Bo-Yeon Lee

Lenticular lens array based on liquid crystal with a polarization-dependent focusing effect for 2D–3D image applications

Demonstrated herein is a liquid-crystal-(LC)-based lenticular lens array with a polarization-dependent focusing effect, fabricated through a simple imprinting process. The input polarization dependence of the proposed LC lenticular lens array arises mainly from the index matching scheme between the polymer lenticular lens and the LC on it. For the input polarization perpendicular to the LC director, the focal length of the lenticular lens is about 3.1 mm. The focusing and non-focusing properties depending on the input polarization are useful for realizing autostereoscopic 2D/3D convertible displays combined with polarization selection elements.

Optically switchable grating based on dye-doped ferroelectric liquid crystal with high efficiency

We demonstrate an all-optically switchable ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) grating constructed in an alternating binary configuration with different optical properties from domain to domain. A dye-doped FLC is uniformly aligned in one type of domains whereas it is infiltrated into the photo-polymerized networks of reactive mesogens in the other. Compared to conventional nematic LC cases, our FLC grating allows more efficient all-optical modulation and faster diffraction switching between the 0th and the 1st orders in subsecond since the optical response associated with the dye molecules in the layered state is less hindered than in the orientationally ordered state. Our dye-doped FLC grating with periodically infiltrated structures will be useful for designing a new class of all-optically switching systems.

Immunomodulatory effects of soluble factors secreted by feline adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have immunomodulatory functions and differentiation capacity, and their clinical use is increasing in veterinary species. Although MSCs have been applied in the treatment in various inflammatory diseases, mechanistic research on feline MSCs is lacking. Accordingly, in this study, we aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory mechanisms of MSCs isolated from feline adipose tissue (fATMSCs). fATMSCs from healthy cats were cultured in an appropriate manner and cocultured with transwell-separated allogeneic feline peripheral blood mononuclear cells (fPBMCs) and RAW264.7 murine macrophages. After 48h of coculture, RNA was extracted from RAW264.7 cells and fPBMCs. Cytokine expression in these cells was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and compared according to the presence of fATMSCs. The mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, e.g., tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), inducible nitric oxide synthase, and interleukin (IL)-1β, were significantly decreased in cocultures of mitogen-stimulated RAW264.7 cells with fATMSCs compared with that in the RAW264.7 cells control group. Additionally, changes in the expression of mRNAs extracted from fPBMCs were as follows: pro-inflammatory TNF-α, interferon-γ, and IL-6 were decreased, and anti-inflammatory IL-10 was increased during coculture of mitogen-stimulated allogeneic fPBMCs with fATMSCs. We also extracted RNA and collected supernatants from fATMSCs during transwell culture for measurement of the expression and secretion of soluble factors by qRT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. The mRNA expression of immunomodulatory factors from fATMSCs, including cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and hepatocyte growth factor, increased in the presence of RAW264.7 cells. Similarly, TGF-β, COX-2, and IDO mRNA expression and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) secretion from fATMSCs increased in the presence of allogeneic fPBMCs. Finally, we measured the viability of fPBMCs under various conditions. Cell viability decreased in fPBMCs suspended in fATMSC-derived conditioned medium, and this reduction was alleviated in the group supplemented with NS-398 a PGE2 inhibitor. Our data suggested that soluble factors, including PGE2, secreted by fATMSCs played an important role in the immunomodulatory effects of these cells. These findings may be helpful in the application of fATMSCs to feline patients with immune-related diseases.

Reduction of gamma distortions in liquid crystal display by anisotropic voltage-dividing layer of reactive mesogens

ABSTRACT We demonstrate a new concept of reducing the off-axis gamma distortions in a liquid crystal display by the formation of an anisotropic voltage-dividing layer (AVDL) on the alignment layer. The AVDL was prepared using reactive mesogens (RMs) by simple spin-coating, followed by the photo-polymerisation under the exposure of ultraviolet light (UV) through a photomask and the removal of residual RMs. The UV exposure time for the photo-polymerisation was found to be critical for the uniform alignment of the liquid crystal molecules on the AVDL. Owing to the capacitance difference between the sub-domains produced by the AVDL, the threshold voltage shift was naturally appeared in sub-domain by domain so that the reduction of the gamma distortions in the off-axis was achieved in a simple way. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Altered properties of feline adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells during continuous in vitro cultivation

Cytotherapy with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been studied in many species, and often requires in vitro cell expansion to obtain therapeutic doses of stem cells. Because the characteristics of MSCs, such as self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation, can be altered by long-term culture, it is important to maintain stemness during cultivation. This study assessed the changes in the characteristics of feline adipose tissue-derived (fAT)-MSCs during in vitro passaging. Stem cells isolated from the adipose tissue of donor cats were cultured for seven sub-passages. Proliferation capacity was analyzed by calculating the cell doubling time and by colorimetric assay. Expression of stem cell-specific markers was evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription (qRT)-PCR and immunophenotyping. Expression of adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation markers was also measured by qRT-PCR. Histochemical staining and measurement of β-galactosidase activity were conducted to detect cellular senescence. The cell proliferation rate decreased significantly at passage 5 (P5). Gene expression levels of pluripotency markers (Sox2, Nanog and Klf4) and stem cell surface markers (CD9, CD44, CD90 and CD105) decreased during continuous culture; in most assays, statistically significant changes were observed at P5. The ability of cells to undergo adipogenic or osteogenic differentiation was inversely proportional to the number of passages. The proportion of senescent cells increased with the number of passages. These results suggest that repeated passages alter the proliferation and multipotency of fAT-MSCs. In clinical trials, early-passage cells should be used to achieve the maximum therapeutic effect.

Importance of surface modification of a microcontact stamp for pattern fidelity of soluble organic semiconductors

Abstract. We described the effect of the ultraviolet ozone (UVO) treatment of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamp on the fidelity of 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl) pentacene (TIPS-PEN) patterns produced from a TIPS-PEN/polymer blend by selective contact evaporation (SCE). During the SCE process, the TIPS-PEN in contact with the nanoporous PDMS was absorbed into the PDMS stamp, leaving out the TIPS-PEN patterns, complementary to the PDMS patterns, in the noncontact regions. For the case of the untreated, hydrophobic PDMS surface, the TIPS-PEN patterns developed initially were shrunken and eventually disappeared after 24 h due to the steady absorption of the TIPS-PEN in time. In contrast, for the UVO-treated case, the TIPS-PEN patterns were found to maintain the initial shapes over the period of 24 h since the absorption of the TIPS-PEN was limited by the hydrophilic nature of the UVO-treated PDMS. The modified PDMS surface by the UVO for 30 min yielded the highest fidelity of the TIPS-PEN patterns in both height and width. The patterned TIPS-PEN layer by the SCE was implemented into an organic field-effect transistor to demonstrate the viability of the SCE combined with the UVO treatment for solution-processed organic electronic devices.

Importance of surface modification of a micro-contact stamp for pattern fidelity of soluble organic semiconductors

We described the effect of the ultraviolet ozone (UVO) treatment of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamp on the fidelity of 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl) pentacene (TIPS-PEN) patterns produced from a TIPS-PEN/polymer blend by selective contact evaporation (SCE). During the SCE process, the TIPS-PEN in contact with the nanoporous PDMS was absorbed into the PDMS stamp, leaving out the TIPS-PEN patterns, complementary to the PDMS patterns, in the non-contact regions. For the case of the untreated, hydrophobic PDMS surface, the TIPS-PEN patterns developed initially were shrunken and eventually disappeared after 24 h due to the steady absorption of the TIPS-PEN in time. In contrast, for the UVO-treated case, the TIPS-PEN patterns were found to maintain the initial shapes over the period of 24 h since the absorption of the TIPS-PEN was limited by the hydrophilic nature of the UVO-treated PDMS. The modified PDMS surface by the UVO for 30 min yielded the highest fidelity of the TIPS-PEN patterns in both height and width. The patterned TIPS-PEN layer by the SCE was implemented into an organic field-effect transistor to demonstrate the viability of the SCE combined with the UVO treatment for solution-processed organic electronic devices.