• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.359-364
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• 2015

A self-oscillating interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) poly(acrylic acid)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PAA/PEG) hydrogel was prepared by using radical polymerization with a two-step method. The IPN hydrogel was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and morphological analysis. The results indicated that the chains of PEG and PAA twined to form porous structure which is beneficial to water molecules entering inside of the hydrogel. In addition, the pH-responsive behavior, salt sensitivity, swelling/de-swelling oscillatory behaviors and self-oscillation in a closed pH oscillator were also studied. The results showed that the prepared hydrogel exhibited pH-sensitivity, good swelling/de-swelling reversibility and excellent salt sensitivity. The self-oscillating behavior of swelling/de-swelling for the prepared hydrogel was caused by pH alteration coupled with the external media. This study may create a new possibility as biomaterial including new self-walking actuators and other related devices.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.588-595
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• 2014

A semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) hydrogel composed of crosslinked chitosan and poly (acrylic acid-co-crotonic acid) was prepared in the presence of glutaraldehyde (GA) as a crosslinker. Fourier-transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy were employed to confirm the structure of the semi-IPN hydrogel. The swelling capacity of hydrogel was shown to be affected by the monomers weight ratio, chitosan content, initiator and GA concentrations. The results also indicated that the semi-IPN hydrogel had different swelling capacity at various pHs. Additionally, the swelling behavior of the hydrogel was investigated in aqueous solutions of NaCl, $CaCl_2$, and $AlCl_3$.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.326-331
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• 2001

With the aim of developing of pH-sensitive controlled drug release system, a poly(Llysine) (PLL) based cationic semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) has been synthesized. This cationic hydrogel was designed to swell at lower pH and de-swell at higher pH and therefore be applicable for achieving regulated drug release at a specific pH range. In addition to the pH sensitivity, this hydrogel was anticipated to interact with an ionic drug, providing another means to regulate the release rate of ionic drugs. This semi-IPN hydrogel was prepared using a free-radical polymerization method and by crosslinking of the polyethylene glycol (PEG)-methacrylate polymer through the PLL network. The two polymers were penetrated with each other via interpolymer complexation to yield the semi-IPN structures. The PLL hydrogel thus prepared showed dynamic swelling/de-swelling behavior in response to pH change, and such a behavior was influenced by both the concentrations of PLL and PEG-methacrylate. Drug release from this semi-IPN hydrogel was also investigated using a model protein drug, streptokinase. Streptokinase release was found to be dependent on its ionic interaction with the PLL backbones as well as on the swelling of the semi-IPN hydrogel. These results suggest that a PLL semi-IPN hydrogel could potentially be used as a drug delivery platform to modulate drug release by pH-sensitivity and ionic interaction.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.285-291
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• 2015

Purpose: The hydrogel lenses have been functionalized with HA(Hyaluronic Acid) using two different methods: construction of an IPN(Interpenetrating Polymer Networks) and formation of CCB(Chemical Covalent Bonding). The lysozyme adsorption and physical properties such as optical transmittance and water content of the hydrogel lenses have been investigated in order to determine whether method is suitable for the application potentials in contact lens industry. Methods: HA have been added to the hydrogel lenses prepared in the Lab using the two different method, e.g. IPN and CCB. The optical transmittance was measured in the wavelength range of 300~800 nm. The water content was measured by the gravimetric method using 0.9% NaCl saline solution. The amounts of adsorbed lysozyme on the contact lenses was analyzed by HPLC after incubation for 12h in artificial tears. Results: The water content of the HA added hydrogel contact lenses was increased, and the lens made by IPN method showed higher water content than the lens made by CCB method. The optical transmittance was over 90% both before and after addition of HA. Comparing the lysozyme adsorption reduction ratio, contact lens manufactured by IPN method was 60.0%, and the lens made by CCB method was 40.4%. Conclusions: CCB method is appropriate to distribute the functional material evenly throughout the lens, whereas IPN method is effective for the case of giving the functionality on the lens surface without phase separation.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.626-631
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• 2014

Water purification requires a large amount of energy that can cause pollution problems. For this reason, forward osmosis (FO) has attracted intense interest that required a relatively low amount of energy for water purification. The forward osmosis has a serious problem that it needs drawing agents creating osmotic pressure to extract water from contaminated water. In this study, a copolymer of zwitterionic moiety and an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogel based on thermo-responsive polymer hydrogel, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) were prepared and attached on FO membranes, which successfully played the role of drawing agents. In the copolymer hydrogel, its swelling ratio was improved, but thermo-sensitivity was decreased. The swelling ratio and thermo-sensitivity of IPN hydrogel was lowered. We could confirm that swelling ratio is related to osmotic pressure.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.61 no.6
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• pp.352-358
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• 2017

The addition of alginic acid, a natural polysaccharide, to improve the wettability and the reduction of protein adsorption of hydrogel contact lenses. Hydrogel contact lenses were manufactured with various monomers such as 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) and NVP (N-Vinyl-2-pyrrolidone). Alginic acid was added by by the initial mixing method and the interpenetrating polymer networks(IPN) method. Properties of contact lens such as contact angle, oxygen permeability, and protein adsorption amount were evaluated. The oxygen permeability and wettability of the IPN-treated alginate samples were higher than those of the samples that were not treated with IPN. The physical properties were improved as the concentration of IPN-treated alginic acid increased. Protein adsorption decreased by the addition of alginic acid and further decreased with IPN. In particular, contact lenses containing MPC and NVP significantly decreased protein adsorption. Therefore, the effect of alginate on the functional improvement of contact lens was confirmed.

• The Korean Journal of Vision Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.513-521
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• 2018

Purpose : : In this study, we made dopamine-functionalized hydrogels containing a cross-linked hyaluronic acid (HA) network and investigated their antioxidant activities. Methods : In the first step, we made poly hydroxyethyl methacrylate(p(HEMA))-based hydrogels post-modified with an interpenetrating polymer network(IPN) structure composed of HA polymers and a p(HEMA) network. The subsequent functionalization with dopamine via an amide coupling reaction resulted in the antioxidant hydrogels. Their antioxidant activities were evaluated using 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assays. Results : The dopamine-modified hydrogels exhibited significant antioxidant activities, when compared to unmodified control. The presence of the HA-IPN structure improved the surface wettability of the hydrogel while dopamine-conjugated IPN hydrogel did not demonstrate the significant difference compared to hydrogel control. Dopamine-modified hydrogels exhibited high transmittance (>88%). Conclusion : The results demonstrate that the development of antioxidant hydrogels based on dopamine-conjugated HA-IPN structures may help develop ophthalmic and biomedical materials.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.463-469
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• 2015

Purpose: A hydrogel including alginate and $CaCl_2$ extracted from seaweed was manufactured, and their physical properties were investigated. Also, its applicability as contact lenses was examined. Methods: A film-type sample used in this experiment was manufactured using 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), which is the raw material of hydrogel contact lenses; azobisiobutyonitile (AIBN), which is an initiator and ethylenglycoldimethacrylate (EGDMA), which is a cross-linking agent. It was hydrated in a PBS solution for 24 hours, and an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) was formed in 1% and 2% alginate and 1%, 3%, and 5% $CaCl_2$ solutions for 24 hours, respectively. Results: The measurement of the physical properties of the film after the IPN showed that the moisture content was 30.89~36.89%, the refractive index was 1.431~1.441, the contact angle was $62.98{\sim}80.45^{\circ}$, and the tensile strength was 2.378~4.215 ($gf/mm^2$). Also, the physical properties hardly changed as the content of alginate increased, and the moisture content decreased as the content of $CaCl_2$ increased. As a result of the IPN, the moisture content and contact angle decreased compared to those of basic HEMA, but the tensile strength increased. The tensile strength of the second IPN was higher than that of the first IPN. In the case of $CaCl_2$, for the sample polymerized for 24 hours and the second IPN sample with 2% alginate, the contact angle decreased as the content of $CaCl_2$ increased. Conclusions: In this study, the tensile strength increased as the content of $CaCl_2$ increased, and the wettability increased as a result of IPN of alginate and $CaCl_2$. The hydrogel containing the alginate and $CaCl_2$ was confirmed possible utilization as contact lens material.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.231-236
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• 2019

In this study, alginate-based hydrogel membranes composed of hydrogel beads and highly tough hydrogel matrix including moisturizing oil and natural emulsifier were prepared and their elution characteristics were evaluated. As a result, it was confirmed that the elution rate of the moisturizing oil component can be controlled within a desired range by controlling the composition of the hydrogel bead and the tough hydrogel matrix. In particular, it has been confirmed that by combining tough hydrogel having a structure of interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) and hydrogel beads, the physical stability of the membranes can be improved and the elution rate of the moisturizing oil can also be controlled more finely.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.332-336
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• 2011

Hydrogels have been investigated due to their potential in a myriad of applications. The introduction of functional moiety such as sulfide has expanded their applicability. In this study, an investigation was carried out on the introduction of fucoidan into the hydrogels of clay/acrylamide. In the resulting semi-IPN nanocomposite hydrogels, the linear polysaccharide, fucoidan, has strong ionic interactions with clay. It was also confirmed from simple mixing tests that fucoidan can physically crosslink with clay without chemical crosslinks. In the semi-IPN hydrogels, equilibrium swelling ratio increased with the content of fucoidan. Elastic modulus increased with an initial increase in the content of fucoidan, and decreased with a further increase. The work of fracture results of these hydrogels showed their tough properties. These hydrogels could provide functional properties such as mucoadhesiveness with tunable hydrogel characteristics.