Papers by Author: In Yong Kim

Abstract: Thiolated polymers have been studied by many researchers because of the mucoadhesive properties of thiol group. Alginate is a natural and biocompatible polymer that has been widely used in drug delivery. In this study, thiolated chitosan microspheres (TCMs) were prepared by ionic gelation process with tripolyphosphate and then, the bovine growth hormone (BGH) was loaded as a model drug. Finally, the BGH-loaded TCMs (BTCMs) were coated with alginate to improve the stability in gastrointestinal (GI) track. The alginate-coated BTCMs (ABTCMs) were observed as spherical shapes. The average particle sizes of ABTCMs were 6.97±0.55 -m and the sizedistribution was shown uniformly. Release of BGH from ABTCMs was decreased by coating with alginate and increased rapidly with the change in medium pH from 1.2 to 7.4. Results indicate that the ABTCMs have a potential as a drug carrier for oral drug delivery.

Abstract: The ideal dermal matrix should be able to provide the right physical and biological environment to ensure homogenous cell and extracellular matrix (ECM) distribution, as well as the biocompatible interactions with tissue. Chitosan (CS)/poloxamer semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (SIPNs) was prepared by crosslinking of poloxamer macromer in the presence of CS in order to improve its mechanical property required in skin tissue engineering application. Furthermore, we also prepared CS/poloxamer SIPNs with ShebaTM, human acellular dermis, to overcome a low biocompatibility of the CS/poloxamer SIPNs. The CS/poloxamer SIPNs/ShebaTM showed remarkably highly cell attachment and viability in the two-dimensional (2D) culture and similar cell morphology on the CS/poloxamer SIPNs/ShebaTM compared with on tissue culturing polystylene (TCPS) as a positive control. These results suggest that CS/poloxamer SIPNs containing ShebaTM have good possibility for artificial skin system application.