• Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
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• v.68
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• pp.229-237
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• 2018

Medical silicone tubes are generally used as implants for the treatment of nasolacrimal duct stenosis. However, side effects such as allergic reactions and bacterial infections have been reported following the silicone tube insertion, which cause surgical failure. These drawbacks can be overcome by modifying the silicone tube surface using a functional coating. Here, we report a biocompatible and superhydrophilic surface coating based on a polysaccharide multilayer nanofilm, which can load and release antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents. The nanofilm is composed of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and chitosan (CHI), and fabricated by layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly. The LbL-assembled CMC/CHI multilayer films exhibited superhydrophilic properties, owing to the rough and porous structure obtained by a crosslinking process. The surface coated with the superhydrophilic CMC/CHI multilayer film initially exhibited antibacterial activity by preventing the adhesion of bacteria, followed by further enhanced antibacterial effects upon releasing the loaded antibacterial agent. In addition, inflammatory cytokine assays demonstrated the ability of the coating to deliver anti-inflammatory agents. The versatile nanocoating endows the surface with anti-adhesion and drug-delivery capabilities, with potential applications in the biomedical field. Therefore, we attempted to coat the nanofilm on the surface of an ophthalmic silicone tube to produce a multifunctional tube suitable for patient-specific treatment.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 1997

To genetically breed powerful multifunctional antagonistic bacteria, the urease gene of alkalophilic Bacillus pasteurii was transferred into Bacillus subtilis YB-70 which had been selected as a powerful biocontrol agent against root-rotting fungus Fusarium solani. Urease gene was inserted into the HindIII site of pGB215-110 and designated pGU266. The plasmid pGU266 containing urease gene was introduced into the B. subtilis YB-70 by alkali cation transformation system and the urease gene was very stably expressed in the transformant of B. subtilis YB-70(pGU266). The optimal conditions for the transfomation were also evaluated. From the in vitro antibiosis tests against F. solani, the antifungal activity of B. subtilis YB-70 containing urease gene was much efficient than that of the non-transformed strain. Genetic improvement of B. subtilis YB-70 by transfer of urease gene for the efficient control seemed to be responsible for enhanced plant growth and biocontrol efficacy by combining its astibiotic action and ammonia producing ability.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2005

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. Neovastat, having significant antitumor and antimetastatic properties, is classified as a naturally occurring multifunctional antiangiogenic agent. We evaluated the therapeutic effect of Neovastat on airway inflammation in a mouse model of asthma. BALB/c mice were immunized subcutaneously with ovalbumin (OVA) on days 0, 7, 14, and 21 and challenged with inhaled OVA on days 26, 29, and 31. Neovastat was administrated by gavage (5 mg/kg body weight) three times with 12 h intervals, beginning 30 min before OVA inhalation. On day 32, mice were challenged with inhaled methacholine, and enhanced pause (Penh) was measured as an index of airway hyperresponsiveness. The severity of airway inflammation was determined by differential cell count of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. The MMP-9 concentration in BAL fluid samples was measured by ELISA, and MMP-9 activity was measured by zymography. The untreated asthma group showed an increased inflammatory cell count in BAL fluid and Penh value compared with the normal control group. Mice treated with Neovastat had significantly reduced Penh values and inflammatory cell counts in BAL fluid compared with untreated asthmatic mice. Furthermore, mice treated with Neovastat showed significantly reduced MMP-9 concentrations and activity in BAL fluid. These results demonstrate that Neovastat might have new therapeutic potential for airway asthmatic inflammation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.142-148
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• 2001

An indigenous antagonistic bacterium Bacillus sp. 7079 was isolated from a local soil sampled at Kyongju area in Korea . The strain has strong antagonistic ability which was originated from multifunctional mechanisms of chitinase and antibiotic and is a powerful antagonistic biocontrol agent against red-pepper rotting fungus Phytophthora capsici and Wilt fungus Fusarium oxysporum. The chitinase might degrade the cell wasll for Fusarium species. The selected Bacilus sp. 7079 was identified as a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 7079. The maximal production of the chitinase from B, amyloliquefaciens 7079 were obtained in chitin-yeast extract medium containing 0.7%, $K_2$$HPO_4$, $0.2KH_2$$PO_4$, 0.1% ($NH_4$)$_2$$SO_4$, 0.05% sodium cirate, 0.01% $MgSO_4$$7H_2$O, 0.1% yeast extract and 0.1% colloidal chitin after cultivation of 3 days at pH 7.0 and $30^{\circ}C$. The best carbon and nitrogen sources for the production of the chitinase from B amyloliquefaciens 7079 were determined to be 0.1% colloi- dal chitin and 0.15% proteose peptone NO 3 respectively, The antagonistic activity of B amyloliquefaciens 7079 was confirmed using P. capsici by in vivo pot test with red-pepper plant.

• Carbon letters
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• v.24
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• pp.90-96
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• 2017

We demonstrated the sensitivity of optically active single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with a diameter below 1 nm that were homogeneously dispersed in cement composites under a mechanical load. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was selected as the dispersing agent to achieve a homogeneous dispersion of SWCNTs in an aqueous solution, and the dispersion state of the SWCNTs were characterized using various optical tools. It was found that the addition of a large amount of DNA prohibited the structural evolution of calcium hydroxide and calcium silicate hydrate. Based on the in-situ Raman and X-ray diffraction studies, it was evident that hydrophilic functional groups within the DNA strongly retarded the hydration reaction. The optimum amount of DNA with respect to the cement was found to be 0.05 wt%. The strong Raman signals coming from the SWCNTs entrapped in the cement composites enabled us to understand their dispersion state within the cement as well as their interfacial interaction. The G and G' bands of the SWCNTs sensitively varied under mechanical compression. Our results indicate that an extremely small amount of SWCNTs can be used as an optical strain sensor if they are homogeneously dispersed within cement composites.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.1479-1487
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• 2011

In the field of the entire electronic component industry including mobile IT products, the importance of a versatile package with the multifunctional or high capacity memories is gradually increased. Multi Chip Package which has several chips in a single package is frequently used for that purpose. In MCP, epoxy adhesive films play a major role in adhesion between the chips or between chip and substrate. A series of silane coupling agents with a functional group such as epoxy, amine, mercaptan, and isocyanate were applied to the epoxy adhesives and material properties such as wettability and reliability of the adhesives were investigated. From the results, the silane coupling agent with an epoxy functional group showed highest wettability and peel strength in epoxy adhesive. For those reasons, it lead to a superior reliability in the epoxy adhesive against interfacial fracture behaviors through moisture resistance test.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.161-166
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• 2013

At present, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors are the first group of drugs to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although beneficial in improving cognitive and behavioral symptoms, the effectiveness of AChE inhibitors has been questioned since they do not delay or prevent neurodegeneration in AD patients. Therefore, in the present study, in order to develop new and effective anti-AD agents from lichen products, both the AChE inhibitory and the neuroprotective effects were evaluated. The AChE inhibitory assay was performed based on Ellman's reaction, and the neuroprotective effect was evaluated by using the MTT method on injured PC12 cells. One AChE inhibitor ($IC_{50}$ = 27.1 ${\mu}g/ml$) was isolated by means of bioactivity-guided isolation from the extract of lichen-forming fungus Cladonia macilenta, which showed the most potent AChE inhibitory activity in previous screening experiment. It was then identified as biruloquinone by MS, and $^1H$- and $^{13}C$-NMR analyses. The inhibitory kinetic assay suggested that biruloquinone is a mixed-II inhibitor on AChE. Meanwhile, biruloquinone improved the viability of the $H_2O_2$- and ${\beta}$-amyloid-injured PC12 cells at 1 to 25 ${\mu}g/ml$. The protective effects are proposed to be related to the potent antioxidant activities of biruloquinone. These results imply that biruloquinone has the potential to be developed as a multifunctional anti- AD agent.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2021

In this study, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) composite films (EVA/LDPE-OSP) containing calcined oyster shell powder (OSP) were prepared using twin-screw extruder as an antimicrobial packaging material. The OSP composite was initially prepared and then incorporated into an EVA/LDPE blend at different ratios (0, 1, 3 and 5%) to develop the EVA/LDPE-OSP composite films. The as-prepared EVA/LDPE-OSP composites films were evaluated using FT-IR, DSC, TGA, OTR, WVTR, SEM and UTM as well as antimicrobial activity was examined using JIS Z 2801:2000 standard. OPS endowed the antimicrobial potency to the composite films against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. In addition, the incorporation of OSP remarkably enhanced the thermal stability. OSP as a natural biocidal agent can be used as a multifunctional additive in packaging industry such as improving the thermomechanical properties and preventing the microbial contamination of packaged products.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.347-352
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• 2023

The protein family of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) is comprised of multifunctional nuclear enzymes. Several PARP inhibitors have been developed as new anticancer drugs to combat resistance to chemotherapy. Herein, we characterized PARP4 mRNA expression profiles in cisplatin-sensitive and cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cell lines. PARP4 mRNA expression was significantly upregulated in cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cell lines, and this upregulation was associated with the hypomethylation of specific cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites (cg18582260 and cg17117459) on its promoter. Reduced PARP4 expression was restored by treating cisplatin-sensitive cell lines with a demethylation agent, implicating the epigenetic regulation of PARP4 expression by promoter methylation. Depletion of PARP4 expression in cisplatin-resistant cell lines reduced cisplatin chemoresistance and promoted cisplatin-induced DNA fragmentation. The differential mRNA expression and DNA methylation status at specific PARP4 promoter CpG sites (cg18582260 and cg17117459) according to cisplatin responses, was further validated in primary ovarian tumor tissues. The results showed significantly increased PARP4 mRNA expressions and decreased DNA methylation levels at specific PARP4 promoter CpG sites (cg18582260 and cg17117459) in cisplatin-resistant patients. Additionally, the DNA methylation status at cg18582260 CpG sites in ovarian tumor tissues showed fairly clear discrimination between cisplatin-resistant patients and cisplatin-sensitive patients, with high accuracy (area under the curve = 0.86, P = 0.003845). Our findings suggest that the DNA methylation status of PARP4 at the specific promoter site (cg18582260) may be a useful diagnostic biomarker for predicting the response to cisplatin in ovarian cancer patients.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.384-389
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• 1992

Bacillus sp. YBL-7 which had been isolated from ginseng root-rot suppressive soil was able to antagonize Fusarium solani causing ginseng root-rot by their antibiotic substance. In order to develop multifunctional antagonist on Bacillus sp. YBL-7 as a biocontrol agent against Fusarium salam', optimal conditions for protoplast transformation system of Bacillus sp.YBL-7 by the vector plasmid pE194 were investigated. The protoplasts of Bacillus sp. YBL-7 were obtained at best efficiency by treatment with 200${\mu}g$/ml of lysozyme in the pH 7.0 of SMM buffer for 90 minutes at $40^{\circ}C$. The cell wall of the protoplast was regenerated on the agar plate containing 1.2% agar and 0.7 M mannitol. Under the best condition for protoplast formation and regeneration, the optimal transformation was achieved with 40% polyethylene glycol (M.W. 4000) treatment for 10minutes. The vector plasmid pE194 showed the best transformation frequency at 5$\mu$g/ml of final concentration. The pE194 was very stable over 80% in the transformants.