• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.147-151
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• 2011

This paper demonstrates the development of a method for preparing micropatterned microdiscs in order to increase contact area with cells and to change the release pattern of drugs. The microdiscs were manufactured with hot embossing, where a polyurethane master structure was pressed onto both solid and porous microparticles made of polylactic-co-glycolic acid at various temperatures to form a micropattern on the microdiscs. Flat microdiscs were formed by hot embossing of porous microparticles; the porosity allowed space for flattening of the microdiscs. Three types of micro-grooves were patterned onto the flat microdiscs using prepared micropatterned molds: (1) 10 ${\mu}M$ deep, 5 ${\mu}M$ wide, and spaced 2 ${\mu}M$ apart; (2) 10 ${\mu}M$ deep, 9 ${\mu}M$ wide, and spaced 5 ${\mu}M$ apart; and (3) 10 ${\mu}M$ deep, 50 ${\mu}M$ wide, and spaced 50 ${\mu}M$ apart. This novel microdisc preparation method using hot embossing to create micropatterns on flattened porous microparticles provides the opportunity for low-cost, rapid manufacture of microdiscs that can be used to control cell adhesion and drug delivery rates.

• 한국표면공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국표면공학회 2016년도 추계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.105-105
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• 2016

Recently, high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HIPIMS) has attracted considerable attentions due to its high potential for industrial applications. By pulsing the sputtering target with high power density and short duration pulses, a high plasma density and high ionization of the sputtered species can be obtained. HIPIMS has exhibited several merits such as increased coating density, good adhesion, microparticle-free and smooth surface, which make the HIPIMS technique desirable for synthesizing hard coatings. However, hard coatings present intrinsic defects (columnar structures, pinholes, pores, discontinuities) which can affect the corrosion behavior, especially when substrates are active alloys like steel or in a wear-corrosion process. Atomic layer deposition (ALD), a CVD derived method with a broad spectrum of applications, has shown great potential for corrosion protection of high-precision metallic parts or systems. In ALD deposition, the growth proceeds through cyclic repetition of self-limiting surface reactions, which leads to the thin films possess high quality, low defect density, uniformity, low-temperature processing and exquisite thickness control. These merits make ALD an ideal candidate for the fabrication of excellent oxide barrier layer which can block the pinhole and other defects left in the coating structure to improve the corrosion protection of hard coatings. In this work, CrN/Al2O3/CrN multilayered coatings were synthesized by a hybrid process of HIPIMS and ALD techniques, aiming to improve the CrN hard coating properties. The influence of the Al2O3 interlayer addition, the thickness and intercalation position of the Al2O3 layer in the coatings on the microstructure, surface roughness, mechanical properties and corrosion behaviors were investigated. The results indicated that the dense Al2O3 interlayer addition by ALD lead to a significant decrease of the average grain size and surface roughness and greatly improved the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the CrN coatings. The thickness increase of the Al2O3 layer and intercalation position change to near the coating surface resulted in improved mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. The mechanism can be explained by that the dense Al2O3 interlayer acted as an excellent barrier for dislocation motion and diffusion of the corrosive substance.

• 한국임상약학회지
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.60-67
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• 2008

This study aimed to compare a microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) with a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) technique for the measurement of tacrolimus concentrations in adult liver transplant recipients, to investigate how the assay choice influenced the population pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus and to identify patient characteristics that affected pharmacokinetic parameters in each assay. Tacrolimus concentrations from 29 liver (n=52 paired-samples) transplant recipients measured by both MEIA and LC/MS/MS were used to evaluate the performance of these methods in the clinical setting. Tacrolimus pharmacokinetics was studied independently using MEIA and LC/MS/MS data in 70 adult patients using a population approach performed with NONMEM. Patient characteristics which influenced pharmacokinetic parameters in each assay were compared. The relation between LC/MS/MS and MEIA measurements was best described by the regression equation MEIA=1.465*LC/MS/MS-1.336 (r=0.91). Multiple linear regression analysis showed significant inverse relationships between assay difference and hematocrit (Hct) (p<0.025) in liver graft recipients. In MEIA, the population estimate of tacrolimus CL/F and apparent volume of distribution (Vd/F) were found to be 10.1 L/h and 226 L, and in LC/MS/MS, 13 L/h and 305 L respectively. Neither patient's age, weight, gender, grafted hepatic weight, albumin concentration, nor markers of liver function influenced tacrolimus CL/F The final model of CL/F was found to be 10.1+(Hct/Hct mean)$^{12.0}$ in MEIA and 13+(1+Hct/578) in LC/MS/MS indicating that CL/F was influenced by hematocrit.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• 제56권5호
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• pp.761-766
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• 2018

액적-기반 미세유체장치는 물질 합성 및 초고속 대용량 스크리닝 등 다양한 응용분야에서 변형 가능한 새로운 접근법을 이끌어 냈다. 그러나 단일의 액적생성기를 이용한 액적의 생성 속도가 매우 낮기 때문에 이를 상용화 하기 위해서는 생산속도를 높이기 위한 노력이 필요하다. 본 연구는 단일의 유동-집속 생성기를 병렬로 연결하여 단분산성 액적의 생성 속도를 높이는 방법에 관한 것이다. 이러한 액적생성기를 갖는 미세유체장치를 제작하기 위해 본 연구에서는 양면 임프린팅 방법을 이용하여 단층 엘라스토머 조각에3차원의 마이크로 채널을 갖는 3D 모놀리식 탄성중합체 장치(monolithic elastomer device, 3D MED)를 제작 할 수 있다. 이렇게 제작된 8개의 액적생성기가 연결된 3D MED를 이용하여 연속상과 분산상의 유체를 조절하여 단분산성 액적의 형성속도가 향상되었음을 증명하였다. 따라서 본 미세유체시스템을 사용하여 다양한 재료 또는 세포들을 함유하는 단분산성 액적을 형성하여 마이크로입자 제조 및 스크리닝 시스템과 같은 넓은 분야에 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.7-13
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• 2010

Although most researchers agree that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a good source of autogenous growth factors, its effect on bone regeneration is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether increasing angiogenic factors in the human PRP to enhance new bone formation through rapid angiogenesis. MATERIAL AND METHODS. In vitro, the human platelets were activated with application of shear stress, $20\;{\mu}g/ml$ collagen, 2 mM $CaCl_2$ and 10U thrombin/$1\;{\times}\;10^9$ platelets. Level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet microparticle (PMP) in the activated platelets were checked. In the animal study, human angiogenic factors-enriched PRP was tested in 28 athymic rat's cranial critical bone defects with $\beta$-TCP. Angiogenesis and osteogenesis were evaluated by laser Doppler perfusion imaging, histology, dual energy X-ray densinometry, and micro-computed tomography. RESULTS. In vitro, this human angiogenic factors-enriched PRP resulted in better cellular proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. In vivo, increasing angiogenic potential of the PRP showed significantly higher blood perfusion around the defect and enhanced new bone formation around acellular bone graft material. CONCLUSION. Angiogenic factor-enriched PRP leads to faster and more extensive new bone formation in the critical size bone defect. The results implicate that rapid angiogenesis in the initial healing period by PRP could be supposed as a way to overcome short term effect of the rapid angiogenesis.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.99-104
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• 2008

PLGA micro/nano particles encapsulating ranitidine as a hydrophilic model drug were prepared by the double-emulsion solvent evaporation method. Surface morphology investigation by scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that the emulsification by sonication could produce nanoparticles, whereas microparticles were prepared using high speed homogenizer. Moreover, while nanohalf-shell structure instead of spherical nanoparticle could be produced by adding poloxamer into oil phase (MC) with PLGA 504H, the addition of poloxamer didn't change particle shape in case of PLGA 502H. On the other hand, microparticle with poloxamer had more surface pores than those without poloxamer. The size and polydispersity (PDI) of particles were determined by particle size analyzer. Effective diameters of particles were in the range of $400{\sim}800\;nm$ and $1200{\sim}3300\;nm$ in case of nanoparticles and microparticles, respectively. Encapsulation efficiencies were in the range of $1.2{\sim}2.9%$. The addition of poloxamer produced the particles with higher encapsulation efficiency. In vitro release study in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) at $37^{\circ}C$ showed common large initial burst release. However, the relative slower release profile could be observed in case of microparticles. Poloxamer addition increased the release rate, which was thought to be related to the increased surface area of particles.

• 한국항공우주학회지
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• 제36권6호
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• pp.587-593
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• 2008

본 연구의 목적은 신체 조직의 손상을 최소화할 수 있는 경피(transdermal) 및 국부적인(topical) 약물전달을 가능하게 하는 마이크로 입자가속시스템 개발에 있다. Ballistic 역학을 기반으로 하는 본 방법을 통하여 체순환을 위한 경피 및 국부적 약물 전달이 가능하다. 얇은 금속 포일의 한 쪽 면에 마이크로 입자들을 얹어놓고 뒷면에 레이저를 조사하면 충격파가 발생하고, 이 충격파는 포일을 통과하며 포일의 끝에서 금속-공기간의 acoustic impedance 차이로 expansion wave로 반사되어 포일이 반대 방향으로 변형을 일으키게 한다. 이 순간적인 변형으로 인해 포일에 붙어있던 마이크로 입자들이 가속되어 튕겨 나가게 된다. 입자들이 가속되는 속도가 굉장히 크기 때문에 이들은 신체 조직을 침투할 만한 충분한 운동량을 갖고 있다. 입자들의 침투 여부를 확인하기 위해 우리는 5${\mu}m$ 크기의 코발트 입자들을 연조직을 묘사하는 젤라틴에 가속시켰으며, 주목할 만한 침투 깊이를 얻으며 실험에 성공하였다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권8호
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• pp.1088-1097
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• 2021

Grouper nervous necrosis virus (GNNV) infection causes mass grouper mortality, leading to substantial economic loss in Taiwan. Traditional methods of controlling GNNV infections involve the challenge of controlling disinfectant doses; low doses are ineffective, whereas high doses may cause environmental damage. Identifying potential methods to safely control GNNV infection to prevent viral outbreaks is essential. We engineered a virus-binding bacterium expressing a myxovirus resistance (Mx) protein on its surface for GNNV removal from phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), thus increasing the survival of grouper fin (GF-1) cells. We fused the grouper Mx protein (which recognizes and binds to the coat protein of GNNV) to the C-terminus of outer membrane lipoprotein A (lpp-Mx) and to the N-terminus of a bacterial autotransporter adhesin (Mx-AIDA); these constructs were expressed on the surfaces of Escherichia coli BL21 (BL21/lpp-Mx and BL21/Mx-AIDA). We examined bacterial surface expression capacity and GNNV binding activity through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; we also evaluated the GNNV removal efficacy of the bacteria and viral cytotoxicity after bacterial adsorption treatment. Although both constructs were successfully expressed, only BL21/lpp-Mx exhibited GNNV binding activity; BL21/lpp-Mx cells removed GNNV and protected GF-1 cells from GNNV infection more efficiently. Moreover, salinity affected the GNNV removal efficacy of BL21/lpp-Mx. Thus, our GNNV-binding bacterium is an efficient microparticle for removing GNNV from 10‰ brackish water and for preventing GNNV infection in groupers.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• 제60권1호
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• pp.139-144
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• 2022

본 연구는 미세유체기술을 기반으로 매우 간단하고 효율적인 단분산성 하이드로젤 마이크로 입자 제조 방법을 제안하였다. 구체적으로, 유리모세관 미세유체장치 내에서 형성된 이중에멀젼은 자외선기반 자유라디칼 중합에 의해 빠르게 고형화가 이루어진다. 수용액에 분산됨과 동시에 계면활성제의 부족으로 인해 얇은 오일쉘은 자발적으로 분리되어, 단분산성 하이드로젤 입자를 형성하였다(C.V.=1%). 본 연구의 결과는 water-in-oil (w/o) 단일에멀젼 기반의 제조 방법과 달리 오일 부피를 최소한으로 사용하여 크기 및 조성 제어가 가능한 단분산성 하이드로젤 입자의 제조가 달성될 수 있음을 보여준다. 마지막으로, 상도표를 기반으로 미세유체장치 내 유동 패턴에 대한 심층 연구는 상대적인 부피 유속들 간의 중요한 상관관계를 나타내며 하이드로젤 마이크로 입자의 안정적인 제조를 위한 실험적 근거를 제시하였다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.210-218
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• 2023

Prostate cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality in men, primarily because of treatment resistance, recurrence, and metastasis. In the present study, we investigated the role of paracrine interleukin-8 (IL-8) in the antagonistic expression of IL-8 and androgen receptor (AR), and the contribution of IL-8 to prostate cancer aggressiveness. In hormone-responsive LNCaP cells that do not express IL-8, recombinant IL-8 treatment significantly increased expressions of IL-8, CXC chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2/9, Snail, and vimentin. IL-8 treatment significantly decreased AR and E-cadherin expression. IL-8-induced gene expression changes were suppressed by navarixin, a CXCR1/2 inhibitor, and gallein, a Gβγ inhibitor. In PC-3 androgen-refractory prostate cancer cells, IL-8 knockdown reduced expressions of CXCR2, MMP-2/9, Snail, and vimentin, and increased AR and E-cadherin expressions at the mRNA and protein levels. Co-culture with MEG-01 human megakaryocytic cells secreting high levels of IL-8 induced gene expression changes in both LNCaP and PC-3 cells, similar to those induced by IL-8 treatment. The altered gene expressions were accompanied by significant activation of transcription factor Snail in LNCaP and PC-3 cells. Treatment with the CXCR blocker navarixin inhibited the invasion of PC-3 cells but not LNCaP cells. However, invasion induced by MEG-01 was inhibited by navarixin in both LNCaP and PC-3 cells. The collective findings demonstrate that IL-8 enhances CXCR2 expression, which antagonistically regulates AR expression. More importantly, through changes in IL-8/CXCR2-regulated gene expression, IL-8 induces antiandrogen therapy resistance and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in prostate cancer.