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Kilwon Cho

Publications and source records attributed to Kilwon Cho.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase can form pore-like structures.

Mutations in Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) are associated with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS), a neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by the selective death of motor neurons. Despite the genetic association made between the protein and the disease, the mechanism by which the mutant SOD proteins become toxic is still a mystery. Using wild-type SOD and three pathogenic mutants (A4V, G37R, and G85R), we show that the copper-induced oxidation of metal-depleted SOD causes its in vitro aggregation into pore-like structures, as determined by atomic force microscopy. Because toxic pores have been recently implicated in the pathogenic mechanism of other neurodegenerative diseases, these results raise the possibility that the aberrant self-assembly of oxidatively damaged SOD mutants into toxic oligomers or pores may have a pathological role in FALS.

Copper↗
PubMed2003

Effects of crystalline microstructure on drug release behavior of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) microspheres.

This study investigates the release behavior of papaverine from poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) microparticles prepared by the oil/water solvent evaporation method. Microparticles were characterized in terms of crystalline morphology, size, drug loading, and encapsulation efficiency by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV spectrometry. The release behavior of papaverine was governed by the microstructure of PCL microparticles, suggesting that the environment for diffusion changes according to processing conditions such as polymer solution concentration, thermal history, and polymer molecular weight. As the PCL solution concentration increased, the drug release behavior showed a more sustained pattern. This result indicates that the size of the PCL microparticles is a determining factor for drug release. And when higher PCL molecular weight is used for preparation of microparticles, it led to a rapid release. Furthermore, a more delayed pattern of drug release profile was obtained in the sample prepared with higher thermal treatment. These results suggest that the crystalline microstructure of PCL microparticles plays an important role in its drug release behavior.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning↗
PubMed2003

Single-step in situ synthesis of polymer-grafted single-wall nanotube composites.

An in situ composite synthesis technique has been developed by grafting polystyrene chains onto single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) via a single-step debundling/polymerization scheme. The method, based on established anionic polymerization techniques, eliminates the need for nanotube pretreatment prior to functionalization and allows attachment of polymer molecules to pristine tubes without altering their original structure. The composites obtained contain well-dispersed SWNTs with good nanotube-matrix interaction. The scheme is quite general in nature and can be applied to different polymer systems. The simplicity and scalability of the process can lead to the realization of superior nanotube-based polymer composites for applications as advanced multifunctional structural materials.

Journal Article↗