• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 2012

The differences between single and mixed aluminium catalyst systems in the bulk polymerization of L-lactide were studied. $Al(O-i-Pr)_3$, TMA, TOA and TIBA were employed for the mixed-catalyst systems, and TIBA was chosen as a reference catalyst. For the $Al(O-i-Pr)_3$/TIBA catalyst system, the conversion of polymerization increased as the composition of $Al(O-i-Pr)_3$ in the mixed catalyst increased. The molecular weight of the resulting PLA reached to about 13000 g/mol, and the polydispersity index of the polymer from the $Al(O-i-Pr)_3$/TIBA catalyst was slightly increased than that of single catalyst. The higher molecular weight tail or shoulder was revealed in the GPC curve. The conversion of the TOA/TIBA catalyst system decreased as the composition of TOA in the mixed catalyst increased. The molecular weight of PLA prepared with TOA/TIBA catalysts increased up to 14000 g/mol. The Al compounds-mixed catalysts could produce a higher molecular weight tail or shoulder in the GPC curve, which may result in enhancement of mechanical properties of PLA.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2012

Abstract: In this study, PAN/$TiO_2$ fiber mats were fabricated from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and titanium(IV) butoxide ($Ti(OBu)_4$) by an electrospinning method with various solution concentrations, applied voltages and solution flow rates. The fiber mats were irradiated with an electron beam to induce structural crosslinking and enhance photocatalytic activity. As a result, uniform and bead-free fibers without pits or cracks on surface were obtained at 5 wt% of $Ti(OBu)_4$ solution with 15 kV and 0.02 mL/min flow rate. The PAN/$TiO_2$ fiber mats were irradiated with an electron beam of 1.14 MeV acceleration voltage, 4 mA of current and $1{\times}10^4kGy$. Electron beam irradiation was enhanced the photocatalytic activity of PAN/$TiO_2$ nano fiber mat. The photocatalytic activity of the PAN/$TiO_2$ fiber mat was analyzed by degradation of methylene blue and volatile organic compounds.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2012

In this study, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was used as a hydrophilic polymer carrier to develop solid dispersion formulations for enhancing solubility and dissolution rate of pranlukast, one of poorly soluble drugs that has been broadly used for the treatment of asthma. PEG based solid dispersions with or without poloxamer were prepared by hot melting and solvent evaporation methods. The resultant solid dispersions were characterized by DSC and powder X-ray measurements, and their morphological properties were observed to be partially changed to amorphous state with reduced crystallinity. Dissolution and solubility tests showed that the solubility and dissolution rate of the solid dispersions were significantly enhanced. The solid dispersion formulation prepared by the hot melting method with a chemical composition of pranlukast:PEG:poloxamer = 1:5:1 demonstrated the most enhanced solubility and dissolution rate. The results suggest that the solid dispersions based on PEG and poloxamer are promising systems for the enhancement of solubility and bioavailability of pranlukast.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.93-97
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• 2014

Biodegradable drug-eluting stent has dual functions of supporting the lumen and treating internal tumor preventing the restenosis by releasing drug. In this study, the polycaprolactone (PCL) based three dimensional (3D) mesh loaded with paclitaxel (PTX) was presented by rapid prototyping (RP) technique of solid freeform fabrication (SFF) for biodegradable drug-eluting stent application. PCL has many advantageous properties such as good biocompatibility, good mechanical properties, and good drug permeability. PTX is widely used in the cancer treatment by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation. Analytical methods of HPLC and NMR were used for simultaneous quantification of PTX. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed to observe the architecture and morphologies of 3D mesh. The cytotoxicity assay results indicated released PTX's biological activity. This study provided that PCL based 3D mesh loaded with PTX by RP technique has great potential for biodegradable drug-eluting stent application.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.74-79
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• 2014

Microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) was chemically modified with two different silane coupling agents (3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and 3-mercaptopropyltriethoxysilane) and lauroyl chloride. The surface modification of MFC was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and contact angle measurements. Composite paper was successfully prepared with surface modified MFC and polyamide (PA) fiber. The surface modification of MFC not only prevented aggregation of MFC but also improved adhesive property between PA fiber and surface modified MFC. It was impossible to prepare papers of only PA fiber because there is no binder to connect PA fibers. That is, surface modified MFC as a binder in PA fiber played a crucial role in making composite paper. Composite paper with silane modified MFC showed higher tensile strength and modulus than composite paper with lauroyl moiety modified MFC. The structure, morphology, and mechanical properties of composite paper were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and universal testing machine (UTM).

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.69-73
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• 2014

In this study, polysaccharide-poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels were prepared by using ${\gamma}$-ray and evaluated for potential application as an anti-inflammation patch. Ulmus davidiana var. japonica (UD), one of polysaccharides has been particularly used as an oriental remedy for the treatment of inflammation and ulcers. PVA as a biocompatible polymer and glycerin as a moisturizer were blended with the UD, and its hydrogels were prepared by radiation crosslinking. Characterizations for UD hydrogels were performed by using cytotoxicity assay, antioxidant activity test, and physicochemical test such as gel fraction ratio, and swelling behavior. The results showed that these UD hydrogels had excellent physical properties, anti-inflammation activity, and non-cytotoxicity on the cells. Therefore, these polysaccharide based-UD hydrogels can be effectively used as an inflammation patch.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.54-61
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• 2014

Water-soluble sulfobetaine chitosan (SCs) was prepared for a blending film with Bombyx mori silk fibroin (SF) by reacting chitosan with 1,3-propanesultone. A series of SF/SCs blended films were successfully prepared by mixing aqueous solutions of B. mori SF and SCs. The SF/SCs blended films were examined through spectroscopic and thermal analysis to determine the morphological changes of SF in the SCs. The effects of the SF/SCs blend ratios on physical and mechanical properties were investigated to discover the feasibility of using these films as biomedical materials such as artificial skin and wound dressing. X-ray analysis showed good compatibility between the two biopolymers. The in vitro degradation behavior of the SF/SCs blended films was systematically investigated for up to 8 weeks in phosphate buffered saline solution at $37^{\circ}C$ and showed a mass loss of 46.4% after 8 weeks. All films showed no cytotoxicity by MC3T3-E1 assay. After 3 days of culture, the relative cell number on all the SF/SCs films was slightly lower than that of an optimized tissue culture plastic.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2014

In this paper, we made a new polycationic polymeric liposome composed of low molecular weight polyethylenimine (PEI) and 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid (PCDA). PCDA liposome was prepared by ultraviolet irradiation. PEI was further conjugated on the surface of the polymerized PCDA liposome using coupling reagents to make PCDA-PEI. The blue-to-red transition of PCDA liposome was observed during the coupling reaction. The size distribution of liposome and complexes with plasmid DNA was measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The complex formation was also identified by agarose gel electrophoresis and PicoGreen reagent assay. We confirmed the complex formation of the polymeric liposome with DNA and then performed transfection and cytotoxicity assay in HEK 293 and HeLa cells. As a result, PCDA-PEI showed significant gene transfection efficiency and low cytotoxicity. This study shows that PEI-conjugated PCDA liposome could be an efficient gene or drug delivery carrier.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.38-42
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• 2014

The poly[(9,9-bis((6'-(N,N,N-trimethylammonium)hexyl)-2,7-fluorene)-alt-(9,9-bis(2-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl)-9-fluorene)) dibromide (WPF-6-oxy-F)] and graphene oxide (GO) was blended and irradiated with gamma ray under ambient condition. This WPF-6-oxy-F-GO composite was investigated as a hole-transporting layer (HTL) in organic solar cells (OSCs). Compared with the pristine GO, the sheet resistance ($R_{sheet}$) of irradiated WPF-6-oxy-F-GO was decreased about 2 orders of magnitude. The reason for the decrease of $R_{sheet}$ is the effect of efficient ${\pi}-{\pi}$ packing resulted from the formation of C-N bond between WPF6-oxy-F and GO. As a result, the efficiency of OSCs was dramatically enhanced ~ 6.10% by introducing irradiated WPF-6-oxy-F-GO as a HTL. WPF-6-oxy-F-GO is a sufficient candidate for HTL to facilitate the low-cost and high efficiency OSCs.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2014

To prepare biomass based nylon 6,5 copolymers, ${\varepsilon}$-caprolactam and 2-piperidone, the monomers of nylon 6,5 copolymers, were synthesized respectively from lysine and 5-aminovaleric acid which were produced from glucose by the fermentation process. The copolymers were then polymerized by the anionic ring opening polymerization of them at $40^{\circ}C$, using potassium tert-butoxide as a catalyst and acetyl-2-caprolactam and carbon dioxide as initiators. The prepared copolymers were characterized with various analytical methods: their viscosity molecular weight ($M_{\eta}$) was as high as 30000 g/mol and polymerization yield was over 50%, and it was found that they were semi-crystalline polymers having melting point at $165^{\circ}C$ which was much lower than its thermal degradation point, $250^{\circ}C$. These polymers were expected to have good thermal processability and application fields.