• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.2342-2348
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• 2014

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) were grafted to both ends of Pluronic$^{(R)}$ F68 ($(EO)_{75}(PO)_{30}(EO)_{75}$) triblock copolymer to produce poly{(lactic acid)$_m$-co-(glycolic acid)$_n$}-b-poly(ethylene oxide)$_{75}$-b-poly(propylene oxide)$_{30}$-b-poly(ethylene oxide)$_{75}$-b-poly{(lactic acid)$_m$-co-(glycolic acid)$_n$} (PLGA-F68-PLGA) pentablock copolymers. Molecular weights of PLGA blocks were controlled and five kinds of pentablock copolymers with different PLGA block lengths were synthesized using in-situ ring-opening polymerization of D,L-lactide and glycolide with tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate ($Sn(Oct)_2$) catalyst. PLGA-F68-PLGA pentablock copolymers were characterized by $^1H$- and $^{13}C$-NMR, GPC, and TGA. The numbers (2m, 2n) of repeating units for lactic acid and glycolic acid inside PLGA segments were obtained as (48, 17), (90, 23), (125, 40), (180, 59), and (246, 64), with $^1H$-NMR measurement. From NMR data, the resultant molecular weights were determined in the range of 12,700-29,700, which were similar to those obtained from GPC. Polydispersity index was increased in the range of 1.32-1.91 as the content of PLGA blocks increased. TG and DTG thermograms showed discrete degradation traces for PLGA and F68 blocks, which indicate the weight fractions of PLGA blocks in pentablock copolymers can be calculated by TG profile and it is possible to remove PLGA block selectively. Hydrodynamic radius and radius of gyration of pentablock copolymer micelle were obtained in the range of 46-68 nm and 31-49 nm, respectively, in very dilute (i.e. 0.005 wt %) aqueous solution of THF:$H_2O$ = 10:90 by volume at $25^{\circ}C$.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.213-221
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• 2011

Using poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) as a polymer host, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as a plasticizer, potassium iodide and iodine as sources of $I^-/I_3^-$, polymer electrolyte membranes were prepared. Based on the polymer electrolytes, solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC)s were fabricated. The content of PEG in the electrolyte was controlled to be 95%. The mole number of KI per 1 mole of EO ([KI]/[EO] ratio) in the electrolyte was changed to be 0.022, 0.044, 0.066 and 0.088. The electrolyte membrane showed wax phase in ambient temperature. The ionic conductivity increased with increasing KI content to reach the maximum value at which [KI]/[EO] ratio is 0.066. After the maximum value, the ionic conductivity decreased with increasing KI content. In the case of DSSC, the Voc decreased continuously with increasing KI content in the polymeric electrolyte membrane. The $J_{SC}$ increased with increasing KI content to show maximum value at which [KI]/[EO] ratio is 0.044. In the higher KI content region, $J_{SC}$ value decreased with increasing KI content.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.249-249
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• 2006

We have prepared an amphiphilic wedge-coil molecule consisting of a hydrophobic wedge-like segment and a hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) segment. The wedge-coil block molecule self-assembles into cylindrical nanofibers in both polar as well as nonpolar solvents. Remarkably, the resulting nanofibers, as solvent polarity change from water to n-hexane, change from highly flexible coil-like to stiff rod-like characteristics. This dynamic switching in the stiffness of the nanofibers in response to solvent polarity is attributed to the structural inversion of cylindrical core from bulky dendritic segments with amorphous nature to crystallizable linear PEO segments.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.273-273
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• 2006

The encapsulation of volatile organic electrolytes is a major challenge in practical applications of the DSSC. Ionic liquid (IL) within polymer electrolytes is an attractive candidate for replacement. Here we used a low viscosity ionic liquid 1-ethyl 3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate in order to modify ionic conductivity (${\sigma}$) of polymer electrolyte ($PEO:Kl/l_{2}$) and hence DSSC efficiency. The doping of IL enhanced ${\sigma}$ and attained maximum (${\sigma}=7.62{\times}10^{-4}S/cm$) at 80 wt% of IL concentration. Beyond this it was harder to get stable films. XRD confirmed that the intensity of the sharp PEO crystalline peaks decreased when IL was added. The DSC studies confirmed the reduction in crystallinity by adding ionic liquid.The efficiency of solar cell using aforesaid material was 0.6 % at 1 sun irradiation.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.46-54
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• 1995

An electrochromic(EC) cell was constructed using $WO_3$ as a electrochromic material and NiO as a counter electrode, deposited onto ITO-coated glass by the implementation of electron beam evaporation. The electrolytic media were both lithium and proton conducting polymers such as poly-acrylonitrile(PAN)-$LiClO_4$, poly-ethylene oxide(PEO)-$LiClO_4$, poly-vinyl butyral(PVB)-LiCl and PVB-H$_3$$PO_4$. Potentiodynamic cycling of the cells using PAN-$LiClO_4$, or PVB-$H_3$$PO_4$ electrolyte yielded a transmission variation of more than 40% at the wavelength of 632.8 nm within less than 10 sec response time at room temperature. These results indicate that these electrolytes, transparent in gel type, are premising for the application in large area electrochromic windows.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.324-329
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• 1997

AB-type amphiphilic copolymers (abbreviated as LE) composed of poly (L-leucine) (PLL) as the A component and poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) as the B component were synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization of L-leucine N-carboxy-anhydride initiated by methoxy polyoxyethylene amine $(Me-PEO-NH_2)$ and characterized. Core-shell type nanoparticles were prepared by the diafiltration method. Particle size distribution obtained by dynamic light scattering was dependent on PLL composition and the size for LE-1, LE-2 and LE-3 was $369.6{\pm}267$, $523.4{\pm}410$ and $561.2{\pm}364 nm$, respectively. Shapes of the nanoparticies observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) were almostly spherical. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the nanoparticles determined by a fluorescence probe technique was dependent on the composition of hydrophobic PLL, and the CMC for LE-1, LE-2 and LE-3 was $2.0{\times}10^{-6},1.7{\times}10^{-6}$ and $1.5{\times}10^{-6}(mol/l) $, respectively. Clonazepam release from core-shell type nanoparticles in vitro was dependent on PLL composition and drug loading content.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.193-203
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• 1999

In order to investigate systematically the steady shear flow properties of aqueous po1y(ethylene oxide) (PEO) solutions having various molecular weights and concentrations, the steady flow viscosity has been measured with a Rheometrics Fluids Spectrometer (RFS II) over a wide range of shear rates. The effects of shear rate, concentration, and molecular weight on the steady shear flow properties were reported in detail from the experimentally measured data, and then the results were interpreted using the concept of a material characteristic time. In addition, some flow models describing the non-Newtonian behavior (shear-thinning characteristics) of polymeric liquids were employed to make a quantitative evaluation of the steady flow behavior, and the applicability of these models was examined by calculating the various material parameters. Main results obtained from this study can be summarized as follows: (1) At low shear rates, aqueous PEO solutions show a Newtonian viscous behavior which is independent of shear rate. At shear rate region higher than a critical shear rate, however, they exhibit a shear-thinning behavior, demonstrating a decrease in steady flow viscosity with increasing shear rate. (2) As an increase in concentration and/or molecular weight, the zero-shear viscosity is increased while the Newtonian viscous region becomes narrower. Moreover, the critical shear rate at which the transition from the Newtonian to shear-thinning behavior occurs is decreased, and the shear-thinning nature becomes more remarkable. (3) Aqueous PEO solutions show a Newtonian viscous behavior at shear rate range lower than the inverse value of a characteristic time $1/{\lambda}_E$, while they exhibit a shear-thinning behavior at shear rate range higher than $1/{\lambda}_E$. For aqueous PEO solutions having a broad molecular weight distribution, the inverse value of a characteristic time is not quantitatively equivalent to the critical shear rate, but the power-law relationship holds between the two quantities. (4) The Cross, Carreau, and Carreau-Yasuda models are all applicable to describe the steady flow behavior of aqueous PEO solutions. Among these models, the Carreau-Yasuda model has the best validity.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.496-502
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• 2015

Facilitated transport is one of the possible solutions to simultaneously improve permeability and selectivity, which is challenging in conventional polymer-based membranes. Olefin/paraffin separation using facilitated transport membrane has received much attention as an alternative solution to the conventional distillation process. Herein, we report olefin separation composite membranes based on the polymer blends containing $AgBF_4/Al(NO_3)_3$ mixed salts. Free radical polymerization process was used to synthesize an amphiphilic graft copolymer of poly(dimethyl siloxane)-graft- poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PDMS-g-POEM). In addition, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) was introduced to the PDMS-g-POEM graft copolymer to form polymer blends with various ratios. The propylene/propane mixed-gas selectivity and permeance reached up to 5.6 and 10.05 GPU, respectively, when the PEO loading was 70 wt% in polymer blend. The improvement of olefin separation performance was attributed to the olefin facilitating silver ions as well as the highly permeable blend matrix. The stabilization of silver ions in the composite membrane was achieved through the introduction of $Al(NO_3)_3$ which suppressed the reduction of silver ions to silver particles.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2001

The aggregation behavior of nystatin (NYS) in the presence of pluronic F127, triblock copolymer of poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly (propylene oxide) (PPO), was measured and correlated with hemolytic activity. Antifungal activity was also studied using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model strain. The critical aggregation concentrations (CAC) of the drug were 50.1, 108.0, 134.2, 154.3, and $217.9\;{\mu}M$ at 0.1%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0% pluronic F127 solution, respectively. The levels of NYS required to start lysis of erythrocytes were about 80, 100, 125, 150, and $200\;{\mu}M$ at 0.1%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0% pluronic F127 solution, respectively. It was $50\;{\mu}M$ in the absence of the polymer. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) of NYS-pluronic F127 lyophilizate were same at $3\;{\mu}g/ml$, while MIC and MFC of pure NYS are $3\;{\mu}g/ml$ and $12\;{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. By modulating the aggregation behavior of NYS, pluronic F127 was able to reduce the toxicity of the drug without compromising the MIC and MFC.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2006

Papers were prepared from cut cocoons and mulberry branches, which are byproducts from sericulture industry. The long filament of silk should be cut into appropriate length in order to prepare paper and this was achieved by chemical method. By a mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate solution, the silk filaments were cut into short fibers (less than 1 mm in length). Since the short silk fibers (sSf) could not bind each other by itself, starch and poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO) were added as a bonding agent. When starch and PEO were used in a ratio of 3:7, the silk papers had optimum mechanical properties for paper. Fibers from the skin of mulberry branches (MBF) were added to sSf to enhance the mechanical properties of pure silk paper. Bleaching of MBF was performed with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and sodium silicate. The mechanical properties were greatly enhanced and the optimum blend ratio of MBF and sSf were 7:3. The mulberry/silk paper has good absorption property against formaldehyde, and therefore, the paper could be applied as a wall paper for preventing the sick house syndrome.