13^th International Conference on Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology October 26-28, 2017 Osaka, Japan

Francisco Veiga has completed his PhD at the age of 30 years from Coimbra University. He is the dean of Faculty of Pharmacy in the University of Coimbra. He has published more than 200 papers in reputed journals.

Purpose: The aim of this work was to demonstrate the advantages of using polymeric mixed micelles (Pluronic® F68 and P123) to encapsulate meloxicam, when compared to meloxicam alone, and to characterize these micelles. Methods: Morphology was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). 5 µl of freshly prepared micellar dispersions were placed on Formvar and allowed to dry for 5 min. To unveil the usefulness of such formulations concerning physical stability, formulations FM1-FM5 and meloxicam were dissolved in enteric and gastric medium. After 1 and 2 h we quantified meloxicam in gastric medium and after 3 and 4 h we quantified meloxicam in enteric medium. Quantification was performed using an UV spectrophotometer and absorbance taken at 363 nm. To determine encapsulation efficiency, FM1-FM5 were quantified immediately after preparation. Later on, micellar suspensions were centrifuged at 3000 g for 15 min using Amicon® Ultra 4 Centrifugal filter units, the supernatant was quantified and EE calculated based on the following equation: . Finally, cytotoxicity of formulations was assessed in Caco-2 cells by Alamar Blue assay, performing a screening of crescent concentrations (0.625%, 1.25%, 2.5%, 5% and 10 %) for each formulation. Results: Micelles were found to present very small sizes and approximately spherical shape, with meloxicam forming a circular line near to the micelle´s surface (Figure 2). All formulations significantly increased meloxicam physical stability in enteric medium (meloxicam: 3h 62.563%, 4h 35.890; FM1, FM2, FM3, FM4, FM5: 100%) In gastric medium, despite of FM2 and FM3 showed the best results (meloxicam: 1h 1.59%, 2h 1.54%; FM2: 1h 80.339%, 2h 66.281%; FM3: 1h 75.397%, 2h 61.260), all the other formulations showed a significant increase on stability. With the exception of FM1, all formulations demonstrate high EE % (FM1: 35.544±3.919, FM2: 93.162±1.071, FM3: 90.663±1.805, FM4: 89.840±1.991, FM5: 86.607±2.134). Finally, FM3 revealed no cytotoxicity in concentrations ranging from 0.625 to 5% and FM2 revealed no cytotoxicity in concentrations ranging from 0.625 to 2.5%. Conclusions: FM2 and FM3 seem to be promising formulations to efficiently encapsulate drugs with low water solubility, as meloxicam.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor with poor prognosis, mainly because standard treatment is not always effective enough in reaching tumor cells. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) is pointed out as one of great challenges in this field. [1] Considering the negative charge of BBB surface and its restricted permeability to small compounds, positively-charged nanoparticles have been developed to facilitate the transport of drugs through the BBB. [2] This work aimed at studying the interaction of different cationic surfactants used in lipid nanoparticle (LN) formulations with BBB, using atomistic simulations. Surfactants incorporating natural structural motifs, specifically serine, were chosen instead of the conventional synthetic surfactants, due to the lower cytotoxicity and higher biodegradability, thus being environmentally friendly.[2] Molecular dynamics simulations were performed on 4 systems containing different serine-based surfactants, two of them monomeric (16SerTFA and 12SerTFA) and the other two dimeric ((12ser)2CON12 and (12ser)2N5), in a fully hydrated palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC) lipid model, intended to mimic cell membranes of both the BBB and tumor. The systems were evaluated in terms of effects induced by the surfactants in this type of membranes and rationalize the interactions at molecular level. The results showed an integration of all surfactants into the POPC membrane. Longer chain length surfactants tended to induce the highest membrane stabilization, as evidenced by 16serTFA. Conversely, the dimeric (12ser)2CON12 led to the greater disturbance in the membrane structure, probably due to bridging phenomena. This may antecipate a better BBB cross ability of LN containing (12ser)2CON12. Overall, this computational study suggests the viability of cationic serine-based surfactants as appealing compounds in LN formulations for targeted GBM therapy

Chao-Liang Wu is a Distinguished Professor of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Taiwan. He received his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from University of Edinburgh in 1993. His expertise is in the areas of translational medicine, animal models, gene therapy, and nanotechnology. He has published more than 100 papers in peer-reviewed internaitonal journals.

We synthesized cationic, one-dimensional fibril assemblies formed from coil-sheet poly(L-lysine)-block-poly(L-threonine) (PLL-b-PLT) block copolypeptides as anticancer agents. The 1D fibril assemblies can efficiently interact with negatively charged cellular and mitochondrial membranes via electrostatic interactions, leading to cell necrosis through membrane lysis and apoptosis via the lytic effect of mitochondria. This effect is similar to that of one-dimensional drug carriers that exhibit enhanced cell penetration. Compared to free PLL chains, PLL-b-PLT fibril assemblies exhibited more selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells, lower hemolytic activity, higher membranolytic activity, and a different apoptotic pathway, which may be due to differences in the peptide-membrane interactions. The fibril assemblies significantly inhibited tumor growth, improved survival, and suppressed tumor metastasis to the lung in C57BL/6 mice bearing syngeneic LL2 lung tumors. An additive antitumor activity was also observed when the tumor bearing mice were treated with PLL-b-PLT in combination with the common chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin. Collectively, these results support the feasibility of using one-dimensional fibril assemblies as potential anticancer therapeutics.

Ai-Li Shiau is a Distinguished Professor of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Taiwan. She currently suerves as Head of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, NCKU. She received her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from University of Edinburgh in 1993. She has expertise in viral vectors for gene therapy and vaccine applications. She has published more than 100 papers in peer-rev iewed internaitonal journals.

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease, characterized by abnormal differentiation and proliferation of keratinocytes, angiogenesis, and infiltration of inflammatory cells that secrete Th1- and Th17-associated cytokines in the skin lesion, such as TNF-α, IL-17, and IL-20. Although mRNAs that encode cytokines are short-lived mRNAs in eukaryotes, the pre-mRNAs, which contain AU-rich elements (AREs) in their 3’-untranslated regions, are recognized and stabilized by human antigen R (HuR), an RNA-binding protein, for post-transcription. Previous studies have suggested that HuR is involved in the stabilization of mRNAs in the psoriatic skin. HuR binds to and regulates IL-20 mRNA and relocalizes to the cytoplasm of psoriatic keratinocytes. Furthermore, HuR can bind numerous transcripts involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Therefore, HuR may be a potential therapeutic target for psoriasis. In the present study, we tested several novel oligopeptides that targeted the RNA binding site of HuR as therapeutic agents for psoriasis. A mouse model of imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis was generated in BALB/c mice by daily topical application of IMQ cream on the ear from days 0 to 9. The mice were treated with oligopeptides from days 5 to 10. The pathological features of psoriasis were scored daily using the thickness gauge and clinical Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). We found that the oligopeptide JS-1 could significantly ameliorate psoriasis pathogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. The oligopeptide affected the HuR downstream signaling pathway. Collectively, this study may provide an alternative therapeutic strategy for psoriasis.

Graphene is a highly exible 2D material that can easily bend and fold. This mechanical exibility allows us to build various graphene-based structures such as carbon nanotubes and nano-origami shapes. The Mobius band, a nonorientable one-sided surface constructed by twisting a rectangular strip by 180 degrees and joining the ends, is a theoretically possible graphene-based structure but has not yet been observed in the laboratory. We use molecular dynamics to determine the equilibrium shapes and mechanical energies of Mobius bands made of monolayer graphene nanoribbons with armchair and zigzag edges. Our results show resemblance to continuum Mobius bands regardless of the discrete nature of the lattice structure and associated edge types. From the structural stability and energetics views, we discuss the feasibility of fabricating nanoscale graphene Mobius bands.

Prabhat Kumar Rai is pursuing his PhD from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. He has completed his M.Tech from Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University) Varanasi. He has published three papers in reputed journals.

Harmonic structured materials consist of a bimodal structure with a periodic or harmonic distribution of fine and coarse grains allowing optimum combination of high strength and ductility to be attained. Harmonic structured materials have potential in variety of applications, where high wear and corrosion resistance are required. Therefore, effect of harmonically distributed fine and coarse grains on the corrosion and wear behavior of a SUS304L austenitic stainless steel was studied and compared with a non-harmonic structured SUS304L and a conventional 304 stainless steel. The corrosion study was performed using linear, potentiodynamic, and cyclic polarization techniques as well as salt fog exposure test for 30 days in 3.5% NaCl solution. Improved pitting corrosion resistance was found in case of the harmonic structured steel as compared to that of the non-harmonic and the conventional 304 stainless steel. Harmonically distributed fine grained structure, less porosity and higher fraction of passive α-FeOOH are attributed to the improvement in corrosion resistance of the harmonic structured steel. The wear study was performed using fretting wear tests at varying loads under ball-on-flat contact configuration. Coefficient of friction and wear volume were found to be minimum at intermediate normal load of 5N, whereas maximum at 10N in case of the harmonic stainless steel compared to other two steels. Harmonically distributed fine grained structure attributes to the higher wear rate of the harmonic structured steel because of hard and soft interaction of the ball with the harmonically distributed fine and coarse grains.

We are looking forward to the simple but strong method to enhance a sensitivity and responsibility of graphene oxide (GO) by forming a self-corrugated surface of GO. The self-corrugated surface was formed by the reaction of graphene oxide with Gallium chloride. The surface of GO is more corrugated with the concentration of Gallium hydroxide during the dry of GO powder. The graphene oxide structure was distorted due to the three hydroxyl groups of Gallium hydroxide. The properties of wrinkled GO was investigated by scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and atomic force microscope, respectively. This self-corrugated GO have superior advantages over normal GO for a higher sensitivity and responsibility for sensor applications.

Heejun Kweon has got her Bachelor degree in Envorinment & Energy engineering at Gachon University with excellent grade. She is now in combined course of Master and Ph. D at Department of chemical and biomolecular engineering in Yonsei University. Her research interest is synthesis and analysis of electrocatalytic materials for Li-air battery system.

Recently, Li-O2 batteries have emerged as advantageous energy storage device, due to their extremely high theoretical energy density compared to commercial Li-ion batteries. The oxygen electrode has been identified as a key factor influencing the overall performance of Li-O2 batteries. During discharging, oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) occurs and insoluble discharge product Li2O2 is formed as a product on the electrode. The insoluble and insulating discharge product becomes decomposed during charge through the reverse reaction, oxygen evolution reaction (OER). As charging and discharging processes are repeated, it is important to control the deposition and decomposition of Li2O2 efficiently for improvement in Li-O2 battery performance in aspects of increased capacity and cycle stability. In this regard, many researches have been conducted for promoting ORR and OER in Li-O2 battery which is highly related to Li2O2 formation and decomposition, respectively. Herein, we present the polydopamine(PDA)-derived nitrogen-doped graphitic carbon nanocage (CNC) for a bifunctional oxygen electrode in Li-O2 battery. Nitrogen was successfully and uniformly doped on graphitic CNC by utilizing adhesive property of PDA which also contains high concentration of amine group itself and subsequent heat treatment. The doped nitrogen content and heat treatment temperature were optimized in order to maximize the nitrogen doping effect. Various physical and electrochemical characteristics were investigated as an oxygen electrode in Li-O2 battery. As a result, the PDA-derived nitrogen-doped CNC improved the performance of Li-O2 batteries in terms of increased capacity, promoted rate capability and extended cycle life.

Chaemyeong Lee graduated from the Department of biology of Chonnam National University in 2008. She received in 2015 MS degree in Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Yonsei University. She is a PhD candidate in the same university. Her main research interests are Colloid, Self-assembly nano moleculars, surface modification.

As a facile way to organize the amino acids in an ordered structure, self-assembly of amphiphilic molecules with amino acid motifs is very attractive. Here we utilized the arrangement of amino acid segments of the amphiphilic molecules for the preparation of an enzyme-mimetic catalyst. Use of the amino acid as a hydrophilic segment of an amphiphilic molecule would lead the ordered arrangement of the amino acid on the surface of the assembled structure. To exploit this molecular arrangement we synthesized cysteinly bolaamphiphiled and dissolved them in water to induce self-assembly. The assembled structure was combined with hemin, a biological cofactor, to implement oxidative catalytic activity like the horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The prepared HRP-mimetic catalyst acts as a radical initiator together with hydrogen peroxide to promote the oxidation of the substrate. The performance of the catalyst was examined by the oxidation reaction of Acid Orange 7 (AO7), a well-known organic dye. The catalytic activity was analyzed from the color change of AO7. The self-assembled structure of cysteinyl bolaamphiphiles offered a protein-like platform on which various biological cofactors can be bind to display biochemical activities.

Young Hwan Park has achieved his PhD from Fiber and Polymer Science Program, North Carolina State University, North Carolina, USA in 1986. He is a professor of Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea, in the Department of Biosystems and Biomaterials Science and Engineering. He has published more than 100 papers in SCI journals and about 20 patents in the field of silk-based biomaterials.

In this study, various mesoporous copper oxide (CuO) nanostructured particles were synthesized by a simple wet chemical process using silk fibroin (SF) template. CuO nanoparticles were prepared with cupric acetate monohydrate, various amount of 1 wt% SF aqueous solution, sodium dodecyl sulfate as a surfactant and distilled water as a solvent in alkali condition at 60°C. The structural characterization of the nanoparticles were performed. The control of the amount of SF molecules in precursor solution could induce a change of morphological structure of the CuO/SF nanostructured particle. The formation of free Cu(OH)42- may be interrupted by the SF and a Cu(OH)42--SF complex is formed through coordination bonds between Cu(OH)42- ion and SF molecules. The development of a complex with SF can make Cu(OH)42- more stable without a drastic transformation into CuO. In the structural formation of CuO nanoparticles, crystal growth mainly occurred in the direction of the (010) lattice plain during condensation, in which Cu(OH)42- transformed into CuO. With an increase in the amount of SF, there were fewer free OH- ions due to interactions with SF molecules, which adsorbed preferentially on the (001) plane of CuO nanocrystals, resulting in assemblages not only on the (010) plane, but also on the (100) plane. Therefore, the SF plays multiple roles on monoclinic CuO nanostructure formation, such as stabilizing the Cu(OH)42- ions without a drastic transformation to CuO nanocrystal and directing the oriented crystal growth of CuO nanocrystal.

SoEun Jeon has completed his PhD at the age of 25 years from Andhra University and postdoctoral studies from Stanford University School of Medicine. He is the director of XXXX, a premier Bio-Soft service organization. He has published more than 25 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of repute. (Up to 100 words)

The Fe-Mo based double perovskites have attracted much attention in the field of materials science due to their multiverse fascinating physical properties which make them suitable candidates for several technological applications. In the present work, the Sr2-xNdxFeMoO6 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) samples have been investigated for their structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties. Polycrystalline Sr2-xNdxFeMoO6 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) samples were prepared by using the conventional solid state reaction method. To achieve the target double perovskite phase and to minimize the undesirable secondary phases, the samples were sintered in a reducing atmosphere, created by a gas mixture of 5% H2/95% Ar. The structure, microstructure and phase purity of the samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XRD study confirmed the formation of tetragonal structure with Fm3m space group in all the synthesized samples. The Arrott plots and magnetization measurements showed a second order of ferromagnetic phase transition in all the fabricated samples. All the samples went through a paramagnetic to ferromagnetic phase transition at the Curie temperature (TC). A magnetocaloric effect was calculated in terms of isothermal magnetic entropy change. The value of the relative cooling power (RCP) was observed to decrease with the increasing Nd content. A significant variation in the magnetocaloric properties of the samples was observed with the increasing Nd concentration. This investigation suggests that Sr2-xNdxFeMoO6 samples can be used as potential magnetic refrigerants for magnetocaloric applications.

Collagen and hyaluronan are natural biopolymers occurring in the human body as a materials for scaffold in tissue engineering, as a components of a bandage by wound healing processes, as an alternate fluid in human joints, as a space filling matter in plastic surgery and last but not least as a hydration matter in cosmetics. Hyaluronan exists in high concentrations during fetal skin development, is involved in cell migration and differentiation, and is the first macromolecule to appear in the ECM during tissue engineering repair. These two biomaterials dissolve in colloidal silver have been studied in this work for biomedical applications. Hayluronan HyActive (13kDa) from Contipro Biotech (Czech Republic) is produced biotechnologically and extracted from the cell walls of the bacteria Streptococcus zooepidemicus. Collagen from Inventia Polish Technologies Sp. z o.o., obtained from fish skins. Colloidal silver (20 ppm) obtained from Antibakterin (Czech Republic). The physical properties and finding of suitable concentration of biomaterials were measured by three methods. The suitable concentration and ratio of collagen-hyaluronan were measured by High resolution ultrasonic spectroscopy from Ultrasonic Scientific (Ireland) and Densitometer DSA 5000M from Anton Paar (Austria). The rheological properties were measured by Discovery Hybrid Rheometer from TA Instruments. By densitometric measurement was found that collagen-hyaluronan in colloidal silver was stable in temperature 20-50°C. Collagen-hyaluronan colloidal silver spray was tested for healing on human skin, for burn, frostbite, bedsore, varicose ulcer etc. Due to colloidal silver this spray could be applicate to raw wound. By densitometric measurement was found that collagen-hyaluronan in colloidal silver was stable in temperature 20-50°C. Collagen-hyaluronan colloidal silver spray was tested for healing on human skin, for burn, frostbite, bedsore, varicose ulcer etc. Due to colloidal silver this spray could be applicate to raw wound. The combination of collagen, hyaluronan and colloidal silver in ratio collagen:hyaluronan, 1:1 is the best ratio for good application in a spray form for healing of wound.

Jisoo Ha is currently working on master’s degree in chemical engineering at Yonsei University. Her adviser is D.Y. Ryu, renowned for block copolymer. He has published numerous papers about block copolymer in prestigious journals.

Perpendicular orientation of block copolymer (BCP) microdomains have been received attention for the next-generation lithography and nanotechnology. Many researchers have investigated various techniques to establish perpendicular nanostructures by controlling the interfacial interaction between BCP film and substrate. A surface modification method using random copolymer brush is extensively studied due to its simplicity and effectiveness. End-functionalized random copolymer brush chains attach to the substrate by condensation reaction, which forms covalent bond. In this study, we controlled the interaction between substrate and the block copolymer by coating the Si wafer surface with random copolymer. On these modified substrates, polystyrene-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) thin film was spin-coated with fine-tuned thickness and thermally-annealed to form its equilibrium structure. We observed the thickness window of vertical orientation and assessed the appropriate parametric extent of surface energy modification. The experimental result indicates the optimal extent of surface modification in order to obtain perpendicular orientation of BCP for nanopattern fabrication.

Yeongsik Kim is the candidate of PhD at Yonsei University.

A well-defined 3-D bicontinuous network structure in nanoscopic regular array has attracted considerable attention because of its potential applications such as photonic crystals, metamaterilas, energy devices and superconductor. In this study, the asymmetric polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) thin films on the two different substrate with high-molecular-weight were prepared to be exposed a neutral solvent vapor to generate a hexagonal (HEX) cylindrical morphology to long-range ordered gyroid (GYR). The interfacial interaction by different substrate interaction induced the two distinct GYR, [211] and [111] planes, which were directed from cylinders, like the parallel and perpendicular orientation on the selective and neutral substrate, respectively. Moreover, we further performed coarse-grained simulations of a block copolymer model to provide the molecular mechanisms. Our results based on experiments and simulations suggest a simple route for the controlled and well-defined GYR structures.

Ce-oxide thin film coatings present unique optical properties. In this study, structural, chemical bonding and optical properties of the thin films in relation to the composition of reaction gas via sputtering process were investigated. All the thin films exhibited a polycrystalline character with cubic fluorite – structure for cerium dioxide along (111), (200) and (222) orientations. XPS analysis revealed that two oxidation states of CeO2 and Ce2O3 are present in the films prepared at lower argon- oxygen flow ratios, whereas the films are totally oxidized into CeO2 as the aforementioned ratio increases. Optical parameters (α ε1, ε2, n and k) derived from UV-Vis reflectance data indicate that the thin films have indirect optical band gaps in the range of 2.25 - 3.1 eV. Density functional theory (DFT+U) implemented in the Cambridge Serial Total Energy Package (CASTEP), has been employed to model some optical properties of CeO2 cluster at ground state. The simulated electronic density of state (DOS) of the relaxed structure of CeO2 demonstrates a band gap agrees well with the measured optical band gap. The experimental and calculated absorption coefficient (α), have analogous trends and to some extent a similar range of values in the wave length. All in all, our theoretical findings consistently support the experimental results.