• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.943-949
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• 2009

A highly dispersed W/O emulsion of silicone oil (cyclomethicone)/water system was prepared with a nonionic surfactant. The surface and interfacial tension between the oil and water were characterized in terms of the droplet size distribution and viscosity change of the emulsion. When the dispersed phase concentration was relatively high, the viscosity of the emulsion was rapidly increased and the droplet size of the emulsion was decreased. The rheological behavior of the emulsion system showed non-Newtonian and shear thinning phenomena depending upon the content of the dispersed phase. The droplet size of the emulsion was decreased with increasing surfactant content and water concentration. The relative viscosity of the emulsion was better predicted with the Choi-Schowalter model than with the Taylor model. The value of the complex modulus increased with increasing surfactant concentration. The linear viscoelastic region was expanded with a dispersed phase concentration. According to the change in the viscosity, the behavior was classified into three distinct regions: [I] linear viscoelastic, [II] partially viscoelastic, and [III] viscous. The creep/recovery behaviors in each region were characterized.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2005

In the 40 years since the first benzodiazepine was brought into clinical use there has been a substantial growth in understanding the molecular basis of action of these drugs and the role of their receptors in anxiety disorders. Benzodiazepine receptors are present throughout the brain with the highest concentration in cortex, and it potentiate and prolong the synaptic action of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. Central benzodiazepine receptors and $GABA_A$ receptors are part of the same macromolecular complex. Abnormalities of these $GABA_A$-benzodiazepine receptors as a result of drug challenge tests and neuroimaging studies may underlie some anxiety disorders. The role of $GABA_A$-benzodiazepine receptors in the action of benzodiazepine and as a factor in anxiety disorder, in both animal and humans including knock-out and knock in technique, may lead to new anxiolytics that have potentially significant therapeutic gains without unwanted side effects.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.514-520
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• 2005

Composite membranes of Nafion and sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) were prepared. Sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone)s with different degrees of sulfonation were blended with Nafion to reduce the methanol crossover. The morphology, proton conductivity and methanol permeability of the resulting composite membranes were investigated by SEM, EDAX, AC impedance spectroscopy and permeability measuring instrument. The cross­sections of the composite membranes showed a phase separated morphology. The morphology and phase separation mechanism could be controlled by varying the blend ratio and the degree of sulfonation of poly(arylene ether sulfone). These complex morphologies can be applied for reducing methanol crossover. The methanol permeability and proton conductivity of the composite membranes were lower than those of Nafion 117 membrane since the development of an ionic pathway in the blend membrane was more difficult than that in Nafion itself.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.384-390
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• 2004

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been chemically modified through the formation of carboxylic acid functionalities or by grafting octadecylamine and polystyrene onto them. We purified SWNTs with nitric acid to remove some remaining catalysts and amorphous carbon materials. After purification, we broke the carbon nanotubes and shortened their lengths by using a 3:1 mixture of concentrated sulfuric acid and nitric acid. During these purification and cutting processes, carboxylic acid units formed at the open ends of the SWNTs. Octa-decylamine and amino-terminated polystyrene were grafted onto the cut SWNTs by condensation reactions between the amine and carboxylic acid units. The cut SWNTs did not disperse in organic solvents, but the octadecylamine-grafted and polystyrene-grafted SWNTs dispersed well in dichloromethane and aromatic solvents (e.g., benzene, toluene). Composites were prepared by mixing polystyrene with the octadecylamine-grafted or polystyrene-grafted SWNTs. Each composite had a higher dynamic storage modulus than that of a pristine polystyrene. The composites exhibited enhanced storage moduli, complex viscosities, and unusual non-terminal behavior when compared with a monodisperse polystyrene matrix because of the good dispersion of carbon nanotubes in the polystyrene matrix.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.250-255
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• 2003

We prepared the photorefractive sol-gel glass based on organic-inorganic hybrid materials containing a charge transporting molecule, second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophore, photosensitizer, and plasticizer. Carbazole and 2-{ 4-[(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-methyl-amino]-benzylidene}-malononitrile were reacted with isocyanato-triethoxy silane and the functionalized silanes were employed to fabricate the efficient photorefractive media induding 2,4,7-trinitrot1uorenone (TNF) to form a charge transfer complex. The prepared sol-gel glass samples showed a large net gain coefficient and high diffraction efficiency at a certain composition. As the concentration of photosensitizer increased, the photorefractive properties were enhanced due to an increment of charge carrier density. Dynamic behavior of the diffraction efficiency was also investigated with the concentration of the photosensitizer.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.682-687
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• 2009

Nanofibrous membranes of poly(D,L-lactic acid)/chitin blend were prepared by electro spinning for a barrier of guided tissue regeneration. A miscible solution was obtained by the blending chitin-salt complex into 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone solution of poly(D,L-lactic acid). The properties of the blend were examined for nanofibrous fabrication. The viscosity of the blend solution was increased significantly due to chain entanglement despite the low ratio of chitin to poly(D,L-lactic acid). An interaction between two polymeric compositions was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction detected an appreciably ordered microstructure in the nanofiber of the blend. A membrane of thinner nanofibers was fabricated by electro spinning the chitin blend. The permeability of the membranes was examined using bioactive model compounds.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.522-527
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• 2009

A photocrosslinkable polyphosphazene was used for molecular imprinting. We synthesized polyphosphazene (3) having urea groups for complexation with N-carbobenzyloxyglycin (Z-Gly-OH, template) and chalcone groups for cross-linking reaction. As substituents, 4-hydroxycha1cone (1) and N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-N'-ethylurea (2) were prepared. Choloro groups of poly(dichlorophosphazene) were replaced by the sequential treatment with sodium salts of compounds 1 and 2, and trifluoroethanol. The template molecule was complexed with the urea groups on the polymer chains via hydrogen bonding. A thin polymer film was prepared by casting a solution of the complex of polymer 3 and the template in dimethylformamide on a quartz cell and irradiated with 365 nm UV light to yield a cross-linked film with a thickness of about $16{\mu}m$. The template molecules in the film were removed by Soxhlet extraction with methanol/acetic acid. The control polymer film was prepared in the same manner for the preparation of the imprinted polymer film, except that the template and triethylamine were omitted. In the rebinding test, the imprinted film exhibited much higher recognition ability for the template than the control polymer. We also investigated the specific recognition ability of the imprinted polymer for the template and its structural analogues. The rebinding tests were conducted using Z-Glu-OH, Z-Asp($O^tBu$)-OH, and Z-Glu-OMe. The imprinted film showed higher specific recognition ability for the template and the lowest response for Z-Asp($O^tBu$)-OH.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2009

In order to enhance the gene delivery efficiency and decrease the cytotoxicity of polyplexes, we synthesized Solutol-g-PEI by conjugating polyethyleneimine (PEI) to Solutol (polyoxyethylene (10) stearate), and evaluated its efficiency as a possible nonviral gene carrier candidate. Structural analysis of synthesized polymer was performed by using $^1H$-NMR. Gel retardation assay, particle sizes and zeta potential measurement confirmed that the new gene carrier formed a compact complex with plasmid DNA. The complexes were smaller than 150 nm, which implicated its potential for intracellular delivery. It showed lower cytotoxicity in three different cell lines (Hela, MCF-7, and HepG2) than PEI 25 kDa. pGL3-lus was used as a reporter gene, and the transfection efficiency was in vitro measured in Hela cells. Solutol-g-PEI showed much higher transfection efficiency than unmodified PEI 25 kDa.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.54-61
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• 2005

We prepared temperature-sensitive liposomes (TS-liposomes) modified with a thermo sensitive polymer, such as poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm), to increase the degree of drug release from liposomes at the hyperthermic temperature. A PNIPAAm hydrogel containing TS-Iiposomes was also prepared to obtain a hydrogel complex at body temperature. In addition, a depot system for local drug delivery using the polymer hydrogel was developed to enhance therapeutic efficacy and prevent severe side effects in the whole body. The PNIPAAm-mod­ified TS-liposome was fixed into the PNIPAAm hydrogel having a high temperature-sensitivity. The release behavior of calcein, a model drug, from TS-liposomes in the PNIPAAm hydrogel was then initiated by external hyperthermia; the results indicated that sustained release as a function of temperature and time was caused by the thermosensitivity of the liposome surface and diffusion of the drug into the PNIPAAm hydrogel. Our results indicated that TS-liposomes in a PNIPAAm hydrogel represented a plausible system for local drug delivery.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.114-128
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• 2007

Polyimides are one of the most important classes of polymers used in the microelectronics and photoelectronics industries. Because of their high thermal stability, chemical resistance, and good mechanical and electric properties, polyimides are often applied in photoresists, passivation and dielectric films, soft print circuit boards, and alignment films within displays. Recently, fully aliphatic and alicyclic polyimides have found applications as optoelectronics and inter layer dielectric materials, due to their good transparencies and low dielectric constants $(\varepsilon)$. The low molecular density, polarity and rare probability of forming inter- or intra-molecular charge transfers, resulting in lowering of the dielectric constant and high transparency, are the most striking characteristics of aliphatic polyimide. However, the ultimate end use of polyimides derived from aliphatic monomers is in their targeted applications that need less stringent thermal requirements. Much research effort has been exerted in the development of aliphatic polyimide with increased thermal and mechanical stabilities, while maintaining their transparencies and low dielectric constants, by the incorporation of rigid moieties. In this article, the recent research process in synthesizing fully aliphatic polyimides, with improved dimensional stability, high transparency and low $\delta$values, as well as the characterizations and future scope for their application in micro electric and photo-electronic industries, is reviewed.