• 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.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.371-372
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• 2006

Poly(${\varepsilon}-caprolactone$) (PCL) is a highly crystalline polymer that is miscible with several amorphous polymers including chlorinated polyether, poly(vinylchloride), poly(hydroxyether) and Bisphenol A polycarbonate. The crystallization behavior of miscible blend of amorphous/crystalline polymers has widely been studied. Generally a depression of the crystallization ability has been found with addition of amorphous component because of the reduction of chain mobility, the change of free energy of nucleation as a result of a specific interaction, and so on [1]. In this work, for the first time, the blend of PCL and copolymer of polyurethane containing polycaprolactone as a soft segment is considered. The structural similarity of TPU soft segment with PCL affects on formation of the miscible component and crystallization behavior of PCL in the blend. This has been studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Wide-angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS).

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 1999

A bacterium, which can utilize cyclohexanol as a sole source of carbon and energy, was isolated from sludge in sewage of Ulsan Industrial Complex for Petrochemicals, Korea and identified as Rhodococcus sp. TK6. The growth conditions of the bacteria were investigated in cyclohexanol containing media. The bacteria utilized cyclohexanol, cyclohexanone, cyclohexane-1,2=diol, cyclopentanol, cyclopentanone, and $\varepsilon$-caprolactone but not cyclohexane, cyclohexane-1,2-dione, and cyclooctanone. The bacteria were able to utilize alcohols such as ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, 1-pentanol, 1-hexanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 2-propanol, and 2-butanol as well as cyclohexanol, organic acids such as adipate, propionate, butyrate, valerate, n-caproate, and 6-hydroxycaproate, and aromatic compounds such as phenol, salicylate, p-hydroxbenzoate, and benzoate as a sole source of carbon and energy. Cyclohexanone as a degradation product of cyclohexanol by Rhodococcus sp. TK6 was determined with gas chromatography.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2005

PCL were intercalated into organically modified MMT (PCL-MMT) at $80^{\circ}C$ for 4hrs to prepare the PCL-MMT nanocomposite. PCL-MMT and PCL were mixed mechanically with two-roll mill at $150^{\circ}C$ for 15mins. From the results of XRD and TEM, it were found that PCL-MMT nanocomposite were prepared. And mechanical properties and biodegradation of nanocomposite have been investigated by tensile meter and biodegradability analysis experiment. Because of MMT dispersed homogeneously in PCL matrix, the Young's modulus of the nanocomposite was found to be excellent. But the tensile strength and elongation were decreased as increase of MMT. And MMT dispersed in PCL matrix was almost not affected on the biodegradation of PCL.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2006

We conducted simultaneous, small-angle, X-ray scattering/differential scanning calorimetry (SAXS/DSC) and simultaneous, wide-angle, X-ray scattering (WAXS)/DSC measurements for a polymer blend of poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone)/poly(ethylene glycol)(PCL/PEG). The time-dependent SAXS/DSC and WAXS/DSC results, measured while the system was quenched below the melting temperature of PCL from a melting state, revealed the competitive behavior between liquid-liquid phase separation and crystallization in the polymer blend. The time-dependent structural evolution extracted from the SAXS/WAXS/DSC results can be characterized by the following four stages in the PCL crystallization process: the induction (I), nucleation (II), growth (III), and late (IV) stages. The influence of the liquid-liquid phase separation on the crystallization of PCL was also observed by phase-contrast microscope and polarized microscope with 1/4$\lambda$ compensator.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.644-650
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• 2008

This study examined the effect of nanoclays on the shape memory behavior of polyurethane (PU) in fibrous form. A cation was introduced into the PU molecules to disperse the organo-nanoclay (MMT) into poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (PCL)-based PU (PCL-PU). The MMT/PCL-PU nanocomposites were then spun into fibers through melt-processing. The shape memory performance of the spun fibers was examined using a variety of thermo-mechanical tests including a new method to determine the transition temperature of shape memory polymers. The MMTs showed an improved the fixity strain rate of the MMT /PCL- PU fibers but a slight decrease in their recovery strain rate. This was explained by the limited movement of PU molecules due to the presence of nanoclays. The shape memory performance of the MMT/PCL-PU fibers was not enhanced significantly by the nanoclays. However, their recovery power was improved significantly up to a strain of approximately 50%.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.18-21
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• 1995

Poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG) macrocers teminated with acrylate groups and semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) composed of poly-.epsilon.-capolactone(PCL) and PEG macromer were syntheswized with the aim of obtaining a bioerodible hydrogel that could be used to release drugs for implantable delivery system. Polymerization of PEG macromer resulted in the formation of cross-linked gels due to the multifunctionality of macromer. Non-crosslinked PCL chains were interpenetrated into the cross-linked three-dimensions networks of PEG. The IPNs, largw drug loading lower concentration of PEG macromer in the IPNs concentration and the higher molecular weight of PEG macromer. Also, 5-FU was more fast released than hydrocortisone to the increased water solubility.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1023-1028
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• 2018

Shape memory materials are widely used in high-tech industries. Although shape memory polymers have been developed, they have a disadvantage, only unidirectional resilience. Shape memory polymers with bi-directional recovery resilience have been actively studied. In this study, a bidirectional shape memory polyurethane was synthesized using poly(${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone) diol, methylene dicyclohexyl diisocyanate, and hydroxyethyl acrylate. The first physical curing occurred between hard segments and hydrogen bondings when the solution was dried. The second curing in acrylate groups was performed by UV exposure. A degree of curing was analyzed by infrared spectroscopy. The shape memory properties of 2 step-cured polyurethanes were investigated as a function of UV curing time.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2015

Simple poor-cosolvent casting was used to surface treat biodegradable elastic poly(L-lactide-co-${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone) (PLCL; 50:50) copolymer films that presented lotus-leaf-like structures. We evaluated whether the lotus-leaflike-structured PLCL (L-PLCL) films could be used as a biomaterial for artificial vascular grafts. The surface morphology, hydrophobicity, and antithrombotic efficiency of the films were examined while immersed in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a contact angle meter. The recovery and crystallinity of the films were measured using a tensile-strength testing machine and an X-ray diffractometer, respectively. The solvent containing acetic acid, as a poor co-solvent, and methylene chloride mixed in a 1:2 ratio produced an optimal PLCL film with a water contact angle of approximately $124^{\circ}$. Furthermore, the surface of the L-PLCL films immersed in PRP showed a lower rate of platelet adhesion (<10%) than that of the surface of an untreated PLCL film immersed in PRP.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.325-329
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• 2010

The osteogenic potential of hydroxyapatite/poly $\varepsilon$-caprolactone composite (HA/PCL) scaffolds with matrigel was evaluated in a rat calvarial defect model. Calvarial defect formation was surgically created in Sprague Dawley rats (n = 18). HA/PCL scaffold was grafted with matrigel (M-HA/PCL group, n = 6) or without matrigel (HA/PCL group, n = 6). A critical defect group (CD group, n = 6) did not received a graft. Four weeks after surgery, bone formation was evaluated with radiography, micro computed tomography (micro CT) scanning, and histologically. No bone tissue formation was radiographically evident in the CD group. Bone tissue was radiographically evident in the HA/PCL and M-HA/PCL groups, however, there was more bone-similar opacity in the M-HA/PCL group. Micro CT analysis revealed that the bone volume of the M-HA/PCL group was higher than the HA/PCL group, however, no significant difference was found between the HA/PCL and M-HA/PCL groups. Bone mineral density in the M-HA/ PCL group was significantly higher than in the HA/PCL group (p < 0.05). Histologically, new bone was formed only from existing bone in the CD group, showing concavity without bone formation in the defect. In the HA/PCL group, new bone formation was only derived from existing bone, while in the M-HA/PCL group the largest bone formation was observed, with new bone tissue forming at the periphery of existing bone and around the HA/PCL scaffold with matrigel. The results indicate that the combination of HA/PCL scaffold with matrigel may be an effective means of enhancing bone formation in critical-sized bone defects.