University of Illinois

Chung Ang University Industry Academic Cooperation

Jonghwi Lee

Min Kyung Lee

Hyunjoon Kong

Byoungsoo Kim

Youngjun Kim

Ryan Cree Miller

Compositions comprising an active oxygen-responsive antioxidant crystal, methods of making them, and methods for controlling the dissolution rate and/or altering the crystallization behavior of an antioxidant are disclosed. The crystals comprise an antioxidant and a disulfide- or diselenide-crosslinked polymer that is adsorbed onto a surface of the antioxidant. Upon exposure to an active-oxygen stimulus, the polymer de-crosslinks to release the antioxidant from the composition in an amount effective to counteract the stimulus. While prior approaches to altering dissolution rates have relied on passive zero- or first-order kinetics that are independent of ROS levels, the inventive compositions actively respond by releasing antioxidant in an amount proportional to the concentration of active-oxygen species present. The crystallization methods are simple and scalable. The antioxidant balances ROS concentration and allows formulators of nutritional supplements, drug therapies, and other applications to more effectively use antioxidants while avoiding undesirable levels of antioxidative stress.

Stimulus-responsive antioxidant crystals and method for their preparation

A polymer or polymer composite membrane having through-thickness micropores and a method of preparing the same are provided. More particularly, a polymer or polymer composite membrane having a pore structure such that micropores are aligned in a mesh structure in the thickness direction of the polymer or polymer composite membrane due to unidirectional freezing in the thickness direction of a solvent. The membrane has through-thickness micropores, and thus has improved permeability in the thickness direction and superior uniformity in size of the micropores and wall thickness between the micropores. For these reasons, the membrane can be used for a porous membrane substrate, microfiltration membrane, etc.

Polymer or polymer composite membrane having through-thickness micropores, and method for preparing same

Growing community of inventors

Seoul, South Korea

Jonghwi Lee