Research Interest

1. Melanin-mimetic probes for biosensing

In nature, the synergistic interplay between catechol and amine functional groups has been suggested to be key in the unique mechanism of marine mussel adhesion. In addition, polymerized catecholamines are found in nature as biopigments, i.e., in melanin. The dual role of catechol/catecholamine moieties in natural organics inspires us to design novel colorimetric bioassays based on a colorant with adhesiveness. This novel catecholamine-based adhesive colorant provides not only excellent quantitative (naked-eye) visible signal, but also spatial information on the biomarkers on complex surfaces, such as cell membranes.

J. Lee, S. Hong, Sens Actuators B Chem 2022

S. Kim, S. Hong, Adv Healthc Mater 2020

H. Jeong, et al., Nat Commun 2023

2. Multifunctional bioink fabrication & bioprinting

The challenge in developing adhesive biomaterials is to maintain water-resistant adhesive properties without causing cytotoxicity. As materials scientists, we seek to address this challenge by focusing on developing novel polymeric materials using bio-inspired approaches. In particular, we have designed a variety of polymeric biomaterials by mimicking the unique chemical structures of catecholamines and plant-flavonoids that show remarkable molecular-level adhesion to tissues in aqueous environment. These adhesive biomaterials can be fabricated in various 2D & 3D shapes via conventional soft lithography, ink-jet printing, and 3D bioprinting technologies for a variety of biomedical applications such as tissue engineering, wound closure, and wearable soft devices. Our recent efforts have focused, in particular, on spatiotemporal control of bioadhesive generation for stimuli-responsive soft materials engineering.

3. Catecholic/polyphenolic theranostic nanomaterials

Due to their multifunctionality, including ultraviolet protection, radical scavenging, and photothermal conversion, in addition to their intrinsic biocompatibility, nature-deriven catecholic/polyphenolic nanomaterials have been suggested as novel nano-bio platforms in biomedical applications. For examples, they have emerged as endogenous chromophores for photoacoustic imaging and radical scavengers for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. The photothermal conversion ability of these materials under near-infrared irradiation allows hyperthermia-mediated cancer treatments, and their intrinsic fluorescence can be an indicator in biosensing applications. Furthermore, catecholic/polyphenolic nanomaterials possess a versatile affinity for various functional organic and inorganic additives, allowing the design of multifunctional hybrid nanomaterials that expand their range of applications in bioimaging, therapy, theranostics, and biosensing.

J. Kim, et al., Nanoscale 2022

J. Park, et al., Food Chem 2022

J. Park, et al., Theranostics 2021

4. Surface biofunctionalization of medical devices

Mechanical and chemical mismatches at the interface between artificial biomaterials and natural tissues are recognized as a major issue to be resolved to minimize the cytotoxicity and increase the bio-integration of artificial implants. We have interested in utilizing novel nature-driven organic biomaterials (e.g. catecholamines, tannins) on surface coating/modification, particularly, to reduce the cytotoxicity of inorganic nanomaterials and increase the loading efficiency of small molecular therapeutics released from the surface. The developed coating techniques have also been applied to a wide range of biomedical devices for bioassays; we have worked on developing novel surface chemistry for plastic substrates for point-of-care diagnostics.

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