• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.219-222
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• 2011

Integrated optical waveguide polarization converters are among the essential components for constructing various functional optical integrated circuits. The RM materials have been widely used in liquid crystal displays for fabricating waveplates. In this work, the polarization converters are fabricated by using a solution of Reactive Mesogen(RM) dissolved in liquid crystal(LC). In the middle of the polymer waveguide, a groove is defined by an oxygen plasma etching in a direction perpendicular to the optical waveguide. The solution of RM-LC is inserted to fill up the groove, and then liquid crystal is aligned in a certain direction by applying an electric field. After the alignment, RM materal is crosslinked by UV light so as to form a permanent waveplate. The phase retardation of the waveplate is determined by the width of the groove, and by the birefringence and the degree of alignment of the LC. Polarization conversion efficiency of 90% is obtained for the wavelength of 1550 nm.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.84-90
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• 2009

We prepared side-chain liquid crystalline polymers comprising two monomeric units, one having a mesogenic side group that could form a smectic mesophase and the other having a phenolic group attached to the polymer backbone via a thermally reversible urethane bond. The urethane linkage between the isocyanate and phenol groups was stable at room temperature, but it cleaved to generate an isocyanate group when the temperature was increased. When annealed, the copolymers in their smectic mesophases became insoluble in common organic solvents, suggesting the formation of network structures. XRD analysis showed that the annealed polymers maintained their smectic LC structures. The crosslinking process probably proceeded via the reaction of the dissociated isocyanate groups. Some of the isocyanate groups would have first reacted with moisture in the atmosphere to yield amino groups, which underwent further reaction with other isocyanate groups, resulting in the formation of urea bonds. We presume that only polymer chains in the same layer were crosslinked by the reaction of the isocyanate groups, resulting in the formation of a layered polymer network structure. Reactions between the layers did not occur because of the wide layer spacing.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.520-524
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• 2006

Ibuprofen-loaded gelatin microcapsule, a solid form of microcapsules simultaneously containing ethanol and ibuprofen in water-soluble gelatin shell was previously reported to improve the dissolution of drug. In this study, to retard the initial high dissolution of ibuprofen from gelatin microcapsule, the ibuprofen-loaded cross-linked gelatin microcapsule was prepared by treating an ibuprofen-loaded gelatin microcapsule with glutaraldehyde and its dissolution was evaluated compared to ibuprofen powder and gelatin microcapsule. The ibuprofen-loaded crosslinked microcapsule treated with glutaraldehyde for 10 and 60 sec gave significantly higher dissolution rates than did ibuprofen powder. Furthermore, the dissolution rate of ibuprofen from the cross-linked microcapsule treated for 10 sec was similar to that from gelatin microcapsule. However, the dissolution rate of ibuprofen from the cross-linked microcapsule treated for 60 sec decreased significantly compared to gelatin microcapsule, suggesting that the treatment of gelatin microcapsule with glutaraldehyde for 60 sec could cross-link the gelatin microcapsule. Furthermore, the cross-linking of gelatin microcapsule markedly retarded the release rate of ibuprofen in pH 1.2 simulated gastric fluid compared to gelatin microcapsule. However, the cross-linking of gelatin microcapsule with glutaraldehyde hardly changed the size of gelatin microcapsules, ethanol and ibuprofen contents encapsulated in gelatin microcapsule. Thus, the ibuprofen-loaded cross-linked gelatin microcapsule could retard the initial high dissolution of poorly water-soluble ibuprofen.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.511-519
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• 1993

The short and variabke transit of drug throught GI tracj and the inter-and intra-subject variations of the transit restrict the sustained drug absorption after oral adminstration. These restrictions may be solved by retaining the dosage forms in the stomach. Then the dosage form will act as a platform which releases the drug slowly and makes the GI absorption occur for a long time. In this study, as the platforms, PVP hydrogels were synthesized by chemical and y-irradiation method in the cylindrical test tube. The chemical method means the synthesis of the hydrogel by heating the mixed solution of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone [monomer], acrylated albumin [crosslinking agent], 2, 2'-agobis(2-methylpropionitrile) [initiator] and proxyphylline [drug] at $65^{\circ}C$ for 5 hr. The $\gamma$-irradiation method means the synthesis of the hydrogel by irradiation with $^{60}$ Co $\gamma$-ray of the mixed solution of the monomer, acrylated albumin, and flurbiprofen [drug] at room temperature with total 0.2 Mrad for 3 hr. Our intention is to design the hydrogel tablet (diameter : 1.20 cm, thickness : 0.60 cm) which swells in the gastric fluid after oral administration to such a size that passing through the pylorus could be inhibited during the period of drug release. After releasing drug, the hydrogel should be degraded by the enzymeatic digestion in the stomach, or by hydrolysis and eventually solubilized. Thus, in votro tests were performed to examine the factors that affect swelling and drug release from the PVP hydrogels. Experimental results show that the hydrogels swell to a size larger than the diameter of the pylorus(l.3$\pm$0.7 cm) and the hydrogel prepared by the chemical method is digested by pepsin. But the hydrogel prepared by the $\gamma$-irradiation method was not digested by the pepsin and just collapsed with time. Thus, the swelling of the hydrogel synthesized by $\gamma$-irradiation was independent albumin acrylation time and pepsin concentration. But drug content and radiation dose affected the swelling and drug release kinetics of the hydrogel. Drug release from the hydrigels was prolonged up to about 24 hr. Therefore, it was concluded that by adjusting these factors, the albumin-crosslinked PVP hydrogel synthesized by $\gamma$-irradiation method is expected to be retained in the stomach for up to 60hr and be a potential platform of drugs for long-term GI absorption.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.453-462
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• 2014

Thin film composite (TFC) polyamide (PA) membranes were prepared on polyester (PET) nonwoven reinforced polysulfone supports for forward osmosis (FO) processes. PSF (polysulfone) supports were prepared via the phase inversion process from PSF casting solutions in dimethyl formamide (DMF) solvents (19 wt%) by using a PET nonwoven (thickness of $100{\mu}m$) as a mechanical reinforcing material for reverse osmosis (RO) membrane. The PSF support from 19 wt% of DMF/PSF casting solution showed sponge-like morphology and asymmetric internal structure. To reduce the internal concentration polarization in FO operation, thin ($20{\mu}m$ of thickness) nonwoven-supported PSF supports were prepared by using PSF/DMF casting solution (9~19 wt%). A desirable support structure with a highly porous sponge-like morphology were achieved from the thin nonwoven-supported PSF layer prepared with 9~12 wt% casting solution. A crosslinked aromatic polyamide layer was fabricated on top of each support to form a TFC PA membrane. The tested sample from 12 wt% of DMF/PSF casting solution presented outstanding FO performance, almost 5.5 times higher water flux (24.3 LMH) with low reverse salt flux (RDF, 1.5 GMH) compared to a thick nonwoven rainforced membrane (4.5 LMH of flux and 3.47 GMH of RSF). By reducing the thickness of the nonwoven and optimizing PSF concentration of casting solution, the morphology of the prepared membranes were changed from a dense structure to a porous sponge structure in the boundary area between nonwoven and PET support layer.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.302-309
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• 2009

A block copolymer of polystyrene-b-poly (hydroxyl ethyl methacrylate), PS-b-PHEMA, was synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and crosslinked with 4,5-imidazole dicarboxylic acid (IDA) via esterification of the -OH groups of PHEMA in the block copolymer and the -COOH groups of IDA. Upon doping with $H_3PO_4$ to form imidazole-$H_3PO_4$ complexes, the proton conductivity of the membranes continuously increased as the content of $H_3PO_4$ increased. In addition, both the tensile strength and the elongation at break increased with IDA content. A proton conductivity of 0.01 S/cm at $100^{\circ}C$ was obtained for the PS-b-PHEMA/IDA/$H_3PO_4$ membrane with [HEMA]:[IDA]:[$H_3PO_4$] = 3:4:4 under anhydrous conditions. All of the PS-b-PHEMA/IDA/$H_3PO_4$ membranes were thermally stable up to $350^{\circ}C$, as revealed by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA).