrated group, and was increased approximately $\sim$2.7 fold and $\sim$4.2 fold at 4 and 8 hr after administration. From these observations, we suggest than Zn-Asp has high uptake efficiency of zinc into the prostate gland. Therefore, Zn-Asp is potentially useful treatment of many prostatic diseases.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2012.02a
• /
• pp.152-153
• /
• 2012

Ion sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET)는 전해질 속 각종 이온농도를 측정하는 반도체 이온 센서이다. 이 소자의 기본 구조는 metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET)에서 고안되었으며 게이트 컨택 부분이 기준전극과 전해질로 대체되어진 구조를 가지고 있다 [1]. ISFET는 기존의 반도체 CMOS 공정과 호환이 가능하고 제작이 용이할 뿐만 아니라, pH용액에 대한 빠른 반응 속도, 비표지 방식의 생체물질 감지능력, 낮은 단가 및 소자의 집적이 용이하다는 장점을 가지고 있다. ISFET pH센서의 감지특성에 결정하는 요소 중 가장 중요한 것은 소자의 감지막이라고 할 수 있다. 감지막은 감지 대상 물질과 물리적으로 직접 접촉되는 부분으로서 일반적으로 기계적/화학적 강도가 우수한 실리콘 산화막(SiO2)이 많이 사용되어져 왔다. 최근에는 기존의 SiO2 보다 성능이 향상된 감지막을 개발하기 위하여 Al2O3, HfO2, ZrO2, 그리고 Ta2O5와 같은 고유전 상수(high-k)를 가지는 물질들을 EIS 센서의 감지막으로 이용하는 연구가 활발하게 진행되고 있다. 하지만 지속적인 high-k 물질들에 대한 연구에도 불구하고 각각의 물질이 갖는 한계점이 드러났다. 본 연구에서는 SOI기판에서 SiO2 /HfO2 (OH), SiO2/Al2O3 (OA) 이단 적층 그리고 SiO2/HfO2/Al2O3 (OHA) 삼단적층 감지막을 갖는 ISFET을 제작하고 각 감지막의 특성을 평가하였다. 평가된 특성의 결과가 아래의 표1에 요약되었다. 그 결과, 각 high-k 물질이 갖는 한계점을 극복하기 위하여 제안된 OHA감지막은 기존에 OH, OA가 갖는 장점을 취하면서 단점을 최소화 시키는 최적화된 감지막의 감지특성을 보였다.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.227-236
• /
• 2012

Ionomer is a thermoplastic that is composed of covalent bonds and ionic bonds. It is possible to use this material in processes such as injection molding or extrusion molding due to the material's high oil resistance, weatherproof characteristics, and shock resistance. In this study, a new ionomer having a multifunctional group was prepared by a stepwise neutralization system with the addition of acidic and salt additives. In step I, to increase the contents of the multifunctional group and the acid degree in ethylene acrylic acid (EAA), MGA was added to the ionomer resin (EAA). A new ionomer was prepared via the traditional preparation method of the ionic cross-linking process. In step II, metal salt was added to the mixture of EAA and MGA. The extrusion process was performed using a twin extruder (L/D = 40, size : ${\varphi}30$). Ionomer film was prepared for evaluation of gas permeability by using the compression molding process. The degree of neutralized and ionic cross-linked new ionomer was confirmed by FT-IR and XRD analysis. In order to estimate the neutralization of the new ionomer film, various properties such as gas permeation and mechanical properties were measured. The physical strength and anti-scratch property of the new ionomer were improved with increase of the neutralization degree. The gas barrier property of the new ionomer was improved through the introduction of an ionic site. Also, the ionic degree of cross-linking and gas barrier property of the ionomer membrane prepared by stepwise neutralization were increased.

• Journal of Conservation Science
• /
• v.10 no.1 s.13
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2001

The objective of this study is to examine the characteristics of historical papers and cloths found at Neunggasa temple, Goheunggun, Chonnam Province, Korea, using light microscopy, image analysis and SEM-EDS for fiber morphology and trace metal composition. All papers were made from paper mulberry. Transparent membrane, which was separated from bast fiber, was unique in these fibers. The papers found on the wall of Daewungjun were most highly degraded and those of the books, which were excavated under Cheungwangmun, were relatively well preserved. The cloths found under the statue 'Dong-bangjiguk' were silk, very narrow fiber without any marks. In the analysis of SEM-EDS, high content of silica was detected. Also small content of calcium was taken into consideration. Content of iron and chlorine were discussed from the viewpoint of potentially harmful elements for the conservation of paper. The composition of trace elements could not be used to determine the origins of papers.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
• /
• 2018.06a
• /
• pp.101-101
• /
• 2018

Quantitative measurement of chloride ion concentration has an important role in various fields of electrochemistry, medical science, biology, metallurgy, architecture, etc. Among them, its importance of architecture is ever-growing due to unexpected degradations of building structure. These situations are caused by corrosion of reinforced concrete (RC) structure of buildings. And chloride ions are the most powerful factors of RC structure corrosion. Therefore, precise inspection of chloride ion concentration must be required to increase the accuracy of durability monitoring. Multi-walled Carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have high chemical resistivity, large surface area and superior electrical property. Thus, it is suitable for the channels of electrical signals made by the sensor. Silver nanoparticles were added to giving the sensing property. CuBTC, one of the metal organic frameworks (MOFs), was employed as a material to improve the sensing property because of its hydrophilicity and high surface area to volume ratio. In this study, sensing element was synthesized by various chemical reaction procedures. At first, MWCNTs were functionalized with a mixture of sulfuric acid and nitric acid because of enhancement of solubility in solution and surface activation. And functionalized MWCNTs, silver nanoparticles, and CuBTC were synthesized on PTFE membrane, one by one. Electroless deposition process was performed to deposit the silver nanoparticles. CuBTC was produced by room temperature synthesis. Surface morphology and composition analysis were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was also performed to confirm the existence of sensing materials. The electrical properties of sensor were measured by semiconductor analyzer. The chloride ion sensing characteristics were confirmed with the variation of the resistance at 1 V.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.221-227
• /
• 1995

The fiber optic fluorosensor that shows a specific selectivity for calcium ion is studied. This sensor employs protein Calmodulin(CaM) which forms a fluorescent chelate with $Ca^{2+}$. A dialysis membrane is used to entrap a fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled CaM solution at the common end of a bifurcated fiber optic bundle. The sensing mechanism of this sensor is based on the shifts in the fluorescence spectrum of metal-calmodulin complexes which FCaM forms a chelate with $Ca^{2+}$. Upon binding with $Ca^{2+}$, CaM undergoes a conformational change which induces a change in the fluorescence of FCaM. This change in fluorescence signal which is measured by photomultiflier tube is related to the concentration of $Ca^{2+}$ for calibration curve. Detection limit for $Ca^{2+}$ and the interference effects by $Mg^{2+}$, $Eu^{3+}$ and $La^{3+}$ for this sensor are studied. Response time and life time for this fluorosensor are also investigated.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.69-73
• /
• 2011

High-voltage electron microscope (HVEM) has higher resolution and penetration power than conventional transmission electron microscope that could be load thick specimen. Some researchers have taken this advantage of HVEM to explore 3-dimensional configuration of the biological structures including tissue and cells. Whole mount preparations has been employed to study some cell lines and primary culture cells. In this study, we would like to introduce useful whole mount preparation method for neuronal studies. The plastic coverslips were punched, covered by formvar membrane and coated with carbon. The neurons obtained embryonic 18 rat hippocampus were seeded on the prepared cover slip. The coverslips were fixed, dried in freeze drier and kept in a descicator until HVEM observation. We could observe detailed neuronal structures such as soma, dendrite and spine under HVEM without conventional thin section and heavy metal stain. The anaglyphic image based on stereo paired image ($-8^{\circ},+8^{\circ}$) provides three dimensional perception of the neuronal dendrites and their spines. This method could be applied to sophisticated analysis of dendritic spine under the various experimental conditions.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.77-86
• /
• 2011

The unwanted artificial oil-spill has severely contaminated the coastal environment in the world. Level of contamination has so far been monitered by various indicator species including mussel, oysters, flounder, and cockle. In this study, we decided to use the oyster as a model organism to observe the morphological changes being exposed to the artificial oil-spill in the coastal areas in Taean, Korea. The oysters were collected from four local sites (Sindu-ri, Uiwang-ri, Jonghyeon-dong, Ansan and Uihang-ri) exposed to various levels of pollution after an oil spill in Taean. Microscopic analysis of the hepatopancreatic microstructure in the digestive gland from the collected oysters show that the swelling, whorl, and destruction phenomenon of the nuclear membrane, a well-known microstructure induced by heavy metal exposure, was observed. Nuclear body (Nb), another typical characteristic of contamination or infection were also observed in some samples. Necrosis was observed in tissue samples collected from the area with a high degree of oil pollution. In addition, parasite-like particles (virus, perkinsus) were observed in most samples. Taken together, these results suggest that oil contamination in the oyster habitats influences the cytopathological changes in Crassostrea gigas.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
• /
• 2003.06a
• /
• pp.47-47
• /
• 2003

The presenilin 1 (PS1) or PS2 is an essential component of the ${\gamma}$-secretase complex, which mediates the intramembrane proteolysis of selected type-I membrane, including the ${\beta}$-amyloid precursor protein (APP) to yield A${\beta}$. Familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD)-associated mutations in presenilins give rise to an increased production of a highly amyloidogenic A${\beta}$42. In addition to their well-documented proteolytic function, the presenilins play a role in calcium signaling. We have previously reported that presenilin FAD mutations cause highly consistent alterations in intracellular calcium signaling pathways, which include deficits in capacitative calcium entry (CCE), the refilling mechanism for depleted internal calcium stores. However, molecular basis for the presenilin-mediated modulation of CCE remains to be elucidated. In the present study, whole-cell patch clamp method was used to identify a specific calcium-permeable ion channel current(s) that is responsible for the CCE deficits associated with FAD-linked PS1 mutants. Unexpectedly, both voltage-activated and conventional store depletion-activated calcium currents I(CRAC), were absent in HEK293 cells, which were stably transfected either with wild-type or FAD mutant (L286V, M146L, and delta E9) forms of PS1. Recently, magnesium-nucleotide-regulated metal cation current, or I(MagNum), has been described and appears to share many common properties with I(CRAC) including calcium permeability and inhibitor sensitivity (e.g. 2-APB). We have detected I(MagNum) in all 293 cells tested. Interestingly, FAD mutant 293 cells developed only about half of currents compared to PS1 wild type cells.