목적 : 최근 전자기기의 발달로 인해 근거리 작업이 증가하고 있으며, 이로 인해 안 건강에 대한 우려가 증가함 에 따라 청광 차단에 대한 관심이 증가하고 있다. 방법 : 유해 광선 차단이 가능한 기능성 콘택트렌즈 소재 개발을 위해 reactive yellow 86을 안료 중합체에, 그리고 propyl gallate를 실리콘 하이드로겔 소재에 첨가제로 각각 사용하여 안 의료용 소프트 콘택트렌즈 제조에 적용하였다. 결과 : propyl gallate의 첨가량에 따라 접촉각이 68.25~42.50˚로 측정되었으며, 습윤성이 향상되는 것으로 나타났다. 또한, 제조된 컬러 소프트 콘택트렌즈는 산소투과성 및 습윤성이 우수함과 동시에 자외선 및 청광 차단 효과를 나타내었다. 결론 : reactive yellow 86 및 propyl gallate가 적용된 컬러 콘택트렌즈의 재료의 경우, 기본적인 안 의료용 하이드로젤 렌즈의 물성을 만족시킴과 동시에 우수한 자외선 및 청광차단 효과를 가지는 것으로 판단된다.

The physical and antibacterial properties of ophthalmic lenses fabricated by copolymerization with hydrogel monomers using two types of graphene were measured, and their usability as contact lens materials was analyzed. For polymerization, silicone monomers, including SID-OH, 3-(methacryloxy)propyl tris(trimethylsiloxy)silane, and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, were used, and N,N-dimethylacetamide, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a crosslinking agent, and azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator were added. Also, graphene oxide nanoparticle (GON) and graphene nanoplate (GNP) were used as an additive, and the physical properties of the lenses fabricated after copolymerization were evaluated. The fabricated lenses satisfied the basic physical properties of general hydrogel contact lenses and showed the characteristics of lenses with high water content, and the disadvantage of very weak durability, due to low tensile strength. However, it was confirmed that the tensile strength and antibacterial properties were greatly improved by adding GON and GNP. With GON, the oxygen permeability and refractive index of the fabricated lenses were slightly improved. Therefore, it was determined that the graphene materials used in this study can be used in various ways as a contact lens material.

This study uses silicone monomer, DMA, crosslinking agent EGDMA, and initiator AIBN as a basic combination to prepare hydrogel lenses using fluorine-based perfluoro polyether and iron oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles as additives. After manufacturing the lens using iron oxide nanoparticles and zinc oxide nanoparticles, the optical, physical properties, and polymerization stability are evaluated to investigate the possibility of application as a functional hydrogel lens material. As a result of this experiment, it is found that the addition of the wetting material containing fluorine changes the surface energy of the produced hydrogel lens, thereby improving the wettability. Also, the addition of iron oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles satisfies the basic hydrogel ophthalmic lens properties and slightly increases the UV blocking performance; it also increases the tensile strength by improving the durability of the hydrogel lens. The polymerization stability of the nanoparticles evaluated through the eluate test is found to be excellent. Therefore, it is judged that these materials can be used in various conditions as high functional hydrogel lens material.

Green tea polyphenol (–)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a potent antioxidant with protective effects against neurotoxicity. However, it is currently unclear whether EGCG protects neuronal cells against radiation-induced damage. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of EGCG on ultraviolet (UV)-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in PC12 cells. The effects of UV irradiation included apoptotic cell death, which was associated with DNA fragmentation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, enhanced caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. UV irradiation also increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and mitochondrial pathway-associated cytochrome c expression. However, pretreatment with EGCG before UV exposure markedly decreased UV-induced DNA fragmentation and ROS production. Furthermore, the UV irradiationinduced increase in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, cytochrome c upregulation, and caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation were each ameliorated by EGCG pretreatment. Additionally, EGCG suppressed UV-induced phosphorylation of p38 and rescued UV-downregulated phosphorylation of ERK. Taken together, these results suggest that EGCG prevents UV irradiationinduced apoptosis in PC12 cells by scavenging ROS and inhibiting the mitochondrial pathways known to play a crucial role in apoptosis. In addition, EGCG inhibits UV-induced apoptosis via JNK inactivation and ERK activation in PC12 cells. Thus, EGCG represents a potential neuroprotective agent that could be applied to prevent neuronal cell death induced by UV irradiation.

The purpose of this study is to fabricate an ophthalmic lens by copolymerizing two types of carbon nanotubes and hydrophilic hydrogel lens materials, and to investigate its application as an ophthalmic lens material by analyzing its physical properties and antimicrobial effect. For polymerization, HEMA (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), EGDMA (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate), a crosslinking agent, and AIBN (azobisisobutyronitrile), an initiator, are used as a basic combination, and a single-walled carbon nanotube and a single-walled, carboxylic-acid-functionalized carbon nanotube are used as additives. To analyze the physical properties, the water content, refractive index, breaking strength, and antimicrobial effect of the fabricated lenses are measured. The fabricated lenses satisfies all the basic properties of the basic hydrogel ophthalmic lens. The water content increases with increasing amount of additive and decreases with addition of 0.2% ratio of nanoparticles. The refractive index is inversely proportional to the water content result. As a result of the antimicrobial test of the fabricated lens, the addition of carbon nanotubes shows an excellent antimicrobial effect. Therefore, it is considered that the fabricated lens can be applied as a functional material for basic ophthalmic hydrogel lenses.

Implantation is a highly organized process that involves an interaction between a receptive uterus and a competent blastocyst. In humans, natural fecundity suggests that the chance of conception per cycle is relatively low (~30%) and two-third of lost pregnancies occur because of implantation failure. Defective implantation leads to adverse pregnancy outcomes including infertility, spontaneous miscarriage, intrauterine fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia. With use of advanced scientific technologies, gene expression analysis and genetically-engineered animal models have revealed critical cellular networks and molecular pathways. But, because of ethical restrictions and the lack of a mechanistic experiment, comprehensive steps in human implantation have still not been completely understood. This review primarily focuses on the recent advances in mechanisms of implantation. Because infertility is an emerging issue these days, gaining an understanding the molecular and hormonal signaling pathway will improve the outcome of natural pregnancy and assisted reproductive technology.