• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.523-528
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• 2005

Diblock copolymers with different poly($\varepsilon$-caprolactone) (PCL) block lengths were synthesized by ringopening polymerization of $\varepsilon$-caprolactone in the presence of monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG-OH, MW 2000) as initiator. The self-aggregation behaviors of the diblock copolymer nanoparticle, prepared by the diafiltration method, were investigated by using $^1H$ NMR, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and fluorescence spectroscopy. The PEG-PCL block copolymers formed the nano-sized self-aggregate in an aqueous environment by intrsa- and/or intermolecular association between hydrophobic PCL chains. The critical aggregation concentrations (cac) of the block copolymer self-aggregate became lower with increasing hydrophobic PCL block length. On the other hand, reverse trends of mean hydrodynamic diameters were measured by DLS owing to the increasing bulkiness of the hydrophobic chains and hydrophobic interaction between the PCL microdomains. The hydrodynamic diameters of the block copolymer nanoparticles, measured by DLS, were in the range of 65-270 nm. Furthermore, the size of the nanoparticles was scarcely affected by the concentration of the block copolymers in the range of 0.125-5 mg/mL owing to the negligible interparticular aggregation between the self-aggregated nanoparticles. Considered with the fairly low cac and nanoparticle stability, the PEG-PCL nanoparticles can be considered a potential candidate for biomedical applications such as drug carrier or imaging agent.

• 한국정보디스플레이학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.08a
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• pp.1200-1203
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• 2004

We investigated the molecular aligning capability of a polymer layer containing ceramic nanoparticles which can be used as a gate insulator of organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs). Because of the enhanced dielectric properties arising from the nanoparticles and molecular aligning properties of the polymer, the composite layer provides excellent mobility characteristics of the OTFTs.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.745-755
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• 2012

Two types of polymers were tested in this study; poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) as a synthetic example and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) as a natural polymer. DSC analyses showed that the use of nanofiller increased the degree of crystallinity ($X_c$) of both PET and PLA polymers, but the effect was more noticeable on PET nanocomposites. The crystallization of PLA and PET nanocomposites occurred at higher temperatures in comparison to neat polymers. According to dynamic mechanical-thermal analysis (DMTA), the damping factor of PET/$TiO_2$ nanoparticles decreased compared to the neat matrix, but for PLA nanocomposites the opposite trend was observed. Results of the mechanical test showed that for both PET and PLA nanocomposites, the most successful toughening effect was observed at 3 wt% loading of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles. SEM micrographs revealed uniform distribution of $TiO_2$ nanoparticles at 1 and 3 wt% loading levels. The results of WAXD spectra explained that the polymorphs of PLA and PET was not affected by $TiO_2$ nanoparticles. UV-visible spectra showed that $TiO_2$ nanocomposite films had high ultraviolet shielding compared to neat polymer, but there was significant reduction in transparency.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 2007

The reduction behavior of silver ions to silver nanoparticles is an important topic in polymer/silver salt complex membranes to facilitate olefin transport, as this has a significant effect on the long-term performance stability of the membrane. In this study, the effects ofthe solvent type on the formation of silver nanoparticles, as well as the long-term membrane performance of a solid polymer/silver salt complex membrane were investigated. These effects were assessed for solid complexes of poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) $(PVP)/AgBF_4$, using either an ionic liquid (IL), acetonitrile (ACN) or water as the solvent for the membrane preparation. The membrane performance test showed that long-term stability was strongly dependent on the solvent type, which increased in the following order: IL > ACN >> water. The formation of silver nanoparticles was more favorable with the solvent type in the reverse order, as supported by UV-visible spectroscopy. The poor stability of the $(PVP)/AgBF_4$ membrane when water was used as the solvent might have been due to the small amount of water present in the silver-polymer complex membranes actively participating in the reduction reaction of the silver ions into silver nanoparticles. Conversely, the higher stability of the $(PVP)/AgBF_4$, membrane when an IL was used as the solvent was attributable to the cooperative coordination of silver ions with the IL, as well as with the polymer matrix, as confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.586-592
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• 2012

Iron oxides ($Fe_3O_4$) are metabolically secreted after endocytosed by cells, indicating no cytotoxicity. Therefore, they are widely used as a contrast agent before photographing of magnetic resonance imaging. In this study, iron oxide nanoparticles are synthesized by the co-precipitation method and subsequently immobilized with a homing peptide (AP), which specifically interacts with interleukin-4 receptor located on the membrane of endothelial and bladder cancer cells. The size of AP-immobilized iron oxide particle is about 39 nm. Intracellular uptake of the AP-immobilized iron oxide nanoparticles was investigated using bladder cancer cells and fibroblasts as the control. As the result, the nanoparticles are specificially uptaken by bladder cancer cells. However, the nanoparticles are not specificially uptaken by fibroblast. It could be said that the AP-immobilized iron oxide nanoparticles have a potential to be used as a contrast agent for early diagnosis of cancer.

• 한국정보디스플레이학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.1573-1574
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• 2009

Fullerene/polystyrene nanoparticles having the average size of 300 nm ~ 1 ${\mu}m$ were prepared by emulsion polymerization in aqueous medium. Poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) and potassium persulfate were used as a dispersant and an initiator, respectively. The contents of fullerene in the nanoparticle were controlled to be from 10 to 57 wt% by varying the feed ratio, which was confirmed by IR-spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analyses, and elemental analyses. Dynamic light scattering experiments revealed the particles have a broad size distribution. Further characterizations of the nanoparticles were performed by using SEM and TEM observation. The high content of fullerene in the particles will find applications in photovoltaic and organic semiconducting area.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.163-168
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• 2008

Polystyrene/gold nanoparticle (PS/AuNP) composite fibers were fabricated using an electrospinning technique. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the diameters of the naphthalenethiol-capped gold nanoparticles (prior to incorporation into the PS fibers) ranged from 2 to 5 nm. UV-vis spectroscopy revealed the surface plasmon peaks of the gold nanoparticles centered at approximately 512 nm, indicating that nano-sized Au particles are well-dispersed in solution. This was consistent with the TEM observations. The electrospun nanofibers of PS/AuNP composites were approximately 60-3,000 nm in diameter. The surface morphology of the PS/AuNP composite and the dispersability of the Au nanoparticles inside of PS after electrospinning process were investigated by SEM and TEM. The thermal behavior of the pure PS and PS/AuNP nanocomposites and fibers were examined by DSC.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.211-215
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• 2007

Hybrid thin film nanostructures composed of metal nanoparticles (NPs) and self-assembled polymer films with different spatial distributions of NPs were analyzed by optical waveguide spectroscopy (OWS). Specifically, the dielectric constants were calculated using effective medium theory for the incorporation of 1 vol% Au NP into the block copolymer (BCP) films having a cylindrical nanodomain morphology. Three cases were considered: uniform distribution of NPs in the film; selective distribution of NPs only in the cylindrical domains; and segregation of NPs to the center of the cylindrical domains. The optical waveguide spectra derived from the calculated dielectric constants demonstrate the feasibility of experimentally distinguishing the composite nanostructures with different inner morphologies in the hybrid metal NP-BCP nanostructures, by the measurement of the dielectric constants using OWS.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.464-468
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• 2009

Gelatin nanoparticles derived from bovine or porcine have been developed as various types of drug delivery system, and they need to be cross-linked to maintain their physicochemical properties in aqueous environments. Although gelatin is a widely used material in pharmaceutical industries, the safety issue of animal-origin gelatins, such as transmissible mad cow disease and anaphylaxis, remains to be solved. The purpose of this study was to prepare type A gelatin (GA) nanoparticles by modified, two-step, desolvation method and compare the toxicity of the resulting GA nanoparticles with recombinant human gelatin (rHG) nanoparticles. The GA nanoparticles were characterized, and drug loading and release pattern were measured. FITC-BSA, a model protein, was efficiently loaded in the nanoparticles and then released in a biphasic and sustained release pattern without an initial burst. In particular, the cell viability of the GA nanoparticles was less than that of the rHG nanoparticles. This finding suggests that rHG nanoparticles should be considered as an alternative to animal-origin gelatin nanoparticles in order to minimize the safety problems.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2008

The enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect is used extensively for the passive targeting of many macromolecular drugs for tumors. Indeed, the EPR concept has been a gold standard in polymeric anticancer drug delivery systems. This study investigated the tumoral distribution of self-assembled nanoparticles based on the EPR effect using fluorescein and radio-labeled nanoparticles. Self-assembled nanoparticles were prepared from amphiphilic chitosan derivatives, and their tissue distribution was examined in tumor-bearing mice. The size of the nanoparticles was controlled to be 330 run, which is a size suited for opening between the defective endothelial cells in tumors. The long-circulating polymer nanoparticles were allowed to gradually accumulate in the tumors for 11 days. The amount of nanoparticles accumulated in the tumors was remarkably augmented from 3.4%ID/g tissue at 1 day to 25.9%ID/g tissue at 11 days after i.v. administration. The self-assembled nanoparticles were sustained at a high level throughout the 14 day experimental period, indicating their long systemic retention in the blood circulation. The ${\gamma}$-images provided clear evidence of selective tumor localization of the $^{131}I$-labeled nanoparticles. Confocal microscopy revealed the fluorescein-labeled nanoparticles to be preferentially localized in the perivascular regions, suggesting their extravasation to the tumors through the hyperpermeable angiogenic tumor vasculature. This highly selective tumoral accumulation of nanoparticles was attributed to the leakiness of the blood vessels in the tumors and their long residence time in the blood circulation.