• Macromolecular Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2005

Poly(L-lactic acid-co-succinic acid-co-l,4-butane diol) (PLASB) was synthesized by direct condensation copolymerization of L-lactic acid (LA), succinic acid (SA), and 1,4-butanediol (BD) in the bulk using titanium(IV) butoxide as a catalyst. The weight-average molecular weight ofPLASB was $2.1{\times}10^{5}$ when the contents of SA and BD were each 0.5 mol/100 mol of LA. Electrospinning was used to fabricate porous membranes from this newly synthesized bioabsorbable PLASB dissolved in mixed solvents of methylene chloride and dimethylformamide. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images indicated that the fiber diameters and nanostructured morphologies of the electrospun membranes depended on the processing parameters, such as the solvent ratioand the polymer concentration. By adjusting both the solvent mixture ratio and the polymer concentration, we could fabricate uniform nanofiber non-woven membranes. Cell proliferation on the electrospun porous PLASB membranes was evaluated using mouse fibroblast cells; we compare these results with those of the cell responses on bulk PLASB films.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2009

To overcome the stability problem of hydrophilic quantum dot (Q-dot), cellular uptake of hydrophobic instead of hydrophilic Q-dot was studied in the hope to find a simple method to use Q-dot as a cellular imaging probe. Hydrophobic Q-dot and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) were co-dissolved in chloroform to prepare stable films. Due to the cellular compatibility of PLLA, adherent cells were cultured on the film to observe the degree of Q-dot uptake and cytotoxicity of the prepared films. The results show that Q-dots were absorbed into NIH3T3 and EMT6 cells. Cellular uptake was also observed when hydrophobic Q-dots were coated directly on a glass plate. PLLA/Q-dot film and Q-dot coated on glass plate did not show major cytotoxicity. In vivo tumor model was also used to show the uptake of Q-dot from the PLLA/Q-dot film to the tumor site.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.69-77
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• 2011

In this study, poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) microparticles containing gemcitabine hydrochloride were prepared by a supercritical fluid process, called aerosol solvent extraction system (ASES), utilizing supercritical carbon dioxide as antisolvent. The influence of process parameters such as temperature, pressure, $CO_2$ and solution flow rate, solution concentration, and feed ratio of drug to polymer on the morphology and characteristics of the microparticles was studied in detail. The gemcitabine-loaded microparticles exhibited a spherical shape with a smooth surface. The entrapment efficiency of gemcitabine increased with increasing temperature, solution concentration and $CO_2$ flow rate and with decreasing drug/polymer feed ratio. The maximum drug loading obtained from the ASES process was found to be about 11%. The ASES-processed PLLA microparticles containing gemcitabine showed a relatively high initial burst due to the presence of surface pores on the microparticles and the poor affinity between drug and polymer.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.1028-1034
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• 1999

Poly(lactic acid) is expected to be one of the most promising biodegradable polymers. However, the high molecular weight polymer could be obtained by ring-opening polymerization process conventionally, which raises the production cost and decreases the final yield. In this study, linear and star-shaped poly(L-lactic acid)s were prepared by direct solution polycondensation method and their physical and thermal properties were examined. Tin compounds were found to be effective catalyst for the preparation of high molecular weight polymers. When 0.2g (0.5 wt % of monomer) of $SnCl_2$ and 100 mL of p-xylene were used, the polymer yield and molecular weight were relatively high. As a means to obtain higher molecular weight polymer easily in the direct polycondensation system, dipentaerythritol(dipet) or pentaerythritol(pet) was introduced as a multifunctional branching monomer to provide a star-shaped poly(lactic acid). Moderately high molecular weight polymers with the inherent viscosity values up to 1.14 dL/g(weight-average molecular weight of about 140000 by GPC) were obtained and could be cast strong and transparent films.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.505-510
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• 2001

The preparation, characterization and drug release behaviour of drug(indomethacin) loaded Poly(L-lactic acid)(PLA), tarmarind acetate and levan acetate mircospheres were investigated. Hydrophobic tarmarind acetate and levan acetate were prepared by chemical modification of hydrophilic tarmaried gum and levan and microspheres were made by a solvent evaporation method. In the case of poly(L-lactic acid) microspheres, drug release rate was effected by polymer-drug ratios and drum release was sustained by increasing of polymer content. The yield of microspheres were effected by many factors and the mean size was below 1 $\mu$m, The IND release profiles from tarmarind acetate and levan acetate micropheres were more slightly less than ploy(L-lactic acid) microspheres.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.477-482
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• 2011

There has been a growing attention on PDLA (poly D-lactic acid) since stereocomplex PLA, a kind of polymer alloy between PLLA and PDLA was known much thermally stable compared PLLA. Superior characteristics of stereocomplex PLA result in the elevated demand for D-lactic acid. Although many research works have been reported for L-lactic acid production especially food industry, however there are relatively few research works for D-lactic acid production since D-lactic acid cannot find any applications in food industry. Most imminent issue for D-lactic acid is the economic production process that requires low cost medium, efficient lactic acid producing microorganism and finally large scale-up design. In this review, current status of D-lactic acid production process will be summarized and discussed for the further improvement of D-lactic acid production process.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.464-470
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• 2014

A chemo-mechanical method was used to prepare lignin-containing cellulose nanofibrils(L-CNF) from unbleached woodpulps dispersed uniformly in an organic solvent. L-CNF/PLA composites were obtained by solvent casting method. The effects of L-CNF concentration on the composite performances were characterized by tensile test machine, contact angle machine, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The tensile test results indicated that the tensile strength and elongation-at-break increased by 50.6% and 31.8% compared with pure PLA. The contact angle of PLA composites decreased from $79.3^{\circ}$ to $68.9^{\circ}$. The FTIR analysis successfully showed that L-CNF had formed intermolecular hydrogen bonding with PLA matrix.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.401-406
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• 2004

To develop an intravenous delivery system of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) for the cancer therapy, poly(L-lactic acid) nanoparticles were prepared and characterized. Emulsification-solvent evaporation method was chosen to prepare submicron sized nanoparticles. Spherical nanoparticles less than 200 nm in diameter with narrow size distribution were prepared, and the entrapment efficiency of drug was more than 95%. The endothermic peak at $183^{\circ}C$ and X-ray crystallographic peak of ATRA appeared in the nanoparticle system, suggesting the inhibition of crystallization of ATRA by polymer adsorption during the precipitation process. ATRA was released at $37^{\circ}C$ for 60 days and the release rate was dependent on the concentration of drug incorporated in the nanoparticles. While ATRA was unstable in the light, it was very stable at $4^{\circ}C$. These results suggest the usefulness of PLA nanoparticles as a sustained and prolonged release carrier for ATRA.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.2342-2348
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• 2014

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) were grafted to both ends of Pluronic$^{(R)}$ F68 ($(EO)_{75}(PO)_{30}(EO)_{75}$) triblock copolymer to produce poly{(lactic acid)$_m$-co-(glycolic acid)$_n$}-b-poly(ethylene oxide)$_{75}$-b-poly(propylene oxide)$_{30}$-b-poly(ethylene oxide)$_{75}$-b-poly{(lactic acid)$_m$-co-(glycolic acid)$_n$} (PLGA-F68-PLGA) pentablock copolymers. Molecular weights of PLGA blocks were controlled and five kinds of pentablock copolymers with different PLGA block lengths were synthesized using in-situ ring-opening polymerization of D,L-lactide and glycolide with tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate ($Sn(Oct)_2$) catalyst. PLGA-F68-PLGA pentablock copolymers were characterized by $^1H$- and $^{13}C$-NMR, GPC, and TGA. The numbers (2m, 2n) of repeating units for lactic acid and glycolic acid inside PLGA segments were obtained as (48, 17), (90, 23), (125, 40), (180, 59), and (246, 64), with $^1H$-NMR measurement. From NMR data, the resultant molecular weights were determined in the range of 12,700-29,700, which were similar to those obtained from GPC. Polydispersity index was increased in the range of 1.32-1.91 as the content of PLGA blocks increased. TG and DTG thermograms showed discrete degradation traces for PLGA and F68 blocks, which indicate the weight fractions of PLGA blocks in pentablock copolymers can be calculated by TG profile and it is possible to remove PLGA block selectively. Hydrodynamic radius and radius of gyration of pentablock copolymer micelle were obtained in the range of 46-68 nm and 31-49 nm, respectively, in very dilute (i.e. 0.005 wt %) aqueous solution of THF:$H_2O$ = 10:90 by volume at $25^{\circ}C$.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2016

Absorbable plates are used widely for fixation of facial bone fractures. Compared to conventional titanium plating systems, absorbable plates have many favorable traits. They are not palpable after plate absorption, which obviates the need for plate removal. Absorbable plate-related infections are relatively uncommon at less than 5% of patients undergoing fixation of facial bone fractures. The plates are made from a mixture of poly-L-lactic acid and poly-DL-lactic acid or poly-DL-lactic acid and polyglycolic acid, and the ratio of these biodegradable polymers is used to control the longevity of the plates. Degradation rate of absorbable plate is closely related to the chance of infection. Low degradation is associated with increased accumulation of plate debris, which in turn can increase the chance of infection. Predisposing factors for absorbable plate-related infection include the presence of maxillary sinusitis, plate proximity to incision site, and use of tobacco and significant amount of alcohol. Using short screws in fixating maxillary fracture accompanied maxillary sinusitis will increase the rate of infection. Avoiding fixating plates near the incision site will also minimize infection. Close observation until complete absorption of the plate is crucial, especially those who are smokers or heavy alcoholics. The management of plate infection is varied depending on the clinical situation. Severe infections require plate removal. Wound culture and radiologic exam are essential in treatment planning.