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“Apply and Deliver” A Pain-Free Patch that Enables Deep Dermal Delivery of Extracellular Vesicles
A joint research team led by Professors Jae Hyung Park and Changhyun Pang from the School of Chemical Engineering (lead authors: Minwoo Song, Minji Ha, and Dr. Sol Shin) has developed a core technology that enables a next-generation transdermal drug delivery system. By hierarchically integrating octopus-sucker–inspired suction cups with short microneedles, the team successfully created a highly adhesive dual-amplified transdermal patch capable of delivering large biomolecular therapeutics such as extracellular vesicles (EVs) deep into the skin uniformly, efficiently, and without pain. This innovation overcomes long-standing limitations of injection-based therapy and opens up new possibilities for applications ranging from aesthetic and anti-aging treatments to future smart healthcare platforms. The research addressed fundamental drawbacks of conventional microneedle patches, particularly pain, skin irritation, and poor adhesion. The stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the skin, possesses a dense and protective structure that blocks the penetration of external substances, making it difficult for biological agents such as exosomes and proteins to reach the dermis via topical formulations like creams or ointments. Previous microneedle systems attempted to bypass this barrier by utilizing long needles over 600 μm, but such lengths often induced discomfort, irritation, and detachment on curved or moist skin surfaces. To overcome these challenges, the research team designed a bioinspired suction-cup microstructure that generates stable negative pressure upon simple attachment, without requiring external devices or power. By combining this suction mechanism with short microneedles under 300 μm, the researchers constructed a novel dual-amplification architecture. Once applied to the skin, the patch naturally forms microscale negative pressure within each suction chamber, enhancing conformal adhesion. Simultaneously, this negative pressure induces nanoscale opening and temporary deformation of the stratum corneum, thereby amplifying microneedle insertion efficiency and enabling the effective delivery of large biomolecules, including exosomes, into the dermal layer. Animal studies demonstrated the superior therapeutic performance and safety of the newly developed exosome transdermal patch. Compared to conventional microneedle patches, the system increased drug delivery depth by approximately 2.6-fold (up to 290 μm). It also stimulated collagen production, reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS), and improved the microenvironment of aging skin. Importantly, the patch maintained strong, stable adhesion even on curved or moist skin surfaces, ensuring sustained drug delivery during long-term application. The dual-amplified patch exhibits excellent biocompatibility and irritation-free delivery, making it suitable for stable daily use. Beyond exosomes, the platform can effectively deliver a wide range of biological therapeutics, including proteins and nucleic acids. Therefore, its applicability is expected to expand into diverse fields such as cosmetic dermatology, anti-aging therapy, regenerative applications, and wearable smart healthcare systems. This work was supported by National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grants funded by the Korean government (MSIT) (No. RS-2023-00256265, RS-2024-00352352, RS-2024-00405818) and by the Korean Fund for Regenerative Medicine (KFRM) grant funded by the Korea government (the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Health & Welfare). (No. 25A0102L1). The authors gratefully acknowledge the support from the Market-led K-sensor technology program (RS-2022-00154781, Development of large-area wafer-level flexible/stretch- able hybrid sensor platform technology for form factor-free highly integrated convergence sensor), funded By the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy (MOTIE, Korea). The study was published online on July 23, 2025, in the international journal Nano-Micro Letters (IF 36.3, JCR top 1%) and was selected as the Cover Paper. *Paper Title: A Hierarchical Short Microneedle-Cupping Dual-Amplified Patch Enables Accelerated, Uniform, Pain-Free Transdermal Delivery of Extracellular Vesicles *Journal: Nano-Micro Letters *Paper Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-01853-7 *Pure: https://pure.skku.edu/en/persons/jae-hyung-park/ (Prof. Jae Hyung Park) https://pure.skku.edu/en/persons/changhyun-pang/(Prof. Changhyun Pang)
- No. 344
- 2025-12-03
- 333
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Turning Food Waste into Future Resources
Prof. Am Jang’s team (Sustainable WAter Treatment, SWAT lab.) in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (first author: Dr. Hongrae Im) has successfully developed a next-generation membrane-based recovery platform capable of converting fatty acids contained in food waste into high-value precursors for energy and chemical materials. Conventional membrane processes have long suffered from structural limitations, such as membrane fouling and wetting, which lead to reduced selectivity and decreased recovery efficiency. To overcome these challenges, the research team introduced a supported liquid membrane contactor (SLMC) system that integrates superhydrophobic surface modification with selective organic extractant impregnation. This approach enabled highly selective and efficient recovery of target fatty acids even from the complex matrix of food-derived waste streams. A key achievement of this study is the pioneering application of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for real-time monitoring of fouling and wetting transitions occurring on membrane surfaces and within membrane pores. By visualizing and quantifying these microscale structural changes, the team successfully identified the primary causes of performance deterioration and established an operational framework capable of actively controlling process conditions. Using OCT-based wetting and fouling signals, the researchers proposed an “intelligent membrane operation strategy” that accurately determines optimal cleaning and replacement intervals, thereby significantly enhancing long-term operational stability and fatty-acid recovery efficiency. Furthermore, the researchers systematically elucidated the material transport mechanisms within the SLMC system by investigating the synergistic effects between superhydrophobic membrane surface modification and the chemical properties of selective extractants. Through this approach, they developed an integrated solution capable of simultaneously addressing three major technical bottlenecks: membrane fouling and wetting suppression, enhancement of selective mass transfer, and low-energy/high-efficiency fatty acid recovery. Owing to its robust performance, the developed technology shows strong potential for expansion into a universal circular-resource platform applicable not only to food waste but also to desalination brines, spent battery leachates, and other complex multicomponent aqueous systems. This research provides significant academic and industrial value by presenting a sustainable resource, upcycling strategy that transforms low-value waste streams into high-value chemical materials, thereby transcending the traditional paradigm of waste treatment. The work was supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean Government (MSIT), and its excellence and novelty were recognized through publication in top-tier international journals in the environmental and energy fields, including Water Research (IF 12.4, JCR top 1.0%) and Chemical Engineering Journal (IF 13.2, JCR top 3.0%). Title: Efficiently enhanced short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) recovery from food waste condensate: Real-time wettability monitoring with supported liquid membrane contactor Authors: Hongrae Im (First author, Sungkyunkwan University), Duc Anh Nguyen (Sungkyunkwan University), Dong-gun Jun (Sungkyunkwan University), Sojeong Jang (Sungkyunkwan University), Am Jang (Corresponding author, Sungkyunkwan University) Journal: Water Research DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2025.123093 Title: Enhanced anti-wetting and anti-fouling performance of superhydrophobic supported liquid membrane contactors for selective short-chain fatty acid recovery from food waste leachate Authors: Hongrae Im (First author, Sungkyunkwan University), Semi Lee (Sungkyunkwan University), Duc Anh Nguyen (Sungkyunkwan University), Duc Viet Nguyen (Ghent University), Di Wu (Ghent University), Am Jang (Corresponding author, Sungkyunkwan University) Journal: Chemical Engineering Journal DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.168433 Figure 1. Schematic of short-chain fatty acid recovery from food waste Figure 2. Mechanism, recovery efficiency, and mass transfer behavior of fatty acid from food waste streams Figure 3. Physicochemical properties of modified membranes Figure 4. Real-time monitoring of the physical properties of the membrane surface
- No. 343
- 2025-11-28
- 465
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Sungkyunkwan University research team develops a novel Water-Energy Nexus technology using metal-organic framework mate
Sungkyunkwan University (President Ji Beom Yoo) announced that a research team led by Professor Ho Seok Park in the School of Chemical Engineering, in collaboration with Samsung Research at Samsung Electronics, has developed a novel Water-Energy Nexus* technology that can efficiently treat saline water and wastewater generated from high-value-added industrial processes—such as semiconductor, secondary battery, and display manufacturing—while enabling their use for energy storage and resource recovery. *Water-Energy Nexus: Water is essential for energy production, and energy is required for water management. This concept focuses on optimizing the interdependence between these two resources to address water scarcity and climate change and to enable sustainable resource management. Conventional wastewater treatment technologies typically rely on physical adsorption and desorption of ions on electrode surfaces, resulting in high energy consumption and low ion selectivity. In this study, the researchers utilized the distinctive ion-storage mechanism of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)*—which were awarded this year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry—to develop an energy-efficient electrochemical device that can selectively remove or store cations and anions simultaneously without an ion-exchange membrane. *Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs): Porous crystalline materials composed of metal ions or clusters connected by organic linkers. MOFs offer a large internal surface area and high structural stability, enabling their use in diverse applications such as gas storage, catalysis, and sensing. MOFs are three-dimensional porous materials constructed from metal ions and organic ligands, and they are used in a wide range of fields, including gas storage, catalysis, and sensing. By taking advantage of these structural characteristics, Professor Park’s team developed an electrode technology that can selectively and simultaneously remove and store divalent cations such as Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, as well as anions such as Br⁻, I⁻, and Cl⁻, while operating stably with low energy consumption of about 76 Wh kg⁻¹. Professor Park said, “This study goes beyond simply purifying saline water and wastewater, as it simultaneously demonstrates their potential to be converted into renewable energy and valuable resources,” adding, “We expect this technology to find broader applications in various fields, including secondary batteries, desalination, and resource recovery.” This research was supported by the Global Leader Research and the Future Promising Fusion Technology Pioneer programs of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Korean Government (MSIT), and was carried out in collaboration with Samsung Research at Samsung Electronics. The results were published on October 28, 2025 in Joule (impact factor 35.4; top 1.4%), a leading international journal in energy research. ※ Paper Title: Divalent and Halide Dual Ion Storage of A Redox-Active Symmetric Cell for Efficient Wastewater-Energy Nexus ※ Journal: Joule ※ Authors: Corresponding author – Professor Ho Seok Park (Sungkyunkwan University); First authors – Dr. Gun Jang and PhD candidate Sang Baek Kim (Sungkyunkwan University) ※ Paper Link: https://www.cell.com/joule/fulltext/S2542-4351(25)00357-5?rss=yes ※ (Pure): https://pure.skku.edu/en/persons/hoseok-park/ ▲Conceptual illustration of a novel Water-Energy Nexus technology based on an energy-efficient, highly selective ion-recovery and storage device using MOF-derived electrode materials ▲(From left) Professor Ho Seok Park, Dr. Gun Jang, and PhD candidate Sang Baek Kim (Sungkyunkwan University)
- No. 342
- 2025-11-25
- 621
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Discovery of Novel Lung Cancer Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets to Overcome Drug Resistance
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. In particular, non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is often diagnosed at an advanced stage due to the lack of early symptoms. Although targeted therapies such as EGFR-TKIs have significantly improved clinical outcomes, the rapid emergence of therapeutic resistance remains a major barrier to long-term survival. Consequently, identifying novel biomarkers that determine tumor progression and treatment responsiveness, as well as discovering therapeutic targets capable of overcoming resistance, has become a crucial strategy for transforming the lung cancer treatment paradigm. Cancer precision medicine is an approach that integrates genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic information to design personalized therapeutic strategies tailored to each patient’s molecular profile. This research, grounded in precision-medicine–based analyses, identifies previously unrecognized signaling networks driving NSCLC progression and highlights actionable targets with strong potential for future therapeutic development. 1. PYCR1–EGFR–TLR Signaling Axis: A Newly Identified Mechanism Driving Lung Cancer Progression In the study “PYCR1 drives lung cancer progression through functional interactions with EGFR and TLR signaling pathways” (Experimental & Molecular Medicine, 2025, IF 12.9), the researchers uncovered a novel molecular mechanism in which PYCR1, a key enzyme in proline metabolism, functionally interacts with EGFR and TLR signaling to promote lung cancer growth and metastasis. This research is the first to demonstrate that PYCR1—traditionally viewed only as a metabolic enzyme—acts as a central regulatory node within the lung cancer signaling network. The findings highlight PYCR1 as a promising strategic target for developing lung cancer–specific therapeutics. (See Fig. 1.). 2. USP21–EGFR–Lyn Signaling Axis: A Therapeutic Target for Overcoming Resistance The second study, “USP21–EGFR–Lyn axis drives NSCLC progression and therapeutic potential of USP21 inhibition” (Biomarker Research, 2025, IF 11.5), elucidates a mechanism in which the deubiquitinase USP21 simultaneously activates EGFR and Lyn kinase signaling to drive NSCLC progression. This work establishes USP21 as a key regulator of lung cancer progression and demonstrates its value as a biomarker and therapeutic target capable of overcoming resistance to EGFR-targeted therapy. The clinical significance of USP21 inhibition is particularly notable in the context of combination treatment strategies designed to counteract EGFR inhibitor resistance. (See Fig. 2.) These studies were led by Ha-Jeong Lee, an Integrated B.S.–M.S. program applicant, in collaboration with graduate researchers Ji-Young Kim, Ji-Hye Shin, and Ye-Eun Kang from the Laboratory of Molecular Immunology (PI: Professor Kiyoung Lee, School of Medicine). Ha-Jeong’s achievements exemplify the fact that “undergraduate researchers can also produce world-class scientific outcomes.” Her work represents an outstanding model of SKKU’s research-oriented education and demonstrates the impact of a supportive research environment combined with rigorous scientific training. ※ Article title: PYCR1 drives lung cancer progression through functional interactions with EGFR and TLR signaling pathways. ※ Journal name: Experimental & Molecular Medicine. ※ Article link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s12276-025-01577-z ※ Article title: USP21-EGFR-Lyn axis drives NSCLC progression and therapeutic potential of USP21 inhibition. ※ Journal name: Biomarker research. ※ Article link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12239452/
- No. 341
- 2025-11-21
- 666
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The Backfire Effect of Upside-Down Logos on Consumer Responses to Brands
Brand logos refer to a set of symbolic elements that provide distinctiveness and communicate a company’s identity and values, helping consumers recognize and trust the brand. Recently, several global companies have begun experimenting with an unconventional twist—flipping their logos upside down—to signal creativity and differentiation. Adidas drew attention with an inverted-logo advertising campaign, and other brands such as Nike, New Era, and Supreme have applied similar designs to limited-edition products to create novel brand experiences. However, it still remains unclear whether inverted logos are perceived as bold and innovative or are seen as undermining brand consistency and creating consumer confusion. Professor Tae Hyun Baek from SKKU’s Department of Media and Communication, in collaboration with research teams from the University of Massachusetts (USA), Peking University (China), and the London School of Economics and Political Science (UK), examined how logo orientation influences consumer responses to brands. Across four experimental studies, consumers consistently preferred products featuring standard, upright logos over inverted, upside-down versions. In a consequential choice experiment using a Comme des Garçons T-shirt (Study 1A), 74.7% of participants selected the standard logo. A follow-up study using a baseball cap (Study 1B) revealed an even stronger pattern, with 80.8% choosing the standard logo. Notably, these preferences were not explained by demographic characteristics or by consumers’ need for uniqueness, suggesting that the effect is both robust and broadly generalizable. Study 2 extended the findings of Studies 1A and 1B to the context of social media advertising by identifying the psychological mechanisms underlying consumer responses to inverted logos. The results showed that the effect of an inverted logo on purchase intention was sequentially mediated by perceived unexpectedness and perceived rebelliousness. Consumers viewed inverted logos as unfamiliar and unconventional design choices that deliberately violated expected visual norms, which in turn led to more negative reactions. Study 3 revealed that political ideology moderated the negative effect of inverted logos. Whereas liberal consumers were largely indifferent to logo orientation, conservative consumers exhibited significantly more negative attitudes toward brands featuring inverted logos. It is suggested that inverted logos conflicted with conservatives’ preference for orderly, conventional design elements. Thus, political ideology shaped how consumers interpreted visual disruptions in branding, indicating that unconventional design strategies such as inverted logos could be ineffective—or even counterproductive—for certain segments. Taken together, these findings offer practical insights into the growing trend of global brands leveraging inverted logos. Such unconventional logo designs should be deployed selectively, particularly when they align with the political values of the target audience and with a brand’s rebellious, edgy, or innovative personality. The research was recently published in the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, a top-tier SSCI Q1 journal ranked within the top 1.7% in the Business category (2024 Impact Factor: 13.1). Baek, T. H., Yim, M. Y-C., Park, J., & Cho, A. (2026). Disruptive but costly: How upside-down logos backfire in consumer responses to brands. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 88, 104500. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2025.104500 ※ Title: Disruptive but costly: How upside-down logos backfire in consumer responses to brands. ※ Journal: Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services ※ Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2025.104500 ※ Portal(Pure): https://pure.skku.edu/en/persons/tae-hyun-baek/
- No. 340
- 2025-11-18
- 933
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Innovating User Experience in the Era of Generative AI
This study is the result of a collaborative effort by Professor Jang Hyun Kim of the School of Global Convergence and members of the Data Science & Social Analytics Lab (DSSAL), including Dongyan Nan (Ph.D. graduate, now Assistant Professor at Macau University of Science and Technology), Seungjong Sun (Ph.D. candidate), Shunan Zhang (Ph.D. graduate, now Fellow at Huaqiao University in China), and Xiangying Zhao (Ph.D. graduate). The purpose of this research is to gain an in-depth understanding of user behavior toward Generative Artificial Intelligence. Focusing on ChatGPT as a representative example, the study identifies key factors that influence users’ continued usage intention and recommendation intention. Theoretically, it proposes a new integrated model that extends the Expectation Confirmation Model (ECM) by incorporating Information System Success Theory (ISST), privacy concerns, and perceived innovativeness. This approach addresses the limitations of prior studies, which largely focused on initial usage intention, and instead highlights both cognitive and emotional determinants of post-adoption behavior—providing meaningful academic contributions. A total of 252 Korean ChatGPT users participated in an online survey, and the results were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The findings show that the proposed integrated model effectively explains users’ continued use and recommendation behaviors. Information Quality and System Quality emerged as core variables that enhance both types of behavioral intentions by strengthening confirmation, perceived usefulness, and satisfaction. Perceived innovativeness also had a positive effect on user satisfaction, demonstrating that users form more favorable experiences when they view ChatGPT as a creative and cutting-edge technology. Conversely, privacy concerns negatively affected satisfaction, although the impact was relatively small—suggesting that users may be willing to accept certain privacy risks in exchange for convenience and utility. Based on these findings, the study offers practical implications for promoting the adoption of generative AI services. Service providers can enhance user engagement by improving model accuracy and stability to reduce information bias, designing user-friendly interfaces, and effectively promoting the creativity and innovativeness of AI technologies. Professor Kim noted, “By comprehensively analyzing the determinants of continued use and recommendation of generative AI, this study offers new insights into user experience–based AI adoption research. We plan to further advance the model by expanding our research to include voice- and image-based generative AI in the future.” His research team continues to explore the intersection of AI and user experience (UX) and has published numerous SSCI/SCIE-indexed papers in related fields. ※ Title: Analyzing behavioral intentions toward Generative Artificial Intelligence: the case of ChatGPT ※ Journal: Universal Access in the Information Society ※ Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-024-01116-z ※ Portal(Pure): https://pure.skku.edu/en/persons/janghyun-kim/ Dongyan Nan(Ph.D. graduate, now Assistant Professor at Macau University of Science and Technology), Shunan Zhang(Ph.D. graduate, now Fellow at Huaqiao University in China), Xiangying Zhao(Ph.D. graduate)
- No. 339
- 2025-11-13
- 930
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Political Bias: Even AI Journalists Aren’t an Exception
Professor Joo-Wha Hong, together with Professor Herbert Chang of Dartmouth College and Professor David Tewksbury of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, published this study in Digital Journalism, a leading international journal in the field of communication. The research experimentally examined how audiences perceive and evaluate both AI- and human-authored political news. Grounded in the theoretical frameworks of the machine heuristic and the hostile media effect, the study investigated how the author’s identity (human vs. AI) and readers’ political orientations influence perceptions of news credibility and journalist credibility. The experiment was conducted with 442 adult participants in the United States through an online survey. Participants were randomly assigned to read articles on four politically sensitive issues (i.e., abortion law, gun control, minimum wage, and health-care reform) authored either by AI or human journalists and published under three different news outlets representing distinct ideological leanings (i.e., liberal, neutral, and conservative). This design enabled the researchers to analyze interactions among author identity, reader ideology, and political distance from the media outlet. Results revealed that readers trusted and evaluated human-written articles more favorably, yet perceived AI journalists as less biased and more neutral. In other words, while readers regarded AI as a “more objective and emotionally detached journalist,” they still tended to view AI as biased when its political stance differed from their own—a sign of an ambivalent attitude toward machine-generated content. Furthermore, evaluations of AI journalists were moderated by the extent to which individuals accepted AI as a rational and objective actor. The relative hostile media effect also appeared for AI: as the political distance between readers and news outlets increased, trust and likability decreased, regardless of whether the article was written by a human or AI. This study highlights that artificial intelligence is not merely a technical substitute for human journalists but a new social actor capable of shaping public trust and political perceptions. It empirically demonstrates how audiences cognitively process AI-generated content and how their beliefs about AI’s capabilities influence evaluations of information credibility. Looking ahead, the research team plans to extend this line of inquiry to examine public responses to AI’s broader social roles, such as counselor, educational partner, creative collaborator, and conversational companion. These efforts aim to provide crucial insights into the social legitimacy and trust-building mechanisms of AI as it becomes increasingly embedded in human social life. ※ Title: Can AI Become Walter Cronkite? Testing the Machine Heuristic, the Hostile Media Effect, and Political News Written by Artificial Intelligence ※ Journal: Digital Journalism ※ Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2024.2323000 ※ Research Portal(Pure): https://pure.skku.edu/en/persons/joo-wha-hong/
- No. 338
- 2025-11-03
- 1656
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Elucidation of Single-Nuclear Transcriptomic and Molecular Signaling Mechanisms, Preclinical Validation of Therapeutics
Professor Yunjong Lee’s research team (first authors: Ji Hun Kim, Ph.D. student; Hyo Jung Kim, Ph.D.; and Prof. Yunjong Lee) at the Department of Pharmacology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, has developed a conditional Tet-off transgenic mouse model expressing ZNF746 (PARIS) specifically in midbrain dopaminergic neurons to elucidate the molecular pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and to enable preclinical evaluation of therapeutic agents. PARIS (ZNF746) is a substrate of the autosomal recessive PD gene Parkin and is known as a transcriptional repressor that accumulates in the brains of PD patients, playing a direct pathogenic role in dopaminergic neuronal degeneration. PARIS represses key regulators of cellular survival, including PGC-1α, a master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, and MDM4, an upstream modulator of the apoptosis regulator p53, thereby leading to metabolic dysfunction and neuronal death. This study was conducted in collaboration with Professor Jaeyoul Joo’s research group (co-first authors: Prof. Jaeyoul Joo and Soomin Yang) at the College of Pharmacy, Hanyang University, who performed single-nuclear transcriptome analysis to systematically characterize cell-type-specific pathological alterations. A major challenge in PD research has been the lack of an animal model that faithfully reproduces the progressive and relatively selective degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, the hallmark pathology of the disease. To overcome this limitation, Prof. Lee’s team established a Tet-off genetic switch–based model that enables adult-onset, dopaminergic neuron–specific expression of PARIS, avoiding developmental lethality caused by early transgene expression. This model successfully recapitulates progressive motor deficits, clinically relevant extent of dopaminergic neuronal loss, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammatory activation over a two-month period, overcoming key limitations of previous transgenic PD models. Using this model, the team further conducted preclinical drug validation studies, demonstrating that L-DOPA, a symptomatic dopamine replacement therapy, ameliorates motor deficits, while the c-Abl inhibitor Nilotinib suppresses neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation, thereby exerting disease-modifying effects. These results establish this model as a robust preclinical platform for evaluating both symptomatic and disease-modifying therapeutic candidates for PD. In addition, by combining single-nuclear transcriptomic and protein-level analyses of the midbrain region, the study identified the c-Abl–PARIS signaling axis as a key pathogenic pathway that suppresses PGC-1α–mediated mitochondrial biogenesis, activates p53-dependent apoptotic signaling, and promotes glial inflammatory remodeling. Collectively, this research presents a novel PARIS-expressing PD mouse model that overcomes the limited pathological fidelity of conventional transgenic systems, providing a powerful experimental platform for elucidating molecular pathomechanisms and assessing preclinical efficacy of therapeutic candidates targeting neurodegeneration and inflammation in Parkinson’s disease. ※ Title: Preclinical studies and transcriptome analysis in a model of Parkinson’s disease with dopaminergic ZNF746 expression ※ Journal: Molecular Neurodegeneration ※ Paper Link: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13024-025-00814-3 ※ Portal(Pure): https://pure.skku.edu/en/persons/yunjong-lee/
- No. 337
- 2025-10-24
- 1527
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Design of an Origami-Based Hybrid Pneumatic Joint and Implementation of a High-Torque Manipulator
This study developed a hybrid pneumatic joint by combining a soft pneumatic-driven origami chamber and a rigid frame with a fixed rotational axis. The hybrid joint appropriately limited the excessive compliance, which was a drawback of existing inflatable joints, and was able to maintain high torque and control accuracy over a wide range of motion. This was expanded into a meter-scale hybrid robot manipulator, which stably performed pick-and-place tasks of heavy objects such as fruit. The objective of this study is the development of a hybrid joint with a hard/soft combined structure that compensates for the drawbacks of existing pneumatic-driven inflatable joints, such as excessive compliance and high control difficulty. This joint has the advantage that deformation is predictable due to the origami structure, it can operate under both positive and negative pressure without the chamber shape collapsing through the use of facet reinforcement, and excessive expansion of the chamber can be prevented through the use of internal constraint. Additionally, the origami chamber, when combined with a rigid frame, allows the use of general rotational angle measurement sensors such as rotary encoders or potentiometers. The origami chamber was made of tarpaulin, a type of functional fabric, and combined with a 3D-printed frame to form the hybrid joint. Unlike existing pneumatic-based joints, the joint developed in this study has the advantage of being capable of bidirectional actuation by alternating positive/negative pressure in a single chamber, and bidirectional, antagonistic actuation can also be realized by placing two origami chambers facing each other. Furthermore, by applying opposing pressures to the antagonistic chambers, a type of cooperation between chambers that significantly enhances the joint’s torque is possible, which can generate twice the torque of the original at the same chamber pressure limit. Finally, the developed hybrid joints were configured into a 3-degree-of-freedom hybrid manipulator. This robotic arm showed excellent range of motion even under applied payload and, based on compliance, operated normally even under external shocks, demonstrating a well-blended result of the advantages of soft robots and rigid-body-based robots. Furthermore, it repeatedly performed the task of receiving fruit over 1kg from a user and placing it into a fixed basket without issue, proving its applicability to everyday human tasks. ※ Paper Title: Hybrid Hard-Soft Robotic Joint and Robotic Arm Based on Pneumatic Origami Chambers ※ Journal: IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics ※ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/TMECH.2024.3411629 ※ Research Portal(Pure): https://pure.skku.edu/en/persons/hugo-rodrigue
- No. 336
- 2025-10-16
- 1725
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Identification of spin decoherence mechanism in VB- defect qubits of h-BN
The team led by Prof. Hosung Seo systematically studied the magnetic-field–dependent behavior of spin decoherence in the negatively charged boron vacancy (VB⁻) defect of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and proposed practical guidelines for extending the coherence time (T₂). The study shows that the decoherence mechanism undergoes a transition across distinct magnetic-field regimes and provides recommended magnetic field ranges together with their microscopic origins for quantum information applications. As a next-generation 2D materials platform for quantum technologies, the VB⁻ defect in h-BN offers an optically addressable spin qubit operating at room temperature. However, its short T₂ time has been a critical bottleneck to practical applications, calling for both practical strategy and microscopic understanding to enhance coherence. In this work, the researchers combined density functional theory calculations with the generalized cluster-correlation expansion (CCE) to quantitatively investigate the decoherence across a broad range of magnetic fields. The results show that the isotopic composition of boron and nitrogen markedly affects T₂, and that a critical magnetic field strength (called transition boundary) exists, above which T₂ increases by two orders of magnitude. The analysis also identifies distinct modulations in coherence at particular magnetic fields originating from specific nuclear spins in h-BN. This study presents a unified theoretical framework for the distinctive decoherence physics of h-BN, characterized by a dense nuclear-spin bath with high-nuclear-spin isotopes. Building on this framework, we propose design guidelines for spin qubits in 2D materials based on isotopic engineering and magnetic-field control. These guidelines support the quantum-devices design and the optimization of sensing conditions for h-BN based quantum information technologies. This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), by Creation of the Quantum Information Science R&D Ecosystem through the NRF, and the education and training program of the Quantum Information Research Support Center at SKKU, funded through the NRF. The excellence of this work was recognized with publication in the Advanced Functional Materials (Impact Factor: 19.0), a leading international journal in the field of Applied Physics, on Aug. 24, 2025. ※ Paper Title: Magnetic-Field Dependent VB− Spin Decoherence in Hexagonal Boron Nitrides: A First-Principles Study ※ Journal: Advanced Functional Materials ※ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202511274 VB- spin decoherence as functions of magnetic fields and transition boundary for decoherence
- No. 335
- 2025-10-10
- 1455
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Metalens-Based Volumetric Photoacoustic Imaging Technology for Brain Organoids
A collaborative research group led by Professor Inki Kim (Department of Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University), in partnership with Professors Byullee Park and Jong-Chan Park, has successfully developed a large-area volumetric photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) platform utilizing a metalens. This breakthrough enables unprecedented three-dimensional imaging of neuromelanin within brain organoids, with profound implications for the study of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. Photoacoustic imaging is a hybrid modality that combines optical excitation with ultrasonic detection: pulsed laser light is delivered into biological tissue, where absorbed photons induce thermoelastic expansion and generate ultrasonic waves. While optical imaging suffers from severe scattering within tissue, ultrasound experiences minimal attenuation, permitting deeper penetration. Thus, PAM uniquely offers the synergistic advantages of optical-resolution imaging and ultrasonic depth reach, and has been actively applied in oncology, vascular studies, and metabolic research without the need for exogenous labels. Conventional PAM, however, is constrained by the fundamental trade-off between resolution and depth of focus. As imaging departs from the optical focal plane, both signal strength and resolution rapidly decline, making label-free volumetric imaging of thick biological constructs such as organoids extremely challenging. To overcome this limitation, the research team engineered a novel phase-controlled metalens capable of generating a non-diffracting needle beam. By merging phase maps corresponding to lenses of distinct focal lengths into a single titanium dioxide (TiO₂)-based metasurface, the group produced a lens that preserves diffraction-limited resolution while extending the depth of focus by more than 13.5-fold compared to conventional optics. This innovation, unachievable with traditional refractive lens designs, represents a transformative step in lens engineering. The needle-beam metalens was subsequently integrated into a photoacoustic microscope, enabling high-resolution volumetric visualization of neuromelanin distribution within living brain organoids. Neuromelanin, a critical biomarker for Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, has previously been inaccessible to quantitative imaging due to the optical opacity of brain tissue models. Using this platform, the team successfully captured three-dimensional maps of neuromelanin across forebrain and midbrain organoids, and experimentally demonstrated dynamic changes in melanin distribution as a function of culture duration. These findings hold direct significance for elucidating the pathological mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease, as disease onset and progression are strongly age-related. According to Professor Kim: “Our metalens-based photoacoustic microscopy is not limited to brain organoids, but can be broadly applied to diverse classes of organoid systems. This technology thus provides a versatile tool for probing pathological mechanisms and assessing pharmacological efficacy across a wide spectrum of biomedical research domains.” The study, entitled “Axially multifocal metalens for 3D volumetric photoacoustic imaging of neuromelanin in live brain organoid”, has been published in Science Advances (Impact Factor 12.5). The work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) through the STEAM: Global Convergence Research Program, the K-Brain Project, the Sejong Science Fellowship, and the Young Investigator Program. ※ Title: Axially multifocal metalens for 3D volumetric photoacoustic imaging of neuromelanin in live brain organoid ※ Journal: Science Advances (IF: 12.5) ※ Link: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adr0654 ▲Figure 1. Needle beam metalens with extended depth of focus and its application to brain organoid imaging ▲ Figure 2. Photoacoustic imaging of the 3D melanin distribution within a brain organoid using a needle beam metalens ▲ Figure 3. Metalens-based neuromelanin quantification for Parkinson’s disease research
- No. 334
- 2025-09-26
- 2571
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Development of Biocompatible and Stretchable Semiconductor for Implantable Devices
A research team led by Professor Suk Ho Bhang of the School of Chemical Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University and Professor Jin Young Oh of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Kyung Hee University has developed a core technology for next-generation implantable bioelectronic devices. The team succeeded in realizing a highly stretchable and biocompatible organic transistor that mimics the mechanical softness of biological tissue while maintaining stable function during long-term implantation. This breakthrough offers new possibilities for advancing the performance of clinical implantable devices such as pacemakers, neurostimulators, and insulin pumps. The research addressed the long-standing challenge of tissue damage and inflammation caused by the rigidity of conventional silicon-based semiconductors. By blending semiconducting nanofibers (DPPT-TT) with a medical-grade elastomer (BIIR) and applying a vulcanization process, the team fabricated a semiconducting film that combines skin-like elasticity with stable electrical performance. In addition, the incorporation of dual-layer silver and gold metallization enabled robust operation without corrosion in biofluid environments. The fabricated transistors maintained stable performance even under strains exceeding 50 percent and were successfully applied to drive basic logic circuits such as inverters, NOR gates, and NAND gates. In vitro tests with human dermal fibroblasts and macrophages revealed no signs of toxicity or inflammatory response, while in vivo subcutaneous implantation in BALB/c mice confirmed long-term biocompatibility. Notably, the study demonstrated reduced fibrous capsule formation, a major cause of decreased functionality in implantable devices. The team emphasized that this achievement could serve as a fundamental platform for next-generation implantable electronics, with strong potential applications in real-time physiological signal monitoring, neural interfacing, and personalized therapeutic systems. This work was supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT) through the Materials and Components Technology Development Program, as well as by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) through the Excellent Young Researcher Program, the University-Centered Research Institute Program, and the Engineering Research Center (ERC) Program. The findings were published in the international journal Nature Electronics and were subsequently highlighted in a Nature Electronics Research Briefing (IF: 40.9, JCR < 0.1%) on September 2. Paper Title: A biocompatible elastomeric organic transistor for implantable electronics First authors: Kyu Ho Jung, Dr. Jiyu Hyun, Corresponding authors: Prof. Suk Ho Bhang, Prof. Jin Young Oh Journal: Nature Electronics DOI: 10.1038/s41928-025-01444-9
- No. 333
- 2025-09-23
- 1977
