Research

• The BioMEND Lab focuses on engineering nucleic acid- and protein-based biomolecules for innovative disease diagnostics and therapeutics. Our multidisciplinary reseach integrates molecular biology, bioengineering, and nanotechnology, to devlop highly sensitive biosensors, molecular diagnostics, targeted drug delivery systems, and molecular therapeutics. By bridging basic biomolecular design with clinical applications, we aim to provide novel solutions for precision medicine and global health challenges.

• The team has been intensively conducting research in the field of nucleic acid engineering. The team possesses proprietary nucleic acid engineering technologies that allow for the rational design of DNA sequences and the effective utilization of DNA aptamers and DNAzymes. By integrating these nucleic acid engineering platform technologies into engineering tools such as SELEX, PCR, biosensors, and biochips, the team has achieved outstanding research outcomes. 

• Specifically, the team is engaged in 

(i) Developing biosensors based on novel nucleic acid amplification methods such as isothermal amplification technologies, the CRISPR/Cas system that has attracted attention in genome editing, catalytically active DNAzymes, and target-specific aptamers 

(ii) Developing targeted drug delivery systems for treating various diseases-especially cancers-by utilizing plant- or milk-derived exosomes as delivery vehicles and aptamers as specific targeting receptors

(iii) Synthesizing inorganic nanoparticles under eco-friendly conditions using biomolecules, and applying them to cellular imaging and display materials 

(iv) Creating novel approaches to targeted protein degradation using nucleic acid-based recognition modules.

(v) Conducting research on liquid biopsy, which is gaining attention as an alternative to traditional tissue biopsy for cancer diagnosis. In particular, the team is developing technologies for early cancer diagnosis through the analysis of exosomes—biological vesicles that are structurally stable and abundantly present.

Our research findings have been covered by various media channels.