• Rapid Communication in Photoscience
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.82-84
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• 2013

We fabricated dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) with $TiO_2$ nanowire (NW)/nanoparticle (NP) composite and solidified nanogel as the photoelectrode and electrolyte, respectively. $TiO_2$ NWs were generated via pore-infiltration of titanium (IV) isopropoxide (TTIP) into a track-etched polycarbonate membrane with a pore diameter of 100 nm, followed by calcination at $500^{\circ}C$. Energy conversion efficiency of $TiO_2$ NW/NP-based DSSCs was always higher than that of NP-based cells. We attributed this to improved light scattering and electron transport by $TiO_2$ NWs, as verified by intensity modulation photocurrent spectroscopy (IMPS) and intensity modulation photovoltage spectroscopy (IMVS) analyses. Quasi-solid-state DSSCs with NW/NP composites exhibited 5.0% efficiency at 100 $mW/cm^2$, which was much greater than that of NP-based cells (3.2%).

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.476-482
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• 2009

The crystallization behavior of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) in the presence and absence of polypyrrole nanoparticles (PPy NPs) was investigated in terms of the heterogeneous nucleation effect of PPy NPs using FTIR, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimeter and polarized optical microscope analysis. PPy NPs were prepared by dispersion polymerization method stabilized by PVA in aqueous solution. A polymer nanocomposite with uniform dispersity could be readily obtained due to the enhanced compatibility between the filler and matrix. Compared with the PPy NP-absent PVA, the PPy NP/PVA nanocomposite exhibited an enhanced degree of crystallinity. The degree of crystallinity increased up to 17% at the PPy NP concentration of 1 wt%, compared to the pristine PVA. The PPy NP acted as an effective nucleating agent during the crystallization process, thereby enhancing the degree and rate of crystallization. The kinetics study of the crystallization also revealed the decreased value of the Avrami coefficient in the case of the PPy NP/PVA nanocomposite.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.174-176
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• 2016

In this study, we maximize the temperature difference between the ends of a HgTe nanoparticle(NP) thin film on a thermoelectric platform with a through-substrate via. The thermoelectric characteristics of the HgTe NP thin film show p-type behavior and its Seebeck coefficient is $290{\mu}V/K$. In addition, we demonstrate the possibility of wearable thermoelectric devices transforming body heat into electricity from through-substrate via thermoelectric platforms on human skin.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.623-626
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• 2008

Spin-coating electrostatic self-assembly (SCESA) is utilized to fabricate a single layer of carboxylic-acid-coated Pd nanoparticles (NPs) (D??5 nm) on an oppositely charged surface. The packing density of a NP monolayer formed on a rotating solid substrate (3000 rpm) was examined with regards to various parameters, including the particle concentration, the pH, and the ionic strength of the solution. Initially, the packing density grew exponentially with increases in the particle concentration, up to a maximum value (of 8.4 ´ 1011/cm2) at 1.2 wt%. The packing density was also found to increase drastically as the pH decreased and the ionic strength of the solution increased; these trends can be attributed to a reduction in the interparticle repulsions among the NPs in the solution and on the substrate. The best result of this study was achieved in a 1.2 wt% solution at pH 8; under these conditions, an NP monolayer with the highest density (namely, 1.6 ´ 1012/cm2) was obtained.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.137-145
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• 2009

As an efficient controlled release system for rhBMP-2, a functional nanoparticle-hydrogel complex, incorporated with matrix metalloproteinase(MMP) sensitive peptide cross-linker, was developed and used as a bone transplant. In vivo bone formation was evaluated by soft x-ray, histology, alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity and mineral contents analysis, based on the rat calvarial critical size defect(8mm in diameter) model. Significantly, effective bone regeneration was achieved with the rhBMP-2 loaded MMP sensitive hyaluronic acid(HA) based hydrogel-Nanoparticles(NP) complex, as compared to only MMP HA, the MMP HA-NP without rhBMP-2, or even with the rhBMP-2. These improvements included the formation pattern of bone and functional marrow, the degree of calcium quantification, and the ALP activity. These results indicate that the MMP sensitive HA with nano-particle complex can be a promising candidate for a new bone defect replacement matrix, and an enhanced rhBMP-2 scaffold.

• Ceramist
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.204-215
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• 2018

Proteases are one of the most abundant classes of enzymes in living organisms and have been considered major targets for drug development. However, despite the ability to specifically cleave their substrates, many attempts to assay protease activity have generally relied upon the use of gel zymography or fluorophore-labeled peptide substrates, which is limited in rapid and multiplex analysis. Here we review the recent advances in nanoparticle (NP)-utilized assays of protease activity focused on in vitro and cell imaging-based approaches. Owing to large surface area and unprecedented physical properties of NPs, these approaches are anticipated to facilitate many applications related to protease activity-based disease diagnosis and drug discovery.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.105-108
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• 2017

Recently, deciduous teeth have been proposed as a promising biomatrix for estimating internal and external chemical exposures of an individual from prenatal periods to early childhood. Therefore, detection of organic chemicals in teeth has received increasing attention. Organic materials in tooth matrix are mostly collagen type proteins, but lipids and other small organic chemicals are also present in the tooth matrix. In this study, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) was employed to obtain lipid fingerprints from deciduous teeth. Phospholipids and triacylglcerols (TAGs) from deciduous teeth were successfully detected by MALDI MS with 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) or gold nanoparticle (AuNP) as a matrix.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.13-26
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• 2016

Nanoparticles (NPs), which have been investigated intensively as electrocatalysts, are usually synthesized by chemical methods that allow precise size and shape control. However, it is difficult to control the components and compositions of alloy NPs. On the other hand, the conventional physical method, sputtering with solid substrates, allows for facile composition control but size control is difficult. Recently, “liquid medium sputtering” has been suggested as an alternative method that is capable of combining the advantages of the chemical and conventional physical methods. In this review, we will discuss NP synthesis via the liquid medium sputtering technique using ionic liquid and low-volatile polymer media. In addition, potential applications of the technique, including the generation of oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalysts, will be discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Physical Society
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• v.73 no.9
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• pp.1283-1288
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• 2018

In this work, we investigate polarization-dependent excitation of the propagating surface plasmon polariton (SPP) modes in gold nanowires (Au NWs) combined with gold nanoparticles (Au NPs). The light coupling from focused light to SPPs on Au NWs is investigated for different structural combinations of Au NWs with Au NPs, using full-wave finite-element numerical simulations. The results show that the excitation of SPPs changes remarkably on varying the orientation of the NP on NW or the polarization angle of the incident light. Metallic NWs combined with NPs can be applied to the polarization-resolved SPP coupling in various optical and optoelectronic devices including photonic circuits and optical sensors.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.39-47
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• 2019

Ultrasound sonication along with microbubble (MB) could enhance drug delivery to promote the absorption of anticancer drugs into cancers in a noninvasive and targeted manners. In this study, we verify the acute drug delivery enhancement (within an hour) of two representative focused ultrasound driven drug delivery enhancement methods (MB and Doxorubicin-coated Nanoparticle complex (MB-NP) based). Experiments were conducted using in vivo mouse model with MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. Ultrasound generated by single-element 1 MHz focused ultrasound transducer was delivered in pulsed sonication consisted of 0.125 msec bursts at a pulse repetition frequency of 2 Hz for 20 seconds without a significant increase in local temperature (less than $0.1^{\circ}C$) or hemorrhage. Doxorubicin concentrations in tumors were improved by 1.97 times in the case of MB-NP, and 1.98 times by using Doxorubicin and MB separately. These results indicate anticancer drug delivery based on MB and MB-NP can significantly improve the effect of anticancer drugs delivered to tumors in a short time period by using low-intensity focused ultrasound.