Research Highlight:

Referred Publications: 

65.  " Cationic Corona-Engineered Polymer-Lipid Hybrid Nanoparticles for Enhanced Dermal Penetration and Cellular Bioavailability ", Yongin Seo, Jongryeo Yang, Minji Song, An, Yujung An, Young Ah Park, Bohyeon Jang, Honggeun Ji, Youngbok Lee*, Daehwan Park*, Jin Woong Kim*, Langmuir, Submitted

64.  " Melanocortin 1 Receptor-Targeted Peptide-Functionalized Liposomes for Enhanced Melanocyte-Selective Drug Delivery and Anti-Melanogenic Efficacy ", Donghan Kim, Hwira Baek, Marta Gonçalves, Seyoung Yang, Seonhyeng Yi, Changju Lee, Yunha Hwang, Jae Sung Hwang, Youngbok Lee*, Jin Woong Kim**, Chemical Engineering Journal, Submitted

63.  " SABRE Hyperpolarization of Sub-Micromolar N-Heterocyclic Compounds through Acethydrazide as a Co-Substrate Agent ", Quy Son Luu, Quynh Nguyen, Seokki Yun,  Hung Ngo Manh, Dinh Nguyen, Seyoung Yang, Uyen Do, Nicholas Whiting, Dong-Ku Kang*, Jihyun Kim*,  Sang Uck Lee*, Youngbok Lee*, 2025, Analytical Chemistry, In revision

62.  " Membrane emulsification-derived cellulose microbeads encapsulating vitamin C with pH-sensitive release via chitosan nanowhisker coating ", Jisoo Lee, Hyo Jeong Kim, Minji Song, Mingyeong Kim, Youngho Eom, Youngbok Lee*, Hoik Lee*, Carbohydrate Polymers, Volume 372, 15 January 2026, 124526 view 

61. " Isolation of gut microorganisms from mealworms capable of degrading biodegradable plastic polybutylene succinate ", Heeju Jang, Hwicheol Shin, Sunhee Lim, Youngbok Lee*, Dong-Ku Kang*, Journal of Hazardous Materials, Volume 500, 5 December 2025, 140492  view 

60.  " Intranasal nanophotosensitizer enables safe and broad-spectrum photodynamic inactivation of respiratory viruses ", Sunmi Han, Assel Seitkazina, Jeongyun Heo, Se-young Kim, SuJin Kim, Sung-Ho Jeon, Yung Hun Park, Taehun Lim, Bohyeon Kim, Shivani Rajoriya, Quy Son Luu, Youngbok Lee, Yong-Deok Lee, Honghwan Choi, Won-Keun Kim, Hyun Jik Kim, Sehoon Kim*, Journal of Photochemistry & Photobiology, B: Biology, Volume 272, November 2025, 113261 view 

59.  " Enhancing Skin Delivery of Liposomes via Flexibility Optimization with Fatty Alcohol Incorporation for Skin Barrier Reinforcement and Brightening ", Quynh Thi Nguyen, Minjoo Noh, Minji Song, Jiwon Kim, Seyoung Yang, Uyen Thi Do, Quy Son Luu, Yeeun Park, Jihyun Lee, Jihui Jang, Nicholas Whiting, Junbae Lee, Youngbok Lee*, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2025, 17, 42, 57976–57988. Selected as a Supplementary Journal Cover view 

58.  " Unlocking Hidden Miscibility: Entropy Diluent Strategy for Incompatible Polymer Blends ", Jae Hyun Sim, Wanteak Hong, Thanh Van Vu, Hyorin Choi, Jiwon Kim, Youngbok Lee, Youngjong Kang*, Macromolecules 2025, 58, 18, 9682–9691 view 

57.  " Enhancing 29Si Hyperpolarization Efficiency in Silica Nanoparticles via Multi-Shell Design with Selective 29Si-Isotope and Radical Enrichment ", Quynh Thi Nguyen, Quy Son Luu, Katsuaki Suzuki, Jaehwa Choi, Seokki Yun, Uyen Thi Do, Jeong Hyun Shim*, Hironori Kaji*, Youngbok Lee*, Anal. Chem. 2025, 97, 30, 16183–16193. Selected as a Supplementary Journal Cover view 

55. "Morphology-Tunable Binary Transition Metal Oxide Heterostructure@Carbon Composites for Lithium-Ion Batteries", Jaeseong Kim, Sangyeop Kim, Chanyoung Lee, Seyoung Koo,  Youngbok Lee, Hee Soo Kim*, Hak-Sung Jung* and, Won Cheol Yoo*,  ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces  2025, 17, 15, 22792-22802 view

54. "Reduced graphene oxide composite fiber with hierarchical pores for all-solid-state fiber supercapacitors", Seongjae Oh , Seon Lee , Hyunsoo Kim, Young-Chul Song, Hyun Kim , Youngbok Lee , Seong Chu Lim , Dongseok Suh , Shi Hyeong Kim, Keon Jung Kim, Carbon, 2025, 119998

53. "Exploring lecithin’s structural diversity to control core crystallinity in poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(ɛ-caprolactone) nanocarriers", Uyen Thi Do , Minji Song , Jiwon Kim , Quy Son Luu , Quynh Thi Nguyen , Yeeun Park , Seyoung Yang , Jaehwa Choi , Seokki Yun , Nicholas Whiting ,  Youngbok Lee*, European Polymer Journal, 2024, 113652

52. "Hyperpolarized water by dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization: Applications in biomolecular NMR", Youngbok Lee*, and Jihyun Kim*, Applied Spectroscopy Reviews, 2024, 188, 1322-1343

51. "Tailored synthesis of pH-responsive biodegradable microcapsules incorporating gelatin, alginate, and hyaluronic acid for effective-controlled release", Uyen Thi Do, Quynh Thi Nguyen, Jiwon Kim, Quy Son Luu, Yeeun Park, Minji Song, Seyoung Yang, Jaehwa Choi, Dong-Ku Kang*, and Youngbok Lee*, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024, 270, 132178

50. "SABRE Hyperpolarization of Nicotinamide Derivatives and their Molecular Dynamics Properties", Quy son Luu, Quynh Thi Nguyen, Hung Ngo Manh, Seokki Yun, Jiwon Kim, Uyen Thi Do, Keunghong Jeong*, Sang Uck Lee*, and Youngbok Lee*, Analyst, 2024, 149, 1068

49. "Facile Synthesis Process for Preparing Silicon Carbide with Unique Honeycomb Structure", Quynh Thi Nguyen, Quy son Luu, Jiwon Kim, Uyen Thi Do, Yeeun Park, Jihyun Kim, and Youngbok Lee*, Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society, 2024, 45,238-242

48. "Biodegradable Nanofiber/Metal Organic Framework/Cotton Air Filtration Membranes Enabling Simultaneous Removal of Toxic Gases and Particulate Matter", Sujin Ryu, Doyeon Kim, Hyewon Lee, Yoonjin Kim, Youngbok Lee, Myungwoong Kim*, Heedong Lee*, Hoik Lee*, Polymers, 2023, 15, 3965.

47. "Surface grafting of a zwitterionic copolymer onto a cellulose nanofiber membrane for oil/water separation", Dongwan Son, Seungjun Kim, Jinhyeong Kim, Doyeon Kim, Sujin Ryu,  Youngbok Lee, Myungwoong Kim*, and Hoik Lee*, Cellulose, 2023, 30, 9635-9640.

46. "Background free in vivo 29Si MR imaging with hyperpolarized PEGylated 50 nm silicon nanoparticles", Seung-Hyun Yang, Jiwon Kim, Tae Geol Lee, Mirae Park, Hye Young Son, Chan Gyu Joo, Jeong Hyun Shim*, Youngbok Lee* and Young-Min Huh*, Analyst, 2023, 148, 5355-5360. Hot Article

45. "Accurate Detection of Enzymatic Degradation Processes of Gelatin–Alginate Microcapsule by 1H NMR Spectroscopy: Probing Biodegradation Mechanism and Kinetics", Uyen Thi Do, Jiwon Kim, Quy Son Luu, Quynh Thi Nguyen, Taeho Jang, Yeeun Park, Hwicheol Shin, Dong-Ku Kang*, Jas-Sung Kwon*, and Youngbok Lee*, Carbohydrate Polymers, 2023, 304, 120490.

44. "Dynamic Nuclear Polarization of Selectively 29Si-enriched Core@shell Silica Nanoparticles", Jiwon Kim, Incheol Heo, Quy Son Luu, Quynh Thi Nguyen, Uyen Thi Do, Nicholas Whiting, Seung-Hyun Yang, Yong-Min Huh, Sun-Joon Min, Jeong Hyun Shim*, Won Cheol Yoo*, and Youngbok Lee*, Analytical Chemistry, 2023, 95(2), 907-916., Selected as a Supplementary Journal Cover.

43. "Synthesis of Ultra-Small Gold Nanorods: Effect of Reducing Agnet on Reaction Rate Control", Sunghoon Yoo, Goeun Youn, Hyunseung Lee, Jae-Sung Kwon*, Youngbok Lee*, and Seunghyun Lee*, Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society, 2023, 44, 648-652.

42. "Selectively Radical-Grafted Silica Nanoparticles for Enhanced 29Si Dynamic Nuclear Polarization", Quy Son Luu, Quynh Thi Nguyen, Jiwon Kim, Uyen Thi Do, Nicholas Whiting, Jeong Hyun Shim*, Sun-Joon Min*, and Youngbok Lee*, Analyst, 2022, 147, 5607-5612., Hot Article

41. "One-Pot Bifunctionalization of Silica Nanoparticles Conjugated with Bioorthogonal Linkers: Application in Dual-modal Imaging", Biomaterials Science, 2022, 13, 3540-3546

40. "Microfluidic Free Flow Electrophoresis: a Promising Tool for Protein Purification and Analysis in Proteomics", Youngbok Lee*, and Jae-Sung Kwon*, Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 2022, 109, 79-99.

39. "Polyphenol-modified nanovesicles for synergistically enhanced in vitro tumor cell targeting and apoptosis", Jihye Seo a, Seulgi Kim a, Yousong Lee a, Jiwon Kim b, Youngbok Lee *b, Mikyung Shin *c and Jin Woong Kim, ) J. Mater. Chem. B, 2022, 10, 1561-1570 

38. "Discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv3364c-Derived Small Molecules as Potential Therapeutic Agents to Target SNX9 for Sepsis", Daeun Lee, Eunbi Lee, Sein Jang, Kyungmin Kim, Euni Cho, Seok-Jun Mun, Wooic Son, Hye-in Jeon, Hyo Keun Kim, Young Jin Jeong, Yuno Lee, Ji Eun Oh, Hye Hyun Yoo, Youngbok Lee, Sun-Soon Min*, and Chul-Su Yang*, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2022, 65 (1), 386 - 408. 

37. Quy Son Luu, Uyen Thi Do, Dokyung Kim, Jiwon Kim, Donghyeok Jo, Quynh Thi Nguye and Youngbok Lee* "Enhancing Adsorption Efficiencies of Organic Molecules through Covalently Bonded Structures of Magnetic Carbon Nanoparticles." Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 2022, 105, 74-82.

36. Jiwon Kim, Donghyuk Jo, Seung-Hyun Yang, Chan-Gyu Joo, Nicholas Whiting, Shivanand Pudakalakatti, Hyeonglim Seo, Hye Young Son, Sun-Joon Min, Pratip Bhattacharya, Yong-Min Huh*, Jeong Hyun Shim*, and Youngbok Lee*, "29Si Isotope-Enriched Silicon Nanoparticles for Efficient Hyperpolarized Magnetic Resonance Imaging Probe." ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2021, 13, 56923–56930. Selected as a Supplementary Journal Cover.

35. Jiwon Kim, Sumin Hwang, Quy Son Luu, Donghyuk Jo, Uyen Thi Do, Quynh Thi Nguyen, and Youngbok Lee* "Development of Porous Silicon-coated Gold Nanoparticles as Potential Theragnostic Material." Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society, 2021, 42, 1706–1712.

34. Kim, J.; Do, U. T.; Kim, J. W.; Jo, D.; Luu, Q. S.; Jung, J.; Lee, Y.* "Biodegradability Evaluation of Hydroxyethylcellulose-Based Microcapsules by 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy." Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 2021, 95, 51-56

33.  Kim, J.; Kim, Y.; Luu, Q. S.; Kim, J.; Qi, C.; Hilty, C.; Lee, Y.* "Indirect Detection of Intermediate in Decarboxylation Reaction of Phenylglyoxylic Acid by Hyperpolarized 13C NMR." Chemical Communications, 2020, 56 (95), 15000–15003. 

32.  Lee, J.Y.; Sung, M.; Seo, H.; Park, Y.J.; Lee, J.B.; Go, J.; Shin, S.S.; Lee, Y.; Shin, K.*; Kim, J.W.* “Temperature-responsive interdrop association of condensed attractive nanoemulsions,” Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 2020, 86, 158-166.

31.  Kang, J.I.; Choi, I.; Seo, M.; Hong, S.; Gong, G.; Shin, S.S.; Hwang, J.S.; Lee, Y.*; Kim, J.W.*  “Enhancing Membrane Modulus of Giant Unilamellar Lipid Vesicles by Lateral Co-Assembly of Amphiphilic Triblock Copolymers”, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2020, 561, 318-326.

30.  Luu, Q.S.; Kim, J; Jo, D.; Jeong, J.; Lee, Y.* “Applications and Perspective of Silicon Particles in Hyperpolarized 29Si Magnetic Resonance Imaging,” Applied Spectroscopy Reviews, 2020, 55, 476-490. 

29.  Choi, K.H.; Kang, D.W.; Kim, K.H.; Kim, J; Lee, Y.*; Sang Hyuk; Im*, S.; Park, B.J.* “Direct measurement of electrostatic interactions between poly(methyl methacrylate) microspheres with optical laser tweezers,” Soft Matter, 2019, 15, 8051-8058

28.  Seo, H.; Kim, D.; Ahn, H.S.; Hwang, S.; Luu, Q.S.; Kim, J.; Lee, S.*; Lee, Y.* “Efficient Conversion Method of Bulk Silicon Powders into Porous Silicon Nanoparticles,” Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society, 2018, 39 (12) 1455-1458.​

27.  Park, D.; Lee, J.; Cho, H.; Hong, W.; Kim, J.; Seo, H.*; Choi, I.; Lee, Y.; Kim, J.;  Min, S.; Yoon, S.; Hwang, J.*; Cho, K.; Kim, J.* “Cell-Penetrating Peptide-Patchy Squashy Polymeric Nanovehicles with Enhanced Cellular Uptake and Transdermal Delivery”, Biomacromolecules, 2018, 19 (7), 2682-2690. 

26.  Seo, H.; Choi, I.; Whiting, N.; Hu, J.; Luu, Q.S.; Pudakalakatti, S.; McCowan, C.; Kim, Y.; Zacharias, N.; Lee, S.*; Bhattacharya, P.*; Lee, Y.* “Hyperpolarized Porous Silicon Nanoparticles: Potential Theragnostic Material for 29Si Magnetic Resonance Imaging”, ChemPhysChem, 2018, 19 (17), 2143-2147 

25.  Liu, M.; Zhang, G.; Mahanta, N.; Lee, Y.*; Hilty, C.* “Measurement of Kinetics and Active Site Distances in Metalloenzyme Using Paramagnetic NMR with 13C Hyperpolarization”, The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 2018, 9 (9), 2218-2221. 

24.  Lee, H.; Lee. J.K.; Min, S.; Seo, H.; Lee, Y.; Rhee, H* “Copper(I)-catalyzed synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles from azidoformates and aryl terminal alkynes”, The Journal of Organic Chemistry,  2018, 83 (8), 4805-4811. 

23.  Zacharias, N.M.; McCullough, C.; Shanmugavelandy, S.; Lee, J.;  Lee, Y.; Dutta, P.; McHenry, J.; Nguyen, L.; Norton, W.;  Jones, L.; Bhattacharya, P. "Metabolic Differences in Glutamine Utilization Lead to Metabolic Vulnerabilities in Prostate Cancer", Scientific Reports, 2017, 7, 16159 

22. Shabbir, S.; Lee, S.; Lim, M.; Lee, H.; Ko, H.; Lee, Y.; Rhee, H. “Pd nanoparticles on reverse phase silica gel as recyclable catalyst for Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling reaction and hydrogenation in water”, Jounal of Organometallic Chemistry, 2017, 846, 296-304 

21.  Shin, K.; Gong, G.; Cuadrado, J.; Jeon, S.; Seo, M.; Choi, H.S.; Hwang, J.S.; Lee, Y.*; Fernandez-Nieves, A.*; Kim, J.W.* “Structually Stable Attractive Nanoscale Emulsions with Dipole-Dipole Interaction-Driven Interdrop Percolation”, Chemistry - A European Journal, 2017, 23, 4292-4297. Selected as a frontispiece cover. Highlighted on Chemistry Views. 

20.  Jeong, E.; Lee, G.; Han, S.; Choi, H.; Lee, Y.*; Kim, J.* “Polyelectrolyte/Silica-Layered Hydrogel Microcapsules as Vehicles with Remarkable Shell Impermeability”, Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 2017, 46, 192-198.​

19.  Ko, H.; Choi, I.; Chang, K.; Jeong, G.; Gong, G.; Seo, H.; Ryu, D.; Lee, K.G.; Choi, D.; Chung, H.*; Lee, Y.* “Amphiphilic metabolites in gallbladder bile: Potential biomarkers for gallbladder diseases,” Applied Spectroscopy Reviews, 2016, 51, 706-717. 

18.  Seo, S.; Byun, A.; Shim, J.; Choi, H.S.; Lee, Y.*; Kim, J.W.* “Uniform and stable hydrogel-filled liposome-analogous vesicles with a thin elastomer shell layer,” Colloids and Surface B: Biointerfaces, 2016, 146, 544-549. 

17. Jung, G.; Lee, J.W.; Gong, G.; Ko, H.; Choi, I.; Seo, H.; Zacharias, N.; Bhattacharya, P.; Lee, Y.* “Bio-interfacial Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Hyperpolarized Contrast Agents for Metabolic Flux Interrogation In Vivo,” Journal of Industrial Engineering and Chemistry, 2016, 36, 224-228. 

16.  Lee, Y.* “Dissolution Dynamic Nuclear Polarization enhanced Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: Chemical and Biochemical Reactions in Non-equilibrium Conditions,” Applied Spectroscopy Reviews, 2016, 51(3), 190-206

15.  Lee, Y.* “Hyperpolarized NMR Analysis of Enzymatic Reaction: Extension of Observable Reaction Time by Deuterium Isotope Labeling,” Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society, 2016, 37(6), 810-814. 

14.  Zacharias, N.M.; McCullough, C.; Wagner, S.; Sailasuta, N.; Chan, H.; Lee, Y.; Hu, J.; Perman, W.; Henneberg, C.; Ross, B.; Bhattacharya, P.K. “Towards Real-time Metabolic Profiling of Cancer with Hyperpolarized Succinate,” Journal of Molecular Imaging & Dynamics, 2016, 6(1), 1000123. 

13.  Millward, N.Z.; McCullough, C.; Lee, Y.; Hu, J.Z.; Dutta, P.; Piwnica-Worms, D.; Bhattacharya, P. “In vivo Metabolic Imaging to Differentiate Aggressive versus Indolent Prostate Cancer,” Cancer Research, 2015, 75, 210. 

12.  Park, M.R.; Oh, S.; Son, S.J.; Park, D.J.; Oh, S.; Kim, S.H.; Jeong, D.Y.; Oh, N.S.; Lee, Y.; Song, M.; Kim, Y. “Bacillus licheniformis Isolated from Traditional Korean Food Resources Enhances the Longevity of Caenorhabditis elegans  through Serotonin Signaling,” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2015, 63, 10227-10233. 

11.  Ko, H.; Jung, G.; Gong, G.; Choi, I.; Seo, H.; Lee, Y.* “Hyperpolarization: Sensitivity Boost for Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Imaging,” Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society, 2015, 19, 124-131. 

10.  Lee, Y.; Zacharias, N.M.; Piwnica-Worms, D.; Bhattacharya, P.K. “Chemical reaction-induced multi-molecular polarization (CRIMP),” Chemical Communication 2014, 50, 13030-13033.

9.  Lee, Y.; Heo, G.S.; Zeng, H.; Wooley, K.; Hilty, C.B. “Detection of living anionic species in polymerization reaction using hyperpolarized NMR,” Journal of the American Chemical Society 2013, 135, 4636–4639.

8.  Lee, Y.; Zeng, H.; Ruedisser, S.; Gossert, A.D.; Hilty, C.B. “Nuclear magnetic resonance of hyperpolarized fluorine for detection of protein-ligand interactions,” Journal of the American Chemical Society 2012, 134, 17448–17451. Highlighted in Nature SciBX.

7.  Lee, Y.; Zeng, H.; Mazur, A.; Wegstroth, M.; Carlomagno, T.; Reese, M.; Lee, D.; Becker, S.; Griesinger, C.; Hilty, C.B. “Hyperpolarized binding pocket NOE for determination of competitive ligand binding,” Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2012, 51, 5179–5182. Highlighted in BRIC.

6.  Chen, H-Y.; Lee, Y.; Bowen, S.; Hilty, C.B. “Spontaneous emission of NMR signals in hyperpolarized proton spin systems,” Journal of Magnetic Resonance 2011, 208, 204–209.

5.  Zeng, H.; Lee, Y.; Hilty, C.B. “Quantitative rate determination by dynamic nuclear polarization enhanced NMR of a diels-alder reaction,” Analytical Chemistry 2010, 82 (21), 8897–8902.

4.  Namkung, H.; Lee, Y.; Chung, H. “Improving prediction selectivity for on-line near-infrared monitoring of components in etchant solution by spectral range optimization,” Analytica Chimica Acta 2008, 606, 50–56.

3.  Lee, Y.; Chung, H.; Arnold, M. A. “Improving the robustness of a partial least squares (PLS) model based on pure component selectivity analysis and range optimization: Case study for the analysis of an etching solution containing hydrogen peroxide,” Analytica Chimica Acta 2006, 572, 93–101.

2.  Lee, Y.; Chung, H.; Kim, N. “Spectral range optimization for the Near-Infrared quantitative analysis of petrochemical and petroleum products: naphtha and gasoline,” Applied Spectroscopy 2006, 60, 892-897.

1.  Lee, Y.; Nah, S.; Namkung, H.; Chung, H. “Near-Infrared spectroscopy for monitoring wafer etchant solution using a teflon tube,” Applied Spectroscopy 2005, 59, 952-955.