• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.274-281
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• 2010

In this study, PEG-PLA(or PLGA) amphiphilic di-block copolymers were synthesized by ring opening polymerization of D,L-lactide(or glycolide) and applied to polymeric micelle system for solubilization of a rosiglitazone as diabetes drug. The drug could be efficiently loaded into the polymer micelle by solid dispersion technique, and the drug-loaded micelles were characterized and evaluated as a drug delivery carrier by fluorescence spectrometer, DSC, and DLS measurements. The colloidal stability of drug loaded micelles in aqueous media could be enhanced by addition of 2-hydroxy-N-picolylnitinamide as a hydrotropic agent. The polymer micelles also showed biocompatible and nontoxic properties in vitro cell viability using MTT assay, and the drug loaded micelles were observed to be more effective than free drug for decreasing glucose in blood of rats.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.464-470
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• 2006

Diblock copolymers consisting of methoxy Poly (ethylene glycol) (MPEG) and poly (${\epsilon}-ca$ prolactone) (PCL), poly(${\delta}-valerolactone$) (PVL), poly(L-lactide) (PLLA), or poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) were prepared to compare the characterization of diblock copolymers as a drug carrier. MPEG-PCL, MPEG-PVL, MPEG-PLLA, and MPEG-PLGA diblock copolymers were synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization of ${\epsilon}$-caprolactone or ${\delta}$-valerolactone in the presence of $HCl{\cdot}Et_2O$ as a monomer activator at room temperature and by the ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide or a mixture of L-lactide and glycolide in the presence of stannous octoate at $130^{\circ}C$, respectively. The synthesized diblock copolymers were characterized with $^1H-NMR$, GPC, DSC, and XRD. The micellar characterization of MPEG-polyester diblock copolymers in an aqueous phase was carried out by using NMR, dynamic light scattering, AFM, and fluorescence techniques. Most micelles exhibited a spherical shape in AFM. Thus, ore confirmed that the micelles formed with MPEG-polyester diblock copolymers have possibility as a potential hydrophobic drug delivery vehicle because a hydrophobic drug could be preferentially distributed in the micelle core.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.253-260
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• 2010

In this study, we prepared and evaluated a series of biocompatible and biodegradable block copolymer hydrogels with a delayed swelling property for tissue expander application. The hydrogels were synthesized via a radical crosslinking reaction of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) diacrylate and poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)(PLGA-PEG-PLGA) triblock copolymer diacrylate as a swelling/degradation controller (SDC). For the synthesis of various SDCs that can lead to different degradation and swelling properties, various PLGA-PEG-PLGA triblock copolymers with different LA/GA ratios and different PLGA block lengths were synthesized and modified to have terminal acrylate groups. The resultant hydrogels were flexible and elastic even in the dry state. The in vitro degradation tests showed that the delayed swelling properties of the hydrogels could be modulated by varying the chemical composition of the biodegradable crosslinker (SDC) and the block ratio of SDC/PEG. The histopathologic observation after implantation of hydrogels in mice was performed and evaluated by macrography and microscopy. Any significant inflammation or necrosis was not observed in the implanted tissues. Due to their biocompatibility, elasticity, sufficient swelling pressure, delayed swelling and controllable degradability, the hydrogels could be useful for tissue expansion and other biomedical applications.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.80-88
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• 2000

Biodegradable microspheres were prepared with poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA, 75 : 25 by mole ratio) by an oil/oil solvent evaporation method for the sustained release of anti-AIDS virus agent, AZT The microspheres of relatively narrow size distribution (7.6$\pm$ 3.8 ㎛) were obtained by controlling the fabrication conditions. The shape of microspheres prepared was smooth and spherical. The efficiency of AZT loading into the PLGA microsphere was over 93% compared to that below 15% for microspheres by a conventional water/oil/water method. The effects of Preparation conditions on the morphology and in vitro AZT release pattern were investigated. in vitro release studies showed that different release pattern and release rates could be achieved by simply modifying factors in the fabrication conditions such as the type and amount of surfactant, initial amount of loaded drug, the temperature of solvent evaporation, and so on. PLCA microspheres prepared by 5% of initial drug loading, 1.0% (w/w) of surfactant concentration, and 25$\^{C}$ of solvent evaporation temperature were free from initial burst effect and a near-zero order sustained release was observed. Possible mechanisms of the near-zero order sustained release for our system have been proposed.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.511-520
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• 2000

Various bupivacaine-loaded microspheres were prepared from poly (d,l-lactide) (PLA) or poly (d,l-lactic-co-glycolide) (PLGA) by a solvent evaporation method for the sustained release of drug. PLA and PLGA microspheres were prepared by w/o/w and w/o/o multiple emulsion solvent evaporation, respectively. The effects of process conditions such as emulsification speed, emulsifier type, emulsifier concentration and internal/external phase ratio on the characteristics of microspheres were investigated. The prepared microspheres were characterized for their drug loading, size distribution, surface morphology and release kinetics. Drug loading efficiency was higher in the microspheres prepared by w/o/o multiple emulsion than that by w/o/w multiple emulsion method, because the solubility of bupivacaine HCI was decreased in oil phase compared with water phase. The prepared microspheres had an average diameter between 1 and $2\;{\mu}M$ in all conditions of two methods. In morphology studies the PLA microspheres showed an irregular shape and smooth surface, but PLGA microspheres had a spherical shape and smooth surface. The release pattern of the drug from microspheres was evaluated on the basis of the burst effect and the extent of the release after 24h. The in vitro release of bupivacaine HCl from microspheres showed a large initial burst release and $60{\sim}80%$ release within one day in all conditions of two methods. The extents of the burst release against PLA and PLGA microspheres were $30{\sim}50%$ and $50{\sim}80%$ within 20min, respectively. This burst release seems to be due to the smaller size of microspheres and the solubility of drug in water.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.516-522
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• 2008

Biodegradable polymers have been used extensively as scaffolding materials to regenerate new tissues and the ingrowth of tissue have been reported to be dependent directly of the porosity, pore diameter, pore shape, and porous structure of the scaffold. In this study, porous poly (L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) scaffolds with five different pore sizes were fabricated to investigate the effect of pore sizes for AF tissue regeneration. Cellular viability and proliferation were assayed by MTT test. Hydroxyproline/DNA content of AF cells on each scaffold was measured. sGAG analyses were performed at each time point of 2 and 6 weeks. Scaffold seeded AF cells were implanted into the back of athymic nude mouse to observe the difference of formation of disc-like tissue depending on pore size in vivo. We confirmed that scaffold with $180{\sim}250{\mu}m$ pores displayed high cell viability in vitro and produced higher ECM than scaffold with other pore sizes in vivo.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.20-24
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• 2007

The preservation of biological activity of protein drugs in formulation is still a major challenge for successful drug delivery. Lipase was encapsulated in poly (D,L-lactide- co-glycolide) PLGA nano-particles using a w/o/w solvent evaporation technique. The lipase-containing PLGA/poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanoparticles were characterized with regard to morphology, size, size distribution, lipase-loading efficiency, in vitro lipase release, and stability of lipase activity. The size of nanoparticles increased as polymer concentration was increased. The size of particles was not significantly affected by the PVA concentration; on the other hand, the particle size distribution was the narrowest when 4% of PVA was used. In optimum conditions, we possessed nanoparticles that characterized 72.5% of encapsulation efficiency, $198.3{\pm}13.8 nm$ size diameter. During the initial burst phase, the in vitro release rate was very fast, reaching 83% within 12 days. Until days 6, enzyme activity increased as the amount of lipase released was increased.

• Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.85-96
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• 2015

This study developed biodegradable bi-layered drug-eluting beads and investigated the in-vitro release of fluorouracil and cisplatin from the beads. To manufacture the drug-eluting beads, poly[(d,l)-lactide-co-glycolide] (PLGA) with lactide:glycolide ratios of 50:50 and 75:25 were mixed with fluorouracil or cisplatin. The mixture was compressed and sintered at $55^{\circ}C$ to form bi-layered beads. An elution method was employed to characterize the release characteristic of the pharmaceuticals over a 30-day period at $37^{\circ}C$. The influence of polymer type (i.e., 50:50 or 75:25 PLGA) and layer layout on the release characteristics was investigated. The experiment suggested that biodegradable beads released high concentrations of fluorouracil and cisplatin for more than 30 days. The 75:25 PLGA released the pharmaceuticals at a slower rate than the 50:50 PLGA. In addition, the bi-layered structure reduced the release rate of drugs from the core layer of the beads. By adopting the compression sintering technique, we will be able to manufacture biodegradable beads for long-term drug delivery of various anti-cancer pharmaceuticals.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.183-188
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• 2003

The controlled delivery of anticancer agents using biodegradable polymeric implant has been developed to solve the problem of penetration of blood brain barrier and severe systemic toxicity. This study was performed to prepare 5-FU-loaded poly (L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) wafer fabricated microparticles prepared by two different method and to evaluate their release profile for the application of the treatment of brain tumor. 5-FU-loaded PLGA microparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). SEM observation of the 5-FU-loaded PLGA microparticles prepared by rotary solvent evaporation method showed that 5-FU was almost surrounded by PLGA and significant reduction of crystallinity of 5-FU was confirmed by XRD. In case of release profile of 5-FU from 5-FU-loaded PLGA wafer fabricated microparticles prepared by mechanical mixing, the release profile of 5-FU followed near first order release kinetics. In contrast to the above result, release profile of 5-FU from 5-FU-loaded PLGA wafer fabricated microparticles prepared by rotary solvent evaporation method followed near zero order release kinetics. These results indicate that preparation method of the 5-FU-loaded PLGA microparticles to fabricate into wafers was contributed to drug release profile.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.727-732
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• 2013

In this report, we present an inverse opal scaffold that can enhance the chondrogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) without drug, gene, or cytokine supplement. Inverse opal scaffolds based on poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) were formed with uniform $200{\mu}m$ pores. Due to uniform pore sizes and well-controlled interconnectivity of inverse opal scaffold, hADSCs were allowed to distribute homogeneously throughout the scaffolds. As a result, high cell density culture with scaffold was possible. Since the hADSCs cultured in inverse opal scaffolds were subjected to limited supplies of oxygen and nutrients, these cells were naturally preconditioned to a hypoxic environment that stimulated the up-regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-$1{\alpha}$ (HIF-$1{\alpha}$). As a result, apoptotic activity of hADSCs until 3 weeks after initial cell seeding was significantly reduced and chondrogenic differentiation related molecular signal cascades were up regulated (transforming growth factor-beta, phosphorylated AKT, and phosphorylated p38 expression). In contrast, hADSCs cultured with small and non-uniform porous scaffolds showed significantly increased apoptotic activity with decreased chondrogenic differentiation. Taken together, inverse opal scaffold could potentially be used as an effective tool for improving chondrogenesis using stem cells.