• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.173-181
• /
• 2003

A polymeric micelle drug delivery system was developed to enhance the solubility of poorly-water soluble drug, biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate, DDB. The block copolymers consisting of poly(D,L-lactide) (PLA) as the hydrophobic segment and methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG) as the hydrophilic segment were synthesized and characterized by NMR, DSC and MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy. The size of the polymeric micelles measured by dynamic light scattering showed a narrow monodisperse size distribution with the average diameter less than 50 nm. The MW of mPEG-PLA, 3000 (MW of mPEG, 2 K; MW of PLA, 1K), and the presence of hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments on the polymeric micelles were confirmed by MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy and NMR, respectively. Polymeric micelle solutions of DDB were prepared by three different methods, i.e. the matrix method, emulsion method and dialysis method. In the matrix method, DDB solubility was reached to 13.29 mg/mL. The mPEG-PLA 2K-1K micelle system was compared with the poloxamer 407 micelle system for their critical micelle concentration, micelle size, solubilizing capacity, stability in dilution and physical state. DDB loaded-polymeric micelles prepared by the matrix method showed a significantly increased aqueous solubility (＞5000 fold over intrinsic solubility) and were found to be superior to the poloxamer 407 micelles as a drug carrier.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.143-149
• /
• 2008

We synthesized PEG-PLA (or PLGA) amphiphilic di-block copolymers, which consist of PEG as biocompatible and hydrophilic block and PLA (or PLGA) as biodegradable and hydrophobic block, by ring opening polymerization of LA in the presence of methoxy PEG as a macroinitiator. The compositions and the molecular weights of the copolymers were controlled by changing the feed ratio of LA (and GA) to PEG initiator. The di-block copolymers could self-assemble in aqueous media to form micellar structure. A hydrophobic model drug, pioglitazone, was loaded into the polymer micelle using solid dispersion and dialysis methods, and the drug-loaded micelles were characterized by AFM, DLS and HPLC measurements. The drug loading capacity and in vitro release studies were performed and evaluated under various conditions. These results indicated that the amphiphilic di-block copolymers of PEG-PLA (or PLGA) could solubilize pioglitazone by solid dispersion method and the drug release was modulated according to micellar chemical compositions.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.157-163
• /
• 2022

The demands for Home Meal Replacement (HMR) products are continuously increasing owing to the convenience of instant food and online food delivery. Ready-to-heat (RTH) products have received massive attention in the HMR industry because these products can be easily warmed using a microwave oven. However, the conventional microwave packaging should be opened before microwave heating to prevent bursting or food loss owing to the steam-pressure build-up inside the package. Open packaging might lead to non-uniform food heating and cross-contamination. Therefore, packaging materials that are able to release steam without opening are of interest to the HMR industry. In this study, polylactic acid(PLA)/polyethylene glycol(PEG)/nanoclay composite films were manufactured using an extrusion method as packaging materials with a smart steam-releasing function. The introduction of PEG to the PLA imparted a steam self-releasing feature to the composite films owing to the morphology change of composite films during microwave heating. Further, PEG increased the ductility of PLA, which in turn prevented bursting caused due to the steam-pressure build-up. The uniform dispersion of nanoclay obtained by a twin-screw extrusion led to stronger mechanical properties. Therefore, the smart composite films developed here can be applied as microwave packaging materials with a self-releasing function.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.77-84
• /
• 2014

Biodegradable nanocomposites were fabricated with poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and Nanomer$^{(R)}$ I.44P using ultrasonication (US). Processing conditions were optimized to obtain the maximum tensile properties of the nanocomposites. Poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) was used as a plasticizer to avoid the brittleness of nanocompsoties. In order to disperse nanoclay into the PLA matrix, PEG and Nanomer$^{(R)}$ I.44P were firstly mixed and dispersed in the chloroform and followed by ultrasonication for 1 min With 10% PEG 400, tensile stress and Young's modulus of the nanocomposites decreased from 53.5 MPa and 2225 MPa to 37.0 MPa and 1757 MPa, respectively, while the elongation was increased from 4% to 21%. Tensile stress, Young's modulus, and elongation of nanocomposites were also increased with nanoclay concentration up to 2% (w/w) and were decreased with further increase in the nanoclay concentration. Transmittance of nanocomposites were significantly decreased from 62.5% for pure PLA film to 7.8% for 5% nanoclay containing nanocomposites. Water vapor permeability of the nanocomposites was also significantly decreased with nanoclay concentration and the minimum WVP of $3.5{\times}10^{-11}g{\cdot}m/m^2{\cdot}s{\cdot}Pa$ was obtained with 5% (w/w) nanoclay concentration. The PLA/Nanomer$^{(R)}$ I.44P nanocomposites showed a great potential as a environmental friendly food packaging material.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.469-476
• /
• 2009

In this study, biodegradable superporous hydrogels(SPHs) with fast swelling and superabsorbent properties were prepared using biodegradable crosslinkers and their physicochemical properties were characterized. A biodegradable crosslinker (PLA-PEG-PLA DA) was synthesized by a ring opening polymerization of D,L-lactide (LA) using hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) as a macroinitiator, followed by diacrylation of the end groups for the introduction of polymerizable vinyl groups. Various kinds of hydrogels with different chemical compositions were prepared and characterized in terms of swelling ratio, swelling kinetics, and biodegradation properties. The synthetic results were confirmed by $^1H$-NMR, FT-IR and GPC measurements, and the porous structures of the prepared SPHs and their porosities were identified by a scanning electron microscope and mercury porosimetry, respectively. The physicochemical properties of SPHs could be controlled by varying their chemical compositions and their cytotoxicity were found to be very low by MTT assay.