• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.48-49
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• 2006

The incorporation of heparin to biomaterials has been widely studied to improve the biocompatibility (blood and cell) of biomaterials surfaces. In our laboratory, various kinds of heparinized polymers including heparinized thermosensitive polymers ($Tetronic^{(R)}$-PLA(PCL)-heparin copolymers) and star-shaped PLA-heparin copolymers have been developed as a novel blood/cell compatible material. These heparinized polymers have demonstrated their unique properties due to bound heparin, resulting in improved biocompatibility. These heparinized bioactive polymers can be applied as blood and tissue compatible biodegradable materials in variable medical application such as tissue engineering and drug delivery system.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.189-196
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• 2020

Milk proteins, such as casein and whey protein, exhibit significant potential as natural emulsifiers for the preparation and stabilization of emulsion-based delivery systems. This can be attributed to their unique functional properties, such as the amphiphilic nature, GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status, high nutritional value, and viscoelastic film-forming ability around oil droplets. In addition, milk protein has been used as a coating material in emulsion-based delivery systems to protect bioactive compounds during food processing and storage owing to its unique functional properties. These properties include the ability to bind lipophilic bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity. In this review, we present the use of milk proteins as emulsifiers for the formation of emulsions and food applications of milk protein-stabilized emulsion delivery systems.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.8
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• pp.549-556
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• 2021

Decoding the molecular mechanisms underlying axon guidance is key to precise understanding of how complex neural circuits form during neural development. Although substantial progress has been made over the last three decades in identifying numerous axon guidance molecules and their functional roles, little is known about how these guidance molecules collaborate to steer growth cones to their correct targets. Recent studies in Drosophila point to the importance of the combinatorial action of guidance molecules, and further show that selective fasciculation and defasciculation at specific choice points serve as a fundamental strategy for motor axon guidance. Here, I discuss how attractive and repulsive guidance cues cooperate to ensure the recognition of specific choice points that are inextricably linked to selective fasciculation and defasciculation, and correct pathfinding decision-making.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.288-298
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• 2023

Host defense peptides are expressed in various immune cells, including phagocytic cells and epithelial cells. These peptides selectively alter innate immune pathways in response to infections by pathogens, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and modify the subsequent adaptive immune environment. Consequently, they play a wide range of roles in both innate and adaptive immune responses. These peptides are of increasing importance due to their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and their functions as mediators linking innate and adaptive immune responses. This review focuses on the pleiotropic biological functions and related mechanisms of action of human host defense peptides and discusses their potential clinical applications.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.100006.1-100006.10
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• 2024

Nitric oxide (NO) serves as an evolutionarily conserved signaling molecule that plays an important role in a wide variety of cellular processes. Extensive studies in Drosophila melanogaster have revealed that NO signaling is required for development, physiology, and stress responses in many different types of cells. In neuronal cells, multiple NO signaling pathways appear to operate in different combinations to regulate learning and memory formation, synaptic transmission, selective synaptic connections, axon degeneration, and axon regrowth. During organ development, elevated NO signaling suppresses cell cycle progression, whereas downregulated NO leads to an increase in larval body size via modulation of hormone signaling. The most striking feature of the Drosophila NO synthase is that various stressors, such as neuropeptides, aberrant proteins, hypoxia, bacterial infection, and mechanical injury, can activate Drosophila NO synthase, initially regulating cellular physiology to enable cells to survive. However, under severe stress or pathophysiological conditions, high levels of NO promote regulated cell death and the development of neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, I highlight and discuss the current understanding of molecular mechanisms by which NO signaling regulates distinct cellular functions and behaviors.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.440-453
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• 2005

Objectives : To develop a bioactive membrane for guided bone regeneration (GBR), the biocompatibility and bone regenerating capacity of the cellulose membrane obtained from the Ascidians squirt skin were evaluated. Materials and methods : After processing the pure cellulose membrane from the squirt skin, the morphological study, amino acid analysis and the immunoreactivity of the cellulose membrane were tested. Total eighteen male Spraque-Dawley rats (12 weeks, weighing 250 to 300g) were divided into two control (n=8) and another two experimental groups (n=10). In the first experimental group (n=5), the cellulose membrane was applicated to the 8.0 mm sized calvarial bone defect and the same sized defect was left without cellulose membrane in the first control group (n=4). In the another experimental group (n=5), the cellulose membrane was applicated to the same sized calvarial bone defect after femoral bone graft and the same sized defect with bone graft was left without cellulose membrane in the another control group (n=4). Each group was sacrificed after 6 weeks, the histological study with H&E and Masson trichrome stain was done, and immunohistochemical stainings of angiogenin and VEGF were also carried out. Results : The squirt skin cellulose showed the bio-inductive effect on the bone and mesenchymal tissues in the periosteum of rat calvarial bone. This phenomenon was found only in the inner surface of the cellulose membrane after 6 weeks contrast to the outer surface. Bone defect covered with the bioactive cellulose membrane showed significantly greater bone formation compared with control groups. Mesenchymal cells beneath the inner surface of the bioactive cellulose membrane were positive to the angiogenin and VEGF antibodies. Conclusion : We suppose that there still remains extremely little amount of peptide fragment derived from the basement membrane matrix proteins of squirt skin, which is a kind of anchoring protein composed of glycocalyx. This composition could prevent the adverse immunological hypersensitivity and also induce bioactive properties of cellulose membrane. These properties induced the effective angiogenesis with rapid osteogenesis beneath the inner surface of cellulose membrane, and so the possibilities of clinical application in dental field as a GBR material will be able to be suggested.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.169-178
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• 2020

Glass ionomer cement (GIC) is a tailor-made material that is used as a filling material in dentistry. GIC is cured by an acid-base reaction consisting of a glass filler and ionic polymers. When the glass filler and ionic polymers are mixed, ionic bonds of the material itself are formed. In addition, the extra polymer anion reacts with calcium in enamel or dentin to increase adhesion to the tooth tissue. GICs are widely used as adhesives for artificial crowns or orthodontic brackets, and are also used as tooth repair material, cavity liner, and filling materials. In this review, the current status of GIC research and development and its prospects for the future have been discussed in detail.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1072-1079
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• 2015

The lees of Korean traditional wine called as Jubak or Sul-jigemi in Korea is byproduct from alcohol fermentation industry, which is remnant of fermentation broth after filtration, centrifugation, distillation, or sedimentation during aging. Since, Korean traditional wines are produced from edible plant sources such as rice, foxtail millet, fruits and medicinal herbs with nuruk (a traditional fermentation starter and starch degrader), the Jubak from rice wine (takju), medicinal herb wine (yakju) and fruits wine are considered as safe byproduct and have various useful bioactivity. Considering the recent rapid increased production of Jubak from takju industry, and the reinforcement of dispose of Jubak as waste material in worldwide, the development of efficient reuse process for Jubak is necessary in traditional wine industry. In this review, the status of current industry, research and patent trends in relation with Jubak production, treatment, utilization and renewal was analyzed and different bioactive compounds including phenolic acids from Jubak were provided. Jubak is not any more waste material, and is the source of bioactive functional materials for food, cosmetics and medicinal industry. To develop the efficient and economic renewal technology including recovery process for bioactive substances from Jubak, systematic collaboration and research among the industry, academy and government is necessary.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.6.1-6.16
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• 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the elemental analysis and microhardness of a bioactive material (Activa) and marginal tooth structure after storage in different media. Materials and Methods: Fifteen teeth received cervical restorations with occlusal enamel and gingival dentin margins using the tested material bonded with a universal adhesive, 5 of them on the 4 axial surfaces and the other 10 on only the 2 proximal surfaces. The first 5 teeth were sectioned into 4 restorations each, then stored in 4 different media; deionized water, Dulbecco's phosphate buffered saline (DPBS), Tris buffer, and saliva. The storage period for deionized water was 24 hours while it was 3 months for the other media. Each part was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analysis for different substrates/distances and the wt% of calcium, phosphorus, silica, and fluoride were calculated. The other 10 teeth were sectioned across the restoration, stored in either Tris buffer or saliva for 24 hours or 3 months, and were evaluated for microhardness of different substrates/areas. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test. Results: Enamel and dentin interfaces in the DPBS group exhibited a significant increase in calcium and phosphorus wt%. Both silica and fluoride significantly increased in tooth structure up to a distance of 75 ㎛ in the 3-month-media groups than the immediate group. Storage media did not affect the microhardness values. Conclusions: SEM-EDS analysis suggests an ion movement between Activa and tooth structure through a universal adhesive while stored in DPBS.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1665-1674
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• 2019

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted, emerging Flavivirus that causes Guillain-$Barr{\acute{e}}$ syndrome and microcephaly in adults and fetuses, respectively. Since ZIKV was first isolated in 1947, severe outbreaks have occurred at various places worldwide, including Yap Island in 2007, French Polynesia in 2013, and Brazil in 2015. Although incidences of ZIKV infection and dissemination have drastically increased, the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of ZIKV have not been sufficiently studied. In addition, despite extensive research, the exact roles of individual ZIKV genes in the viral evasion of the host innate immune responses remain elusive. Besides, it is still possible that more than one ZIKV-encoded protein may negatively affect type I interferon (IFN) induction. Hence, in this study, we aimed to determine the modulations of the IFN promoter activity, induced by the MDA5/RIG-I signaling pathway, by over-expressing individual ZIKV genes. Our results show that two nonstructural proteins, NS2A and NS4A, significantly down-regulated the promoter activity of IFN-${\beta}$ by inhibiting multiple signaling molecules involved in the activation of IFN-${\beta}$. Interestingly, while NS2A suppressed both full-length and constitutively active RIG-I, NS4A had inhibitory activity only on full-length RIG-I. In addition, while NS2A inhibited all forms of IRF3 (full-length, regulatory domain-deficient, and constitutively active), NS4A could not inhibit constitutively active IRF3-5D. Taken together, our results showed that NS2A and NS4A play major roles as antagonists of MDA5/RIG-I-mediated IFN-${\beta}$ induction and more importantly, these two viral proteins seem to inhibit induction of the type I IFN responses in differential mechanisms. We believe this study expands our understanding regarding the mechanisms via which ZIKV controls the innate immune responses in cells and may pave the way to development of ZIKV-specific therapeutics.