• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2009

In order to enhance the gene delivery efficiency and decrease the cytotoxicity of polyplexes, we synthesized Solutol-g-PEI by conjugating polyethyleneimine (PEI) to Solutol (polyoxyethylene (10) stearate), and evaluated its efficiency as a possible nonviral gene carrier candidate. Structural analysis of synthesized polymer was performed by using $^1H$-NMR. Gel retardation assay, particle sizes and zeta potential measurement confirmed that the new gene carrier formed a compact complex with plasmid DNA. The complexes were smaller than 150 nm, which implicated its potential for intracellular delivery. It showed lower cytotoxicity in three different cell lines (Hela, MCF-7, and HepG2) than PEI 25 kDa. pGL3-lus was used as a reporter gene, and the transfection efficiency was in vitro measured in Hela cells. Solutol-g-PEI showed much higher transfection efficiency than unmodified PEI 25 kDa.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.562-569
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• 2004

Self-assembling nanospheres of hydrophobized pullulan have been developed. Pullulan acetate (PA), as hydrophobized pullulan, was synthesized by acetylation. Carboxymethylated poly(ethylene-glycol) (CMPEG) was introduced into pullulan acetate (PA) through a coupling reaction using N, N'-dicyclohexyl carbodiimide (DCC). A synthesized PA-PEG-PA (abbreviated as PEP) conjugate was confirmed by Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Since PEP conjugates have amphiphilic characteristics in aqueous solution, polymeric nanoparticles of PEP conjugates were prepared using a simple dialysis method in water. From the analysis of fluorescence excitation spectra primarily, the critical association concentration (CAC) of this conjugate was found to be 0.0063 g/L. Observations by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the spherical morphologies of the PEP nanoparticles. The particle size distribution of the PEP conjugates was determined using photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) and the intensity-average particle size was 193.3 ${\pm}$ 13.53 nm with a unimodal distribution. Clonazepam (CNZ), as a model drug, was easy to entrap into polymeric nanoparticles of the PEP conjugates. The drug release behavior was mainly diffusion controlled from the core portion.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.3030-3034
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• 2014

Bis-chloroethylnitrosourea (BCNU) is currently used as an anti-cancer drug for glioblastoma therapy. In this study, BCNU was loaded into the hydrophobic cores of R3V6 amphiphilic peptide micelles for efficient delivery into brain tumors. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) study showed that the BCNU-loaded R3V6 peptide micelles (R3V6-BCNU) formed spherical micelles. MTT assay showed that R3V6-BCNU more efficiently induced cell death in C6 glioblastoma cells than did BCNU. In the Annexin V assay, R3V6-BCNU more efficiently induced apoptosis than did BCNU alone. Furthermore, the results showed that R3V6 was not toxic to cells. The positive charges of the R3V6 peptide micelles may facilitate the interaction between R3V6-BCNU and the cellular membrane, resulting in an increase in cellular uptake of BCNU. In vivo evaluation with an intracranial glioblastoma rat model showed that R3V6-BCNU more effectively reduced tumor size than BCNU alone. The results suggest that R3V6 peptide micelles may be an efficient carrier of BCNU for glioblastoma therapy.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.76-80
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• 1995

Polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS)-co-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)(PHEMA) was prepared and the degree of swelling of solvents into the polymers was examined. It was confirmed that the solubility parameter of PHEMA homopolymer is 26 (J/cm3)1/2. Ethanol was significantly absorbed into copolymers containing large amount of PHEMA, while tetrahydrofuran was effectively absorbed into copolymers containing large amount of PDMS. Absorption of polar solvents into the copolymers were increased with the increase of PDMS content. The model drug, crystal violet (CV), was more absorbable into PDMS-HPEMA copolymers than PHEMA homopolymer. Absorption of CV was decreased with the increase of PDMS content of the copolymers.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.373-384
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• 2005

Novel pH-sensitive moieties containing an s-triazine ring were synthesized with sulfonamide and secondary amino groups. The synthesized pH-sensitive moieties were used for the synthesis of a pH-sensitive amphiphilic ABA triblock copolymer. The pH-sensitive triblock copolymer was composed of diblock copolymers, methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly ($\varepsilon$-caprolactone-co-D,L-lactide) (MPEG-PCLA), and pH-sensitive moiety. These copolymers could be dissolved molecularly in both acidic and basic aqueous media at room temperature due to secondary amino and sulfonamide groups. The synthesized s-triazine rings containing pH-sensitive compounds were characterized by ${^1}H-NMR,\;{^13}C-NMR$, and LC/MSD spectral data. The synthesized diblock and triblock copolymers were also characterized by ${^1}H-NMR$ and GPC analyses. The critical micelle concentrations at various pH conditions were determined by fluorescence technique using pyrene as a probe. Furthermore, the micellization and demicellization study of the triblock copolymer was done with pH-sensitive groups. The sensitivity towards pH change was further established by acid-base titration.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.397-402
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• 2005

To explore the potential of shell crosslinked micelle (SCM) as a drug carrier, the drug release behavior of poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone)-b-poly(acrylic acid) (PCL-b-PAA) SCMs was investigated. PCL-b-PAA was synthesized by ring opening polymerization of $\varepsilon$-caprolactone and atom transfer radical polymerization of tert-butyl acrylate, followed by selective hydrolysis of tert-butyl ester groups to acrylic acid groups. The resulting amphiphilic polymer was used to prepare SCMs by crosslinking of PAA corona via amidation chemistry. The drug release behavior of the SCMs was studied, using pyrene as a model drug, and was compared with that of non-crosslinked micelles, especially below the critical micelle concentration (CMC). When the shell layers were crosslinked, the drug release behavior of the SCMs was successfully modulated at a controlled rate compared with that of the non-crosslinked micelles, which showed a burst release of drug within a short time.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.72-78
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• 2009

Size control of therapeutic carriers in drug delivery systems has become important due to its relevance to biodistribution in the human body and therapeutic efficacy. To understand the dependence of particle size on the formation condition during nanoprecipitation method, we prepared nanoparticles from biodegradable, amphiphilic block copolymers and investigated the particle size and structure of the resultant nanoparticles according to various process parameters. We synthesized monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) block copolymer, MPEG-PCL, with different MPEG/PCL ratios via ring opening polymerization initiated from the hydroxyl end group of MPEG. Using various formulations with systematic change of the block ratio of MPEG and PCL, solvent choice, and concentration of organic phase, MPEG-PCL nanoparticles were prepared through nanoprecipitation technique. The results indicated that (i) the nanoparticles have a dual structure with an MPEG shell and a PCL core, originating from self-assembly of MPEG-PCL copolymer in aqueous condition, and (ii) the size of nanoparticles is dependent upon two sequential processes: diffusion between the organic and aqueous phases and solidification of the polymer.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.34-45
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• 1995

An amphiphilic nitroxide radical(2,2'6,6'-tetramethyl-4-octadecyioxy-1-piperidinyloxyl, TEMOPO) or mixture of TEMOPO and arachidic acid(Icosanoic acid, AA), was spread on water surface by the Langmuir-Blodgett(LB) method and surface pressure-area curve was measured. Such monolayer films of TEMOPO were transferred onto surfaces of photo transferable tin oxide electrodes(PTTO) by the LB method under various surface pressure with the transfer ratio of larger than 0.95 at the surface pressure higher than 15mN/m. The electrochemical effect of functional nitroxy radical monolayer onto semi-conductive electrode to electrolyte have been investigated by using LB method. Cyclic voltammetry technique was used for the electrochemical behavior measurement of TEMOPO monolayer onto the PTTO in 0.18 mo1/$dm^3$ $H_2SO_4$ solutions. The shape of voltammograms was found to change from one electrode to another. The amount of charge for the oxidation and the re-reduction of the cation to TEMOPO were evaluated from graphical integration. The amounts of charge were always smaller than those predicted from the $\pi$-$\sigma$ curves though the transfer ratio was unity. The poor reproducibility of the cyclic voltammograms was improved by the mixing with AA. Structure and arrangement of monomolecular layer on water surface and electrode were studied. Characteristics of monolayer film applied for the mediation reaction was also discussed by electrochemical method.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.359-364
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• 2006

Di-block copolymers composed of two biocompatible polymers, poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(D,L-lactide), were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization for preparing polymer vesicles (polymersomes). Emulsion solvent evaporation method was used to fabricate the polymersomes. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images confirmed that polymersomes have a hollow structure inside. Confocal laser microscope and optical microscope were also used to verify the hollow structure of polymersomes. Polymersomes having various sizes from several hundred nanometers to a few micrometers were fabricated. The size of the polymersomes could be readily controlled by altering the relative hydrodynamic volume fraction ratio between hydrophilic and hydrophobic blocks in the copolymer structure, and by varying the fabrication methods. They showed greatly enhanced stability with increased molecular weight of PEG. They maintained their physical and chemical structural integrities after repeated cycles of centrifugation/re-dispersion, and even after treatment with surfactants.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2003

Using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), polystyrene macroinitiators and polystyrene-b-poly(t-butyl acrylate) (PS-b-P(tBA) block copolymers were synthesized by CuBr/PMDETA catalyst system in solution. After hydrolysis, polystyrene-b-poly(acrylic acid), amphiphilic block copolymers, were formed. Subsequent neutralization of polyacid block led to the block ionomers. The molecular weight of the synthesized PS-b-P(tBA) block copolymers was easily-controlled to 5000-10000 and their distributions were less than 1.2. The chemical structures of the synthesized block copolymers were characterized by $^1$H-NMR and FT-IR. In the DSC thermograms, $T_g$ appeared in the vicinity of 100 $^{\circ}C$ because of higher styrene content. In addition, the phase separation of the block ionomers was observed by TEM.