• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.482-495
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• 2015

Sphingolipids such as ceramide, sphingosine-1-phosphate and sphingomyelin have been emerging as bioactive lipids since ceramide was reported to play a role in human leukemia HL-60 cell differentiation and death. Recently, it is well-known that ceramide acts as an inducer of cell death, that sphingomyelin works as a regulator for microdomain function of the cell membrane, and that sphingosine-1-phosphate plays a role in cell survival/proliferation. The lipids are metabolized by the specific enzymes, and each metabolite could be again returned to the original form by the reverse action of the different enzyme or after a long journey of many metabolizing/synthesizing pathways. In addition, the metabolites may serve as reciprocal biomodulators like the rheostat between ceramide and sphingosine-1-phosphate. Therefore, the change of lipid amount in the cells, the subcellular localization and the downstream signal in a specific subcellular organelle should be clarified to understand the pathobiological significance of sphingolipids when extracellular stimulation induces a diverse of cell functions such as cell death, proliferation and migration. In this review, we focus on how sphingolipids and their metabolizing enzymes cooperatively exert their function in proliferation, migration, autophagy and death of hematopoetic cells, and discuss the way developing a novel therapeutic device through the regulation of sphingolipids for effectively inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing cell death in hematological malignancies such as leukemia, malignant lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.6.1-6.1
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• 2011

Nanoscale block copolymer (BCP) patterns have been pursued for applications in sub-30 nm nanolithography. BCP self-assembly processing is scalable and low cost, and is well-suited for integration with existing semiconductor fabrication techniques. However, one of the major technical challenges for BCP self-assembly is limited tunability in pattern geometry, dimension, and functionality. We suggest methods for extending the degree of tunability by choosing highly incompatible polymer blocks and utilizing solvent vapor treatment techniques. Siloxane BCPs have been developed as self-assembling resists due to many advantages such as high etch-selectivity, good etch-resistance, long-range ordering, and reduced line-edge roughness. The large incompatibility leads to extensive degree of pattern tunability since the effective volume fraction can be easily manipulated by solvent-based treatment techniques. Thus, control of the microdomain size, periodicity, and morphology is possible by changing the vapor pressure and the mixing ratio of selective solvents. This allows a range of different pattern geometry such as dots, lines and holes and critical dimension simply by changing the processing conditions of a given block copolymer without changing a polymer chain length. We demonstrate highly extensive tunability (critical dimension ~6~30 nm) of self-assembled patterns prepared by a siloxane BCP with extreme incompatibility.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.80-80
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• 2006

As the size scale of features continue to shrink in devices, the use of self-assembly, i.e. a "bottom up" approach, for device fabrication becomes increasingly important. Yet, simple self-assembly alone will not be sufficient to meet the increasing demands place on the registry of structures, particularly nanostructured materials. Several criteria are key in the rapid advancement and technology transfer for self-assembling systems. Specifically, the assembly processes must be compatible with current $^{\circ}{\infty}top\;down^{\circ}{\pm}$ approaches, where standard photolithographic processes are used for device fabrication. Secondly, simple routes must be available to induce long-range order, in either two or three dimensions, in a rapid, robust and reliable manner. Thirdly, the in-plane orientation and, therefore, ordering of the structures, must be susceptible to a biasing by an external, macroscopic means in at least one, if not two directions, so that individual elements can be accessed in a reliable manner. Block copolymers, specifically block copolymers having a cylindrical microdomain morphology, are one such material that satisfy many, if not all, of the criteria that will be necessary for device fabrication. Here, we discuss several routes by which these versatile materials can be used to produce arrays of nanoscopic elements that have high aspect ratios (ideal for templating and scaffolding), that exhibit long-range order, that give access to multiple length scale structuring, and that are amenable to being biased by macroscopic features placed on a surface.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.290-293
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• 2017

In this study, the fundamental behavior of microdomains in block copolymer/nanoparticle composite thin films was examined. In this experiment, polystyrene-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine) block copolymer and CdSe nanoparticles having a noncentrosymmetric property were employed. Composite hybrid thin films were produced by a spin coating method, and changes in the internal structure of composite thin films were monitored mainly by transmission electron microscopy. In summary, nanoparticles resided inside the thin film relatively intact, however, the block copolymer microdomains rotated parallel to the electric field direction. This study will be very helpful for future research activities regarding behaviors of heterogeneous composite materials under external fields.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.955-959
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• 2006

A dynamic cycle of addition and removal of O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) at serine and threonine residues is emerging as a key regulator of nuclear and cytoplasmic protein activity. In this work, immunocytochemistry was carried out to investigate the subcellular expression of GlcNAc kinase (NAGK, EC 2.7.1.59) that catalyzes the phosphorylation of GlcNAc to GlcNAc 6-phosphate. Immunostainings of cultured rat hippocampal neurons revealed patchy or punctate distribution of NAGK. When NAGK is doublestained with caveolin-1 or flotillin, markers for caveolae and lipid rafts, respectively, NAGK was co-localized with these markers. These results indicate that most, if not all, of the NAGK immunopunctae represent caveolae and lipid rafts, and suggest NAGK's role in these membrane microdomains.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.623-632
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• 2007

Thermosensitive nanoparticles were prepared via the self-assembly of two different $poly({\varepsilon}-caprolactone)$-based block copolymers of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-b-$poly({\varepsilon}-caprolactone)$ (PNPCL) and poly(ethylene glycol)-b-$poly({\varepsilon}-caprolactone)$ (PEGCL). The self-aggregation and thermosensitive behaviors of the mixed nanoparticles were investigated using $^1H-NMR$, turbidimetry, differential scanning microcalorimetry (micro-DSC), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and fluorescence spectroscopy. The copolymer mixtures (mixed nanoparticles, M1-M5, with different PNPCL content) formed nano-sized self-aggregates in an aqueous environment via the intra- and/or intermolecular association of hydrophobic PCL chains. The microscopic investigation of the mixed nanoparticles showed that the critical aggregation concentration (cac), the partition equilibrium constants $(K_v)$ of pyrene, and the aggregation number of PCL chains per one hydrophobic microdomain varied in accordance with the compositions of the mixed nanoparticles. Furthermore, the PNPCL harboring mixed nanoparticles evidenced phase transition behavior, originated by coil to the globule transition of PNiPAAm block upon heating, thereby resulting in the turbidity change, endothermic heat exchange, and particle size reduction upon heating. The drug release tests showed that the formation of the thermosensitive hydrogel layer enhanced the sustained drug release patterns by functioning as an additional diffusion barrier.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.547-552
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• 2013

Polyimide (PI) containing carboxyl functional group was prepared and reacted with diaminosiloxane during high temperature film casting. The morphology of resulting film was observed by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), which revealed that globular 100 nm-sized PI domains and continuous polysiloxane phase were formed. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study indicated that air-film interface mainly consisted of polysiloxane blocks. Poly(imidesiloxane) thin layer was thermostable until $400^{\circ}C$ and its pressure- sensitive adhesive property was retained up to $300^{\circ}C$. The comparative experiments revealed that grafting between carboxyl groups of polyimide and aminosiloxane was crucial for formation of microdomain structure and pressure-sensitive adhesive property.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.531-536
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• 2011

Homopolymer distribution in block copolymer/homopolymer blends was investigated as a function of homopolymer concentration and homopolymer molecular weight. The deuterated poly(methyl methacrylate) or polystyrene was blended with a deuterated polystyrene-poly(methyl methacrylate) diblock copolymer up to a concentration of 20 wt%. Samples were characterized by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), neutron reflectivity and transmission electron microscopy. The block copolymer with a thin-film geometry formed alternating lamellar microdomains oriented parallel to the substrate surface. By adding the homopolymer, the microdomain structure was significantly disturbed. As a consequence, a poorly ordered morphology appeared when the homopolymer concentration exceeded 15 wt%. Increasing the homopolymer concentration and/or the homopolymer molecular weight caused the microdomains to swell less uniformly, resulting in segregation of the homopolymer toward the middle of the microdomains.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.191-198
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• 2023

As a member of the focal adhesion complex of the plasma membrane, Src is a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase that controls cell adhesion and motility. However, how Src activity is regulated in the plasma membrane microdomain in response to components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) remains unclear. This study compared and investigated the activity of Src in response to three representative ECM proteins: collagen type 1, fibronectin, and laminin. Genetically encoded FRET-based Src biosensors for plasma membrane subdomains were used. FRET-based biosensors allow the real-time analysis of protein activity in living cells based on their high spatiotemporal resolution. The results showed that Src activity was maintained at a high level under all ECM conditions of the lipid raft, and there was no significant difference between the ECM conditions. In contrast, Src activity was maintained at a low level in the non-lipid raft membrane. In addition, the Src activity of lipid rafts remained significantly higher than that of non-lipid raft regions under the same ECM conditions. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that Src activity can be controlled differently by lipid rafts and non-lipid raft microdomains.