• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.3950-3956
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• 2012

In order to improve the bioactivity and mechanical properties of hydroxyapatite (HAp), chitosan (Chi) was in situ combined into HAp to fabricate a composite scaffold by a sublimation-assisted compression method. A highly porous film with sufficient mechanical strength was prepared and the bioactivity was investigated by examining the apatite formed on the scaffolds incubated in simulated body fluid. In addition, the cytotoxicity of the HAp/Chi composite was studied by evaluating the viability of murine fibroblasts (L-929 cells) exposed to diluted extracts of the composite films. The apatite layer was assessed using scanning electronic microscopy, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry and weight measurement. Composite analysis showed that a layer of micro-sized, needle-like crystals was formed on the surface of the composite film. Additionally, the WST-8 assay after L-929 cells were exposed to diluted extracts of the composite indicated that the HAp/Chi scaffold has good in vitro cytocompatibility. The results indicated that HAp/Chi composites with porous structure are promising scaffolding materials for bone-patch engineering because their porous morphology can provide an environment conductive to attachment and growth of osteoblasts and osteogenic cells.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.118-118
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• 2003

In a rolling wire probe, a key component of an inspection apparatus for PDP electrode patterns, the electric performance of it is known to be strongly dependent on the surface condition of a collet pin, a needle pin, and a wire. However, the collet and needle pins rotate very rapidly in contact with each other, which results in the degradation of the surface by the heat and friction and finally the formation of black wear marks on the surface after a several hundred hours test. Once the black wear marks appear on the surface, the electric resistance of the probe increases sharply and so the integrity of the probe is severely damaged. In this experiment, TiN coating, which has excellent electric conductances and good wear-resistance, has been applied on the surface of collect and needle pins for preventing the surface damages. In order to achieve the homogeneous coating with a good adhesion property, special coating substrate stages and jigs were designed and applied during coating. TiN has been deposited using 99.999% Titanium target by a DC reactive sputtering method. According to the components and jigs, processing parameters, such as DC power, RF bias and the flow rate ratio of Ar and N$_2$ used as reactive gases, has been controlled to obtain good TiN films. Detailed problems and solutions for applying the new substrate stages and jigs will be discussed.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2007.07a
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• pp.1271-1272
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• 2007

Experimental results regarding to the structural properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and the field-emission characteristics of CNT-coated tungsten (W) tips are presented. CNTs are successfully grown on conical-type W-tips by inductively coupled plasma-chemical vapor deposition (ICP-CVD) with or without inserting a TiN-buffer layer prior to the formation of Ni catalysts. For all the CNTs grown, their nanostructures, morphologies, and crystalline structures are analyzed by FESEM, HRTEM, and Raman spectroscopy. Furthermore, the emission properties of CNT-based field-emitters are characterized to estimate the maximum current density and the threshold voltage. The results obtained in this study indicate that the emission current level of the CNT-emitter without using a TiN buffer is desirable for the application of micro-focused x-ray systems.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2000.02a
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• pp.93-93
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• 2000

수소화된 비정질 탄소(a-C:H)는 그 증착 조건에 따라서 여러 가지 다른 구조와 특성을 갖게 되며, 특히 DLC(diamond-like carbon) 및 CNT(Carbon nanotube)는 FED (field emission display) 개발 면에서 중요하게 연구되고 있다. 우리는 a-C:H 박막을 PECVD (plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition) 방법으로 증착하고 CH4 가스를 사용하였고 기판 온도는 상온-32$0^{\circ}C$ 사이에서 변화되었다. 기판은 Corning 1737 glass, quartz, Si, Ni 등을 사용하였다. 증착 압력과 R.F. power는 각각 0.1-1 Torr 와 12-60w 사이에서 변화되었다. ESR 측정은 X-band(주파수 약 9 GHz)에서 그리고 상온에서 행해졌다. 상온에서의 스핀밀도는 약한-표준피치(weak-pitch standard) 스펙트럼과 비교하여 얻을 수 있었다. 그리고 a-C:H 박막의 구조는 He-Ne laser(파장 632.8 nm)를 이용하는 micro-Raman spectroscopy로 분석하였다. 증착조건에 따른 스핀밀도의 변화 및 Raman 스펙트럼에서의 D-peak, G-peak의 위치 및 반치록, I(D)/I(G) 등을 조사하였다. 증착된 a-C:H 박막은 R.F.power가 증가할수록 대체로 스핀밀도가 증가하였으며, Raman 스펙트럼에서의 I(D)/I(G) 비율은 대체로 감소하였다. 증착된 박막들은 polymer-like Carbon으로 추정되었으며, 스핀밀도가 증가할수록 대체적으로 흑연 구조 영역이 증가됨을 알 수 있었다. 또한 glass나 Si 기판에 비해 Ni 기판위에서 polymer-like Carbon 구조는 향상되는 경향을 보였다.

• 한국가시화정보학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.12a
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• pp.7-10
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• 2006

An experimental study has been conducted to quantitatively characterize the motion of neutrally buoyant particles in 2-dimensional Poiseuille flow through the micron-sized circular capillaries in the range of Re (Reynolds number) $\approx0.1\sim100$. $A{\mu}-PTV$ (Particle Tracking Velocimetry) system is adopted, which consists of a double-headed Nd:YAG laser, an epi-fluorescence microscope and a cooled CCD camera. Since high shear rate can be induced due to the scale effect even at low Re, it is shown that in micro scale neutrally buoyant particles in Poiseuille flow drift away from the wall and away from the center of the capillary. Consequently, particles accumulate at the equilibrium position of $0.52\sim0.64R$ with R being the radius of the capillary, which is analogous to that of tube flow in macro scale. There is a plateau in equilibrium position at small Re, while equilibrium position starts increasing at $Re\approx30$. The outermost edge of particle cluster is closer to the center of the capillary than that in previous studies due to low Re effect. The present study quantitatively presents characteristics of particle motion in circular capillaries. Furthermore, it is expected to give optimum factors for designing microfluidic systems that are to be used fur plasma separation from the blood.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.12
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• pp.4052-4059
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• 2021

The microstructure of the fuel pellet plays an essential role in fission gas buildup and release and is critical for the safe and continued operation of nuclear power stations. Structural analysis of uranium dioxide (UO₂)-molybdenum (Mo) composite fuel pellets prepared at a range of sintering temperatures from 1300 to 1800 ℃ was performed. Mo micro and nanoparticles were used in making the composite pellets. A systematic investigation into the influence of processing parameters during Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) of the pellets on the microstructure, texture, grain size, and grain boundary characters of UO₂-Mo is presented. UO₂-Mo composite show significant differences in the fraction of general boundaries and also special/coincident site lattice (CSL) boundaries. EBSD orientation maps demonstrated that <111> texturing was observed in the pellets fabricated at 1500 ℃. The experimental investigations suggest that UO₂-Mo composite pellets have favorable microstructural features compared to the UO₂ pellet.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.185-189
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• 2019

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women with approximately 522,000 deaths annually worldwide. microRNAs have recently been studied as potential biomarkers that regulate gene expression and are involved in tumorigenesis. Here we evaluated circulating miR-221 and miR-222 as potential biomarkers for breast cancer by quantitative reverse transcription PCR using blood plasma of 30 healthy controls and 30 breast cancer patients. The TNM stage on circulating miR-221 and miR-222 was also investigated. Circulating miR-221 and miR-222 were significantly up-regulated in breast cancer patients compared to those in healthy controls (P < 0.0022 and P = 0.0058, respectively). Furthermore, the relative expression level of circulating miR-221 in patients with stage III breast cancer was higher than in those with stage I and II. Taken together, we have shown circulating miR-221 and miR-222 could be useful biomarkers for the screening of breast cancer patients.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2021

Single-layer graphene is grown directly on Ti-buffered SiO2 at 100℃. As a result of the AFM measurement of the Ti buffer layer, the roughness of approximately 0.2 nm has been improved. Moreover, the Raman measurement of graphene grown on it shows that the D/G intensity ratio is extremely small, approximately 0.01, and there are no defects. In addition, the 2D/G intensity ratio had a value of approximately 2.1 for single-layer graphene. The sheet resistance is also 89 Ω/□, demonstrating excellent characteristics. The problem was solved by using graphene and a lift-off patterning method. Low-temperature direct-grown graphene does not deteriorate after the patterning process and can be used for device and micro-patterning research.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.381-391
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• 2022

Two-photon-polymerization additive-manufacturing systems feature high resolution and precision. However, there are few reports on specific methods and possible problems concerning the use of small lasers to independently build such platforms. In this paper, a femtosecond-laser two-photon-polymerization additive-manufacturing system containing an optical unit, control unit, monitoring unit, and testing unit is built using a miniature femtosecond laser, with a detailed building process and corresponding control software that is developed independently. This system has integrated functions of light-spot detection, interface searching, micro-/nanomanufacturing, and performance testing. In addition, possible problems in the processes of platform establishment, resin preparation, and actual polymerization for two-photon-polymerization additive manufacturing are explained specifically, and the causes of these problems analyzed. Moreover, the impacts of different power levels and scanning speeds on the degree of polymerization are compared, and the influence of the magnification of the object lens on the linewidth is analyzed in detail. A qualitative analysis model is established, and the concepts of the threshold broadening and focus narrowing effects are proposed, with their influences and cooperative relation discussed. Besides, a linear structure with micrometer accuracy is manufactured at the millimeter scale.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.305-315
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• 2024

Vitronectin (VN) is an extracellular matrix protein with a crucial role in regulating bone remodeling. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of VN deficiency in a mouse model of osteoporosis induced by ovariectomy (OVX). The findings revealed that the absence of VN led to an increase in the activity of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), a marker for osteoclasts, in the plasma of OVX-operated mice. TRAP staining further demonstrated that VN deficiency resulted in a higher number of osteoclasts within the femurs of OVX-operated mice. X-ray micro-computed tomography analysis of the femurs in OVX-operated mice indicated that VN deficiency significantly suppressed the OVX-induced increase of marrow area and total volume of bone. Additionally, we assessed structural model index (SMI) and degree of anisotropy (DA) as indices of osteoporosis. The results showed that VN deficiency effectively attenuated the OVX-induced increase in SMI and DA among OVX-operated mice. In summary, our study demonstrates the vital role of VN in regulating osteoclastogenesis and bone remodeling in the mouse model of osteoporosis.