Research
Research Overview
Tracking and stimulating biointerfaces to fully understand the human brain and nerve systems, such as brain cell development, chemical signalling between the cells, neural stem cell regenerations, immunoresponsive reactions, are directly impacting the quality of human life.
In our group, we are aiming to establish the in situ, non-destructive, and highly reliable stimulation and recording system for biointerfaces. This will be realized by integrating versatile multidisciplinary researches including: (i) nano/microfabrication research, (ii) organic device fabrication and characterization, (iii) surface reaction analysis, and (iv) stem cell research.
뇌세포의 발달, 세포 사이의 화학적 신호교환, 신경줄기세포 재생, 면역 반응 등 우리 뇌와 신경계 내부의 여러 가지 생물학적 현상을 추적하고 자극하는 연구는 인간 수명을 연장하고 삶의 질을 높이는 데 기여하는 중요한 연구 분야 중 하나입니다.
본 그룹에서는 초박막 형태의 기능성 고분자 합성기술,
디바이스 제작 기술 및 패터닝 기술을 융합하여 뇌와 신경계에서 일어나는 다양한 현상을 비파괴적으로 관찰 가능한 생체 친화적인 바이오센싱 플랫폼을 구축하고자 합니다.
이는 화학, 재료과학, 생명과학과 같은 기초과학에서부터 나노기술, 계면공학을 아우르는 응용연구에 이르는 다학제간 융합을 통하여 현실화될 것입니다.
Cell-Material
Interfaces
Interfaces
Strategic design of 3-dimensional microenvironments is crucial to understand cell-material interactions, but also to reduce the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for neural electrodes’ sensitivity. Among 3D structures, we are focusing on vertically standing high-aspect-ratio structures, which can penetrate the cytosol of cells with minimal perturbation to cells/tissues.
The high-aspect-ratio structures further can be integrated with conductive electrode devices such as microelectrode array (MEA), which can provide an interfacial layer between a live cell and an electrical instrument and enable us to record and even stimulate the biointerfaces.
Biofunctional Films
via iCVD process
via iCVD process
Major disadvantage of standard devices for biomedical applications comes from interfacial mismatch, because most of the devices are made of metals, metal alloys, and silicon-based materials which are rigid. This leads foreign body reactions to negatively affect the sensitivity and functionality of the implanted devices.
To minimize these, we are aimed to introduce nanosized coatings synthesized via initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) to tailor the surface properties. These nanocoatings can serve primary functions such as surface protection, anti-corrosions, but also can be used for additional purposes including drug delivery, growth factor immobilization, and so on.
Organic electronics
for biosensing
for biosensing
To use flexible, lightweight organic electronics for biomedical application, their environmental stability should be guaranteed. At the same time, their high operational voltage, which disturbs ion concentration gradients and induce action potentials, needs to be reduced. We are aiming to achieve these requirements by introducing novel, hybrid insulating layers.
Mechanical robustness of device and whole circuitry will be secured by studying interfacial adhesions between layers. Conjugation of DNA, antibodies, and nanoparticles directly onto the device top surface will be investigated to increase sensors’ sensitivity and specificity.