Papers by Author: Kwon Yong Lee

Abstract: Polymeric calcium phosphate cements (PCPC) derived from biodegradable poly-g-glutamic acid (g-PGA) were prepared in an attempt to improve the mechanical strength of calcium phosphate cement (CPC). The characteristics of the PCPCs were compared to those of cement incorporated with citric acid. The diametral tensile and compressive strengths of the CPC incorporated with g-PGA were significantly higher than that of cement incorporated with citric acid at equivalent concentrations (p<0.05). The maximal diametral tensile and compressive strengths of the CPC incubated for 1 week in physiological saline solution were approximately 18.0 and 50.0 MPa, respectively. However, the initial setting time of the PCPC was much slower than that of CPC incorporated with citric acid. The formation of ionic complexes between calcium ions and g-PGA was observed using FT-IR spectroscopy. Hydroxyapatite (HA) formation was retarded by g-PGA incorporation according to scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) observations.

Abstract: The sliding wear of four different compositions of novel low temperature degradation-free zirconia/alumina (LTD-free Z/A) composites were characterized in a ceramicceramic point contact pair. The wear tests were performed by a pin-on-disk type wear tester in a linear reciprocal sliding motion with a point contact in both dry and bovine serum lubricated conditions at room temperature. For the dry sliding wear tests, AZ-2 (20 vol% (Y,Nb,Ce)-TZP/ 80 vol% Al2O3) showed the best wear resistance among four kinds of LTD-free Z/A composites. For the bovine serum lubricated sliding wear tests, wear was too little to be measured for all kinds of Z/A composites. These novel LTD-free Z/A composites having excellent wear resistance demonstrated a potential as the alternative materials for the ceramic- ceramic contact pairs of femoral head and acetabular liner in total hip replacement.

Abstract: The sliding wear behaviors of three different compositions of novel low temperature degradation-free zirconia/alumina (LTD-free Z/A) composites were examined in a ceramicceramic contact pair. The wear tests were performed by using a pin-on-disk type wear tester in a linear reciprocal sliding motion with a line contact in both dry and bovine serum lubricated conditions at room temperature. From the results of dry sliding wear tests, Z/A#1 ((5.3Y,4.6Nb)-TZP/80 vol% Al2O3) showed the best wear resistance among three kinds of LTD-free Z/A composites. For the bovine serum lubricated sliding wear tests, wear was too little to be measured for all kinds of Z/A composites. These novel LTD-free Z/A composites having excellent wear resistance demonstrated a potential as the alternative materials for the ceramicceramic contact pairs of femoral head and acetabular liner in total hip replacement.

Abstract: The potential protective roles played by green tea compounds (GTPCs) against reactive oxygen species-induced oxidative stress in cultured fetal human dermal fibroblasts (fHDFs) were investigated according to cell viability measurement methods, such as fluorescence double staining followed by flow cytometry (FCM), MTT assay and crystal violet uptake. Oxidative stress was induced in the fHDFs, either by adding 50 mM H2O2 or by the action of 40 U/L xanthine oxidase (XO) in the presence of xanthine (250 µM). FCM analysis was the most suitable to show that both treatments produced a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the fHDF viability, attributed to its high sensitivity. On the microscopic observations, the cell death with necrotic morphology was appreciably induced by both treatments. These oxidative stress-induced damages were significantly (p < 0.05) prevented by pre-incubating the fHDFs with 200 µg/ml GTPC for 1 h. These results suggest that GTPC can act as a biological antioxidant in a cell culture experimental model and prevent oxidative stress-induced cytotoxicity in cells.

Abstract: In this study, the wear characteristics of five different dental composite resins cured by conventional halogen light and LED light sources were investigated. Five different dental composite resins of Surefil, Z100, Dyract AP, Fuji II LC and Compoglass were worn against a zirconia ceramic ball using a pin-on-disk type wear tester with 15 N contact force in a reciprocal sliding motion of sliding distance of 10 mm/cycle at 1Hz under the room temperature dry condition. The wear variations of dental composite resins were linearly increased as the number of cycles increased. It was observed that the wear resistances of these specimens were in the order of Dyract AP > Surefil > Compoglass > Z100 > Fuji ı LC. On the morphological observations by SEM, the large crack formation on the sliding track of Fuji ıLC specimen was the greatest among all resin composites. Dyract AP showed less wear with few surface damage. There is no significant difference in wear performance between conventional halogen light curing and light emitting diodes curing sources. It indicates that a light emitting diodes (LED) source can replace a halogen light source as curing unit for composite resin restorations.

Abstract: The sliding wear behavior of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) was examined on a novel low temperature degradation-free zirconia/alumina composite material and on the conventional ceramics (alumina and zirconia) used for a femoral head in total hip joint replacement. The wear of UHMWPE pins against these ceramic disks was evaluated by performing linear reciprocal sliding and repeat pass rotational sliding tests for one million cycles in a bovine serum. The weight loss of polyethylene against the novel low temperature degradation-free zirconia/alumina composite disks was much less than conventional ceramics for all tests. The mean weight loss of the polyethylene pins was more in the linear reciprocal sliding test than in the repeat pass rotational sliding test for all kinds of disk materials. Neither the coherent transfer film nor the surface damage was observed on the surface of the novel zirconia/alumina composite disks during the test. In conclusion, the novel zirconia/alumina composite leads the least wear of polyethylene among the tested ceramics and demonstrates the potential as the alternative materials for femoral head in total hip joint replacement.

Abstract: We have first fabricated porous-coated Ti alloy dental implants with a wide range of porosity by electro-discharging-sintering of spherical Ti-6Al-4V powders. The basic physical properties of EDS implants have been evaluated. The dependence of mechanical properties of each kind of implant such as micro-hardness and compressive strength has been also analyzed. The solid core and neck sizes between powders on porous layer generally increase with both input energy and capacitance. On the other hand, the pore size decreases with both input energy and capacitance. The micro-hardness analyses at various locations such as solid core and powders on porous layer show quietly consistent values. The compressive strengths of each implant are in the range of 39 and 452 MPa which depends on the input energy. In-vivo animal experiments showed that all the implants fabricated by current method were biocompatible and support rapid and perfect osseointegration in 2 weeks.

Abstract: The purpose of present study was to evaluate the influence of different base materials on the marginal integrity of posterior direct composite resin restorations. Conventional mesio-occluso-distal(MOD) cavity preparations, with margins in enamel and dentin, were prepared in 24 extracted human mandibular molars and randomly divided into four equal groups. One of three base materials (RMGI, compomer, flowable resin) was placed on the pulpal floors of the teeth of the groups. One group of teeth, which served as the control group, was not given any base material. Then, all teeth were restored with composite resin. The micromorphology of the tooth/restoration interfaces along the entire surfaces of the restorations was quantitatively analyzed using microscope at 150 magnifications immediately after finishing and after completion of thermo-mechanical stress. Marginal adaptation was assessed along the entire margin and % perfect margin (%PM) was calculated. The %PMs before and after thermo-mechanical stress in the groups were compared with Two- way ANOVA with Tukey test at the 95% confidence level. Before thermo-mechanical stress, there was no difference in marginal adaptation between groups. After the thermo-mechanical stress, the RMGI group showed the highest marginal adaptation rate among the tested groups. In compomer and flowable resin groups, the marginal adaptation was lower after thermomechanical stresses than before the stress (p<0.05).

Abstract: The surface properties of scaffolds are important since cell affinity is the most crucial factor to be concerned when the biodegradable polymeric material is utilized as a scaffold in tissue engineering. The surface of biodegradable non-porous poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffolds were treated by atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge (APDBD). The wetting angle of APDBD treated PLGA were decreased from the untreated PLGA of 73° to 42°. FTIR-ATR analyses showed hydroxyl groups were not detected regardless of treated condition, but the intensities of both ether groups and carbonyl groups were increased with treatment time and oxygen flow rate. Treatment time and oxygen flux are equally effective to make the PLGA surface more hydrophilic.

Abstract: The sliding wear behavior of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) was examined on four different compositions of novel low temperature degradation-free zirconia/alumina (Z/A) composite material used for a femoral head in total hip joint replacement. The wear of UHMWPE pins against these Z/A composite disks were evaluated by performing the linear reciprocal sliding and repeat pass rotational sliding tests for one million cycles in a bovine serum. The novel low temperature degradation (LTD)-free tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (TZP)/alumina composite (90(5.3Y, 4.6Nb)-TZP/10Al2O3) induced the less wear amount of UHMWPE than the other Z/A composites. Linear reciprocal motion wore more the UHMWPE pin than did repeat pass rotational motion for all disk materials. It was observed that few transfer film on the sliding track of Z/A composite disks and the matching contact surfaces of pins had relatively less scratch. Getting rid of transfer film, there is no change of surface roughness on the sliding track of Z/A composite disks. This novel Z/A composite (90(5.3Y, 4.6Nb)-TZP/10 Al2O3) demonstrates the potential as an alternative material for the femoral head in total hip replacement.