• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.32-38
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• 2006

A series of organic-inorganic hybrids, PCL/EP/$SiO_2$, involving epoxy resin and triethoxysilane-terminated polycaprolactone elastomer (PCL-TESi) were prepared via polymerization of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) with amine curing agent KB-2 and sol-gel process of PCL-TESi. The curing reactions were started from the initially homogeneous mixture of DGEBA, KB-2 and the PCL-TESi. The organicinorganic hybrids containing up to 4.95% (wt) of $SiO_2$ were obtained and characterized by FT-IR, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA). It was experimentally shown that the swelling property in toluene, morphologies and thermal properties of the resulting hybrids were quite dependent on the contents of $SiO_2$. The crosslink network density decreases with increasing of the PCL-TESi. And in TEM, the phase separated morphology of these hybrids was found, which resulted from the coagulation of Si-O-Si networks resulting from $-Si(OC_2H_5)_3$ of PCL-TESi self-curing by hydrolytic silanol condensation, with the advancement of the curing reaction in the modified epoxy resin systems. Meanwhile, the change of the $SiO_2$ content made the morphologies changed from aggregated particles of Si-O-Si in the hybrid to nanocluster of interconnected Si-O-Si particles, then to aggregated Si-O-Si dispersing in the continuous cured epoxy phase again, and last to co-continuous interpenetrating network. The glass transition behavior of the hybrid material was cooperative motion of large chain segments, which were hindered by the inorganic Si-O-Si network. And in TG analysis, the characteristic temperature at 5% of weight loss was evidently increased from $120.5^{\circ}C$ of pure cured epoxy to $277.6^{\circ}C$ of 3.84% (wt) of $SiO_2$ modified epoxy due to the existence of Si-O-Si when PCL-TESi was added in the hybrid.

• Korean Journal of Computational Design and Engineering
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.421-428
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• 2008

This article investigates the fabrication of polycaprolactone (PCL) composites filled with different volume fractions (10-30%) of tricalcium phosphate (TCP) by selective laser sintering (SLS) for tissue engineering scaffolds. Optimal processing parameters for each composition were developed by design of experiments (DOE). Specimens for compressive testing for each composition were fabricated and tested. The results showed that the compressive modulus increases as a function of TCP volume fraction. The experimentally measured compressive moduli were compared with moduli predicted by Halpin's theoretical model and were found to be in excellent agreement. This result proved that experimentally determined processing parameters for each composition were well optimized.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 2000

Polycaprolactone (PCL) was blended with corn starch to produce biodegradable compost films and the biodegradability and mechanical properties were investigated. As the compatibilizer for the immiscible PCL/starch blend, 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA)-PCL macromer was grafted onto starch by initially grafting HEMA to starch and then grafting of PCL onto HEMA via ring opening polymerization of $\varepsilon$-caprolactone. When biodegradability of the PCL grafted starch-g-DEMA copolymers was compared with that of starch by the modified Sturm test, graft copolymers degraded at much slower rates due to the presence of the non-degradable HEMA. With the addition of the graft copolymer up to 5 wt% to the blend, the elongation-at-break of the starch/PCL blend increased substantially, while the tensile strength and modulus did not change much. SEM observation of the blend containing 2 wt% copolymer clearly indicated that the interfacial adhesion between the starch and PCL was strengthened by the copolymer.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.815-819
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• 2014

Scaffolds of tissue engineering should be biocompatible and biodegradable for cell attachment, proliferation and differentiation. In the various scaffold fabrication, 3D printing technique can make the three dimensional scaffold with interconnected pores for cell ingrowth. Polycaprolactone (PCL) is biodegradable polyester with a low melting temperature and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In this study, PCL scaffold was fabricated by 3D bioprinting system and surface modification of PCL scaffold was controlled by NaOH treatment. Morphological change and wetability of NaOH-treated scaffold were observed by SEM and contact angle measurement system. The remnant of PCL treated with NaOH was measured by ATR-FTIR. In vitro study of scaffolds was evaluated with WST-1 and ALP activity assay. NaOH treatment of PCL scaffolds increased surface roughness, hydrophilicity, cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. These results indicate that NaOH-treated PCL scaffold made by 3D bioprinting has tissue engineered potential for the development of biocompatible material.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.26-31
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• 2016

Polycaprolactone (PCL) has been fabricated into the membrane type scaffolds of 3 dimensional pore network for the tissue engineering applications by the blade method of salt (NaCl) leaching and solution casting. In this study, the experimental designs have each conditions of drying temperature, salt particle size, salt content. The modified dispensing pump connected up to homogenizing mixer system is used for mixing the $PCL/CHCl_3$ solution and NaCl particles. The membrane fabricated use by the film applicator to poured mixed solution on the glass plate. The great pore by NaCl particles and the small pore by the evaporated $CHCl_3$ in the frame wall of great pores are multiply formed in membrane scaffolds.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.511-518
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• 2017

The membrane emulsification (ME) is a technology for producing emulsions with narrow size distribution by using the well-defined porous membranes such as the SPG membrane. In this study, the preparation of polycaprolactone (PCL) microcapsules by using the multiple emulsions obtained from membrane emulsification method is studied. After the making of $W_1/O$ single emulsions by sonication method, then $W_1/O/W_2$ multiple emulsions are formed by premix-ME method. The PCL microcapsules impregnated with BSA model drug are prepared by solvent evaporating from $W_1/O/W_2$ multiple emulsions. The effects of various parameters such as the ratio of disperse/continuous phase (D/C ratio), the concentration of PCL, emulsifier and model drug and the transmembrane pressure on the size and distribution of PCL microcapsules are investigated. The uniform PCL microcapsules with about $5{\sim}6{\mu}m$ of mean size and 26% of BSA loading are obtained by the premix membrane emulsification.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.791-797
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• 2014

Abstract Scaffold used as a carrier of the cell has been actively conducted using plenty of technology in tissue engineering. ${\beta}$-tricalcium phosphate (${\beta}$-TCP) material has shown good biocompatibility and osteoconductive ability when it was implanted as a bone graft substitute in osseous defect in human and animal studies for bone regeneration. In this study, we fabricated the blended polycaprolactone (PCL) and ${\beta}$-TCP scaffold by the polymer deposition system (PDS). The PCL/${\beta}$-TCP scaffold was fabricated at a temperature of $110^{\circ}C$, pressure of 650 kPa, and scan velocity of 100 mm/sec. The Overall geometry and size of the scaffold were fixed circle type with a diameter of 10 mm and a height of 4 mm. PCL/${\beta}$-TCP scaffold was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Cell attachment and proliferation of the scaffold containing 30 wt% ${\beta}$-TCP was superior to those containing 10 wt% and 20 wt% ${\beta}$-TCP.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.238-243
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• 2018

A nanofiber was fabricated with carbon nanotubes for transparent electrodes. It was prepared with a composite solution of bio-molecules polycaprolactone (PCL) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by electrospinning on a glass substrate, following which its electrical characteristics were investigated. The content of MWCNTs was varied during electrospinning, while that of PCL was fixed. Further, a nanometer-thick thin film of silver was deposited on the nanofiber layer using a thermal evaporator to improve the electrical characteristics; the sheet resistance significantly reduced after this deposition. The results showed that this carbon nanotube nanofiber has potential applications in biotechnology and as a flexible transparent display material.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.1657-1663
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• 2017

Cosmetic patches have recently been developed as skin products for personal care owing to rapid advances in the technology of delivery of active ingredients, moisture, and adhesiveness to skin. Alginate and Spirulina are typical marine resources used in cosmetic products. This research involved the development of a Spirulina extract-impregnated alginate nanofiber cosmetic patch supported by a polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofiber cover (Spi/Alg-PCL NF patch). In addition to the ability of alginate to affect moisture and adhesiveness to skin, the impregnation of Spirulina extract strengthened those abilities as well as its own bioactive effectiveness. All fabrication processing steps were undertaken in aqueous solution. The three components (alginate, Spirulina extract, and PCL) had no detected cytotoxicity in human keratinocyte cell-based examination. In addition, wetting the pre-dried patch on the skin resulted in the Spirulina extract being released within 30 min. The results indicate the excellence of the Spi/Alg-PCL NF patch as a skin-care cosmetic device.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.331-337
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• 2010

A highly porous Biphasic Calcium Phosphate (BCP) scaffold was fabricated by the sponge replica method with a microwave sintering technique. The BCP scaffold had interconnected pores ranging from $80\;{\mu}m$ to $1000\;{\mu}m$, which were similar to natural cancellous bone. To enhance the mechanical properties of the porous scaffold, infiltration of polycaprolactone (PCL) was employed. The microstructure of the BCP scaffold was optimized using various volume percentages of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) for the infiltration process. PCL successfully infiltrated into the hollow space of the strut formed after the removal of the polymer sponge throughout the degassing and high pressure steps. The microstructure and material properties of the BCP scaffold (i.e., pore size, morphology of infiltrated and coated PCL, compressive strength, and porosity) were evaluated. When a 30 vol% of PMMA was used, the PCL-BCP scaffold showed the highest compressive strength. The compressive strength values of the BCP and PCL-BCP scaffolds were approximately 1.3 and 2MPa, respectively. After the PCL infiltration process, the porosity of the PCL-BCP scaffold decreased slightly to 86%, whereas that of the BCP scaffold was 86%. The number of pores in the $10\;{\mu}m$ to $20\;{\mu}m$ rage, which represent the pore channel inside of the strut, significantly decreased. The in-vitro study confirmed that the PCL-infiltrated BCP scaffold showed comparable cell viability without any cytotoxic behavior.