• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 2000

We investigated characters of transdermal therapeutic system(TTS) and the skin permeability of that with applying drug delivery system(DDS). Natural gums were selected as material of TTS. The permeation of natural gums ointment containing drug in rat skin using diffusion cell model. Permeation properties of materials were investigated for water soluble drug such as riboflavin in vitro. We used glycerin, PEG 600 and oleic acid as enhancers. Since dermis has more hydration than the stratum corneum, skin permeation rate at steady state was highly influenced when glycerin was used in riboflavin. The permeation rate of content enhancer and drug was found to be faster than that of content riboflavin only. These results showed that skin permeation rate of drug across the composite was mainly dependent on the property of ointment base and drug. All the gum ointment tested showed good safety. Proper selection of the materials which resemble and enhance properties of the delivering drug was found to be important in controlling the skin permeation rate.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1996 no.05
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• pp.123-125
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• 1996

The orientation effect of galactose ligand on hepatocyte attachment was investigated. Poly(N-p-vinyl benzyl-o-${\beta}$-D-galactopyranosyl-D-gluconamide) (PVLA), a ${\beta}$-galactose-carrying styrene homo-polymer, was used as a model ligand for the asialoglycoprotein receptors on hepatocytes. PYVA was transferred onto the poly(${\gamma}$-benzyl L-glutamate)(PBLG) or PBLG/ poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG)/PBLG Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films as the monolayer level. The dichroic fluorescence values of confocal microscope indicated that the PVLA transferred onto the LB films was located with a preferential orientation of its molecular axes with regard to the direction of the a-helix of polypeptide. Hepatocyte recognized well-oriented galactose moieties of the surface of PVLA through asialoglycoprotein receptors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.409-412
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• 2013

Curcumin (Cum) has been reported to have potential chemo-preventive and chemotherapeutic activity through influencing various processes, inducing cell cycle arrest, differentiation and apoptosis in a series of cancers. However, the poor solubility of Cum limits its further applications in the treatment of cancer. We have previously reported Cum-loaded nanoparticles (Cum-NPs) prepared with amphilic methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-polycaprolactone (mPEG-PCL) block copolymers. The current study demonstrated superior antitumor efficacy of Cum-NPs over free Cum in the treatment of lung cancer. In vivo evaluation further demonstrated superior anticancer effects of Cum-NPs by delaying tumor growth compared to free Cum in an established A549 transplanted mice model. Moreover, Cum-NPs showed little toxicity to normal tissues including bone marrow, liver and kidney at a therapeutic dose. These results suggest that Cum-NPs are effective to inhibit the growth of human lung cancer with little toxicity to normal tissues, and could provide a clinically useful therapeutic regimen. They thus merit more research to evaluate the feasibility of clinical application.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.771-779
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• 2022

Background: As a kind of common complication of the surgery of perianal diseases, perianal ulcer is known as a nuisance. This study aims to develop a kind of 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3)-loaded hydrogel to treat perianal ulcers in a rat model. Methods: The copolymers PLGA₁₆₀₀-PEG₁₀₀₀-PLGA₁₆₀₀ were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization process and Rg3-loaded hydrogel was then developed. The perianal ulcer rat model was established to analyze the treatment efficacy of Rg3-loaded hydrogel for ulceration healing for 15 days. The animals were divided into control group, hydrogel group, free Rg3 group, Rg3-loaded hydrogel group, and Lidocaine Gel® group. The residual wound area rate was calculated and the blood concentrations of interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were recorded. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, Masson's Trichrome (MT) staining, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), Ki-67, CD31, ERK1/2, and NF-κB immunohistochemical staining were performed. Results: The biodegradable and biocompatible hydrogel carries a homogenous interactive porous structure with 10 ㎛ pore size and five weeks in vivo degradation time. The loaded Rg3 can be released sustainably. The in vitro cytotoxicity study showed that the hydrogel had no effect on survival rate of murine skin fibroblasts L929. The Rg3-loaded hydrogel can facilitate perianal ulcer healing by inhibiting local and systematic inflammatory responses, swelling the proliferation of nuclear cells, collagen deposition, and vascularization, and activating ERK signal pathway. Conclusion: The Rg3-loaded hydrogel shows the best treatment efficacy of perianal ulcer and may be a candidate for perianal ulcer treatment.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2023

Purpose - Using a sample of Korean multinational corporations, we examine whether the relationship between tax risk and the implied cost of capital discriminates between the environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) of highly rated firms. Design/methodology - Firms with high tax risks have an increased uncertainty of future cash flows. Therefore, as the volatility of future cash flow increases, information asymmetry and the required return increases. Highly rated ESG firms can reduce information asymmetry, thereby weakening the positive relationship between tax risk and cost of capital. We employ the standard deviation of the cash effective tax rate as proxy of tax risk. We utilize the ESG rating data of the Korea Corporate Governance Service (KCGS). We use a PEG model, MPEG model, and GM model to measure the implied cost of capital. Findings - We find a positive association between the implied cost of capital and tax risk. The positive relationship between tax risk and the implied cost of capital weakens in highly rated ESG firms. Highly rated ESG firms prefer a stable tax position to invest after-tax cash flows into sustainable management. Therefore, the negative effects of tax risk on cost of capital can be reduced. Originality/value - This study provides empirical evidence that ESG activities can mitigate the negative impact of tax risk on the cost of capital for Korean multinational corporations. In a business environment where ESG activities are more important, the empirical results that ESG activities can reduce the corporate risk of Korean FDI companies are expected to provide implications for the ESG activities of multinational corporations.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2000

Drug delivery system(DDS) applied to various fields, such as medicine, cosmetics, agriculture and necessities of life. Among these application fields, DDS is often used as the method of drug dosage into the epidermic skin. We investigated characters of transdermal therapeutic system(TTS) and the skin permeability of that with applying DDS. Chitosan was selected as material of TTS. We investigated the permeation of chitosan ointment containing drug in rat skin using horizontal membrane cell model. Permeation properties of materials were investigated for water-soluble drug such as riboflavin in vitro. We used glycerin, PEG 600 and oleic acid as enhancers. Since dermis has more content water(hydration) than the stratum corneum, skin permeation rate at steady state was highly influenced when glycerin was used in water-soluble drug. The permeation rate of content enhancer and drug was found to be faster than that of content water-soluble drug only. These results showed that skin permeation rate of drug across the composite was manly dependent on the property of ointment base and drug. Proper selection of the polymeric materials which resemble and enhance properties of the delivering drug was found to be important in controlling the skin permeation rate.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 2001

Sterically stabilized liposomes (SSL) have been introduced for longer circulation in blood than conventional liposomes (CL). However, there are a couple of problems in SSL preparation due to the instability of phospholipid and the degradation of drug in aqueous conditions. To solve these problems, it is necessary to go through lyophilization process. Therefore, in this study, effects of lyophilization on SSL were evaluated for physical characteristics changes upon rehydration of lyophilized SSL such as the particle size, efficiency of drug entrapment, turbidity and drug release. SSL containing streptozocin, a water-soluble anticancer drug as a model compound, were prepared with DSPC and DSPE-PEG 2000. The size was controlled to 100 nm by extrusion with polycarbonate membrane, and sucrose was used as a cryoprotectant for lyophilization at the 1:3 (lipid:sucrose) ratio. Upon rehydration of lyophilized SSL, the average size was in the range of $50{\sim}200\;nm$ which is adequate for longer circulation in blood, and the encapsulation efficiency was kept as its initial state. Rehydrated SSL were not adsorbed to rat plasma protein and revealed a similar drug release profile to that of fresh SSL before lyophilization. Therefore, lyophilization could be introduced efficiently to overcome aqueous instability problems of SSL.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.175-180
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• 2009

This study was conducted to improve biological degradation efficiency of toluene as a model volatile organic compound (VOC) using yeast Candida tropicalis and to suggest an effective method for bioreactor operation. The yeast strain was immobilized with polyethylene glycol (PEG), alginate, and powdered activated carbon (PAC). The yeast-immobilized polymer media were used as fluidized materials in an airlift bioreactor. Polymer media without PAC were also made and operated in another airlift bioreactor. The two bioreactors showed toluene removal efficiencies ranging 80-96% at loading rates of $10-35 g/m^3-hr$, and the bioreactor containing the polymer media with PAC achieved higher removal efficiency. Protein contents in the liquid phase showed that the bioreactor using the yeast-immobilized polymer media with PAC had a higher rate of microbial growth initially than that without PAC. In addition, the microbial growth rate inside of the polymer media with PAC was five times higher than that without PAC. Consequently, the polymer media containing the yeast strain and PAC could enhance removal efficiencies for VOCs, and the immobilization method improve microbial activity and stability for a long-term operation of biological systems.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.216-223
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• 2006

To increase the stability of liposomes in blood circulation, surface modification of liposomes by incorporating a lipid-polymer derivative in the lipid bilayer or conjugating a hydrophilic polymer to the liposomal surface has been developed. In this study, the comblike copolymer, poly(HEMA-co-HPOEM), having multiple polyethyleneoxide side chains was prepared by free radical polymerization of hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) and hydroxypolyoxyethylenemethacrylate (HPOEM) as vinyl monomers. Poly(HEMA-co-HPOEM) was conjugated to the liposomal surface and the characteristics of the modified liposomes in serum were investigated. Conjugation of poly(HEMA-co-HPOEM) to liposomes increased the particle size of the liposomes by 30 nm and decreased the absolute value of zeta potential of the liposomes by shielding the negative charge of liposomal surface. Loading efficiency of model drug, doxorubicin, in liposomes was about 90% and the efficiency was not affected by conjugation of poly(HEMA-co-HPOEM) to liposomes. The particle size of poly(HEMA-co-HPOEM)-conjugated liposomes in serum did not changed and the protein adsorption was lower than that of control liposomes or liposomes containing polyethyleneoxide-lipid derivative (PEG-liposomes). These results suggest that poly(HEMA-co-HPOEM) is efficient for the stabilization of liposomes in blood circulation.