• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.363-369
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• 2007

Novel biodegradable elastic hydrogels, based on hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymer blocks, were synthesized via the radical crosslinking reaction of diacrylates of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(${\varepsilon}-caprolactone$) (PCL). PEG and PCL diols were diacrylated with acryloyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine, with the reaction confirmed by FT-IR and $^1H-NMR$ measurements. The diacrylate polymers were used as building-blocks for the syntheses of a series of hydro gels, with different block compositions, by simply varying the feed ratios and molecular weights of the block components. The swelling ratio of the hydrogels was controlled by the balance between the hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymer blocks. Usually, the swelling ratio increases with increasing PEG content and decreasing block length within the network structure. The hydrogels exhibited negative thermo-sensitive swelling behavior due to the coexistence of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymer components in their network structure, and such thermo-responsive swelling/deswelling behavior could be repeated using a temperature cycle, without any significant change in the swelling ratio. In vitro degradation tests showed that degradation occurred over a 3 to 8 month period. Due to their biodegradability, biocompatibility, elasticity and functionality, these hydrogels could be utilized in various biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering and drug delivery systems.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.32 no.1 s.55
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• pp.29-33
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• 2006

This article describes an enzyme stabilization method that allows the use of enzymes irrespective of environmental factors, especially heat, while maintaining their activity for a long time. We have designed enzyme microcapsules that consist of papain enzyme cores, poly(propylene glycol) interlayers, and poly(${\epsilon}-caprolactone$) walls. By confocal laser scanning microscopy measurements and the thermal stability of papain-loaded microcapsules, it is demonstrated that the papain is surrounded by a hydrophobic polyol layer and stabilized by the exclusive volume effect. In our study, improved thermal stability can be obtained by using more hydrophobic long-chained polyols, which is understood to be attributed to the effective formation of a hydrophobic polyol layer between the papain and the polymer wall by means of conformational anchoring in the interface.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.344-351
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• 2005

pH-sensitive block copolymers were synthesized by coupling reaction of sulfamethazine and amphiphilic diblock copolymer, and their micellization-demicellization behavior was investigated. Sulfamethazine (SM), a derivative of sulfonamide, was introduced as a pH responsive moiety while methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)poly(D,L-lactide) (MPEG-PDLLA) and methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly($D,L-lactide-co-{\varepsilon}-caprolactone$) (MPEG-PCLA) were used as biodegradable amphiphilic diblock copolymers. After the sulfamethazine was carboxylated by the reaction with succinic anhydride, the diblock copolymer was conjugated with sulfamethazine by coupling reaction in the presence of DCC. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) and mean diameter of the micelles were examined at various pH conditions through fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. For MPEG-PDLLA-SM and MPEG-PCLA-SM solutions, the pH-dependent micellization-demicellization was achieved within a narrow pH band, which was not observed in the MPEG-PDLLA and MPEG-PCLA solutions. The micelle showed a spherical morphology and had a very narrow size distribution. This pH-sensitive block copolymer shows potential as a site-targeted drug carrier.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.146-151
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• 2006

Linear and branched copolymers consisting of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and $Poly({\varepsilon}-caprolactone)$ (PCL) were prepared to compare the characterization of star-shaped copolymers with various molecular architecture. Linear and branched PEG-PCL (1-arm, 2-arm, 4-arm, and 8-arm) copolymers were synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization of ${\varepsilon}-caprolactone$ in the presence of HCl $Et_2O$ as a monomer activator at room temperature. The synthesized copolymers were characterized with $^1H-NMR$, GPC, DSC, and XRD. As a result of the DSC and XRD, each copolymers showed different thermal properties and crystallinity according to the number of ms. The micellar characterization of linear and branched copolymers in an aqueous phase was carried out by using NMR, dynamic light scattering, AM, and fluorescence techniques. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) and diameters of micelles depended on the number of arms. Most micelles exhibited a spherical shape in AFM. In this study, we characterized star-shaped PEG-PCL copolymers and investigated their molecular architecture effect on the various properties. Furthermore, we confirmed that the micelles termed with linear and branched PEG-PCL copolymers have possibility as a potential hydrophobic drug delivery vehicle.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.507-510
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• 2010

Poly(cyclohexane carbonate) diol was synthesized by the alternating copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide and $CO_2$ over Cr based transition metal catalysts. The prepared PCCD was applied as a precursor for the preparation of waterborne polyurethane (PUD) in order to investigate an application field of carbon dioxide-based polycarbonate. The scratch resistance and thermal properties of PUDs, which was prepared with two kinds of polymeric diols (PCD and PCCD) were investigated. The scratch resistance and thermal decomposition temperature of PUD film prepared with PCCD is worse than those prepared with PCD, poly(hexamethylene carbonate) glycol. While, glass transition temperature of PUD film prepared with PCCD was higher than that prepared with PCD. It might be due to the rigid cyclohexane structure in the PCCD.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 2006

Biodegradable amphiphilic polymer was synthesized for removing hydrophobic pollutants(phenol, 4-nitrophenol, benzene, and toluene) and metal ions ($Cs^{+},\;Mg^{2+},\;Cu^{2+},\;Ni^{2+}$, and $Cr^{3}$). The methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)s with different molecular weights (1,100 and 5,000) were used as a hydrophilic segment. The rejection ratio improved in the relatively high molecular weight of MPEG. The rejection ratio of biodegradable nanoparticles without pollutants was over 98%. In removal of hydrophobic pollutants, the rejection ratio increased with the hydrophobic properties. The electron valence affects the rejection ratio of metal ions, indicating rejection ratio was ordered as $3^{+}>2^{+}>1^{+}$.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.211-217
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• 2004

The sol to gel transition of aqueous solution of block copolymers consisting of methoxy poly (ethylene glycol) (MPEG) and biodegradable polyesters such as $\varepsilon$-caprolactone and L-lactide was investigated as a function of temperature. MPEG-PCL was prepared by ring opening polymerization of $\varepsilon$-caprolactone in the presence of HClㆍEt$_2$O as monomer activator at room temperature. Also, MPEG-PLLA was prepared by ring opening polymerization of L-lactide in the presence of stannous octoate at 115$^{\circ}C$. The properties of block copolymers were investigated by $^1$H-NMR, IR, and GPC as well as the observation of thermo sensitive phase transition in aqueous solution. As the hydrophobic block length increased, the sol to gel transition temperature increased and curve of that steepen to lower concentration. To confirm the gel formation at body temperature, we observed the formation of gel in the mice body after injection of 20 wt% aqueous solution of each block copolymer. After surging, we investigated the gelation in mice. The results obtained in this study confirmed the feasibility as biomaterials of injectable implantation for controlled release of drug and protein delivery.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.263-263
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• 2006

Poly (ethylene glycol)(PEG) - Poly (${\varepsilon}-caprolactone(CL)$) - Poly (D,L lactide(LA) (PCLA-PEG-PCLA) was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization to form temperature sensitive hydrogel triblock copolymer. The triblock copolymer was acrylated by acryloyl chloride. ${\beta}-amino$ ester was used as a pH sensitive moiety, in this study ${\beta}$- amino ester obtained from 1,4-butandiol diacrylate, and 4, 4' trimethylene dipiperidine, it have pKb around 6.6. pH/temperature sensitive penta-block copolymer (PAE-PCL-PEG-PCL-PAE) was synthesized by addition polymerization from acrylated triblock copolymer, 1,4-butandiol diacrylate, and 4, 4' trimethylene dipiperidine. Their physicochemical properties of triblock and penta-block copolymers were characterized by $^1H-NMR$ spectroscopy and gel permeation spectroscopy. Sol-gel phase transition behavior of PAE-PCL-PEG-PCL-PAE block copolymers were investigated by remains stable method. Aqueous media of the penta-block copolymer (at 20 wt%) changed from a sol phase at pH 6.4 and $10^{\circ}C$ to a gel phase at pH 7.4 and $37^{\circ}C$. The sol-gel transition properties of these block copolymers are influenced by the hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance of the copolymers, block length, hydrophobicity, stereo-regularity of the hydrophobic of the block copolymer, and the ionization of the pH function groups in the copolymer depended on the changing of environmental pH, respectively. The degradation and the stabilization at pH 7.4 and $37^{\circ}C$, and the stabilization at pH 6.4 and $10^{\circ}C,\;5^{\circ}C,\;0^{\circ}C$, of the gel were determined. The results of toxicity experiment show that the penta block copolymer can be used for injection drug delivery system. The sol?gel transition of this block copolymer also study by in vitro test ($200{\mu}l$ aqueous solution at 20wt% polymer was injected to mouse). Insulin loading and releasing by in vitro test was investigated, the results showed that insulin can loading easily into polymer matrix and release time is around 14-16days. The PAE-PCL-PEG-PCL-PAE can be used as biomaterial for drug, protein, gene loading and delivery.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.255-255
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• 2006

Polymeric nanoparticles are recognized as promising drug carriers [1]. Here, novel tri-block copolymers based on poly PPDO, PCL and PEG were synthesized and employed for the formulation of reproducible polymeric nanoparticles [2]. To estimate the feasibility of the polymer to form polymeric nanoparticles, nanoparticles were prepared by co-solvent evaporation technique. Polymerization and structural features of the polymer were analyzed by different physico-chemical techniques. Existence of hydrophobic domains as a core of nanoparticles was characterized by $^{1}H-NMR$ spectroscopy, and further confirmed by fluorescence technique using pyrene as probe.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.420-426
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• 2012

In this study, we prepared polymer micelles containing quercetin and rutin, known as antioxidants, using poly(${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone)-b-poly(ethylene glycol), and evaluated in vitro skin permeation of the active materials. Quercetin and rutin loaded micelles were characterized by DSC (differential scanning calorimetry), HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) and DLS (dynamic light scattering) measurements. The particle size of the polymer micelles increased in a concentration dependent manner (0.5~2.0% PCL-b-PEG). The Zeta potential of quercetin and rutin loaded micelles remained constant. To evaluate the skin penetration of PCL-b-PEG micelles, Franz diffusion cell experiment was performed. The aqueous solutions of quercetin and rutin were used as the control groups. Quercetin and rutin loaded PCL-b-PEG micelles showed more efficient skin permeation than the control groups. Safety assessment (patch test) of quercetin and rutin loaded PCL-b-PEG micelles on skin was performed to test application possibility of the polymer micelles to cosmetics. Any adverse symptoms were not observed.