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Department of Biomedical Engineering

Research

Biomaterials Research > Biomaterials

  • mnE Lab.
  • NBT Lab.
  • NEMO Lab.
  • LAB2 Lab.

micro.nano.Engineering Lab. (Professor Sungyoung. Choi)

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The micro.nano.Engineering Laboratory focuses on the development of innovative micro-nano-bio-engineering tools that can not only greatly advance our understanding of cell mechanics and biology, but also be easily commercialized and translated to widely-distributed commodities for cell-based therapeutics, point-of-care diagnostics, cell mechanics, and micro-/nano-technologies.

Specific research areas Recent results

Separation science and technology

  • White blood cell purification technology for blood sample preparation for immunophenotyping
  • Rapid enrichment of residual white blood cells for quality control of blood products
  • High-throughput nucleated cell removal for treatment for patients with acute leukemia
  • Stem cell separation based on cell rolling dynamics
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Cover articles for white blood cell separation (left) and stem cell separation (right) featured in Small and Lab on a Chip.

Open-source bioengineering tools

  • Optofluidic modular blocks as an open-source development tool for bioengineering
  • Open-source digital droplet PCR for open-access molecular diagnostics
  • Open-source spectrometer for field-portable biochemical assays
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Cover article for optofluidic modular blocks featured in Small (left) and a representative module assembly for blood agglutination assay (right).

microFlow Cytometry

  • Residual white blood cell counter based on white blood cell enrichment
  • Sheathless, pumpless microflow cytometry based on a constant flow-rate source
  • Digital flow cytometry for multiplexed analysis of immune cells
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Schematic of a microflow cytometry for blood analysis (left) and a representative microflow cytometry for residual white blood cell counting (right).

Point-of-care Diagnostics

  • Blood sample preparation technologies for point-of-care molecular diagnostics
  • DNA biosensors for sensitive detection of biomarkers in blood
  • Immunological technologies for isolation and analysis of blood exosomes for liquid biopsy
Research Results-image4
Cover article shwoing a blood plasma separation platform for field-portable blood

NanoBio Technology Lab (Professor Sun Jeong. Kim)

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Aging decreases physical functions of human body which causes presbyopia, muscle regression and so on. Bio-artificial muscle system could replace or complem-ent naturally regressed or damaged muscles, and can be applied to robots, and bio-industry which contribute greatly to developments in science and industry. Recently, an investigation into chemomechanical system as an artificial muscle has been carried out. The materials used in the chemomechanical system converted chemical free energy into mechanical energy in response to an external stimulus, such as pH, light, or electrical and magnetic fields, and showed an actuation behavior through this energy conversion. Because the actuation behavior of such materials needs to be controlled rapidly and exactly to apply to the living body, an electric stimulus has potential use as an artificial muscle. Points that need to be overcome in bio-artificial muscle system research aimed at natural muscle are: improvements in efficiency, increasing mechanical power; a prompt response; low energy consumption; and biocompatibility. It is also important for bio-artificial muscle system to be able to interface with neural tissue and muscle in the living body. The goals of NBT lab are (i) Developing bio-artificial muscles that have biocompatibility to be able to interface with tissues and have functions that can be driven by a low-power source supply, and that have stress and strain characteristics similar to those of natural muscle. (ii) To develop bio-artificial muscle system that is controllable using bio-signals (electrical and chemical signals) from nerve tissue and muscle, driven by a nano-biofuel cell.

Fields & Topics Recent research results

High-speed rotational Artificial muscle

  • Creativity: Biomimetic carbon nanotube-based artificial muscles using a twist of giving an excellent rotational performance.
  • Research Value: Micro motors, robots and industrial fluids, Lab-on-a-chip, drug delivery, medical industry with future-oriented research, presents a new paradigm to artificial muscles research.
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Graphene / carbon nanotube hybrid composite research

  • Creativi - Creativity: Array of self-aligned nanomaterials to increase mechanical toughnessbsp; Identified the phenomenon of self-aligned graphene and carbon nanotube array
  • Using graphene and carbon nanotubes as mimicking nanostructured spider webs.
  • Research Value: Bulletproof vests, automobile reinforcements, electronics industry, lightweight and high strength composite materials for industrial applications.
 Research Results-image2

Porous artificial tissue with DNAs to make Artificial Muscles

  • Creativity: Controlling porosity and mechanical properties of artificial muscle by Calcium and ionic liquid.
  • Research value: Biocompatible Energy storage material, electrochemical sensors and cell cultures.
 Research Results-image3

High elasticity having carbon nanotubes composites artificial muscles

  • Creativity: An accordion-shaped nanocomposite structure which shows reversible elastic and conductive property.
  • Research value: Contribute to bioelectrode materials and energy devices which needs flexibility and elasticity.
 Research Results-image4

Neural Engineering and Modulation Lab (Professor Dong Pyo. Jang)

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Not available

Laboratory for Advanced Biomaterials & Biodevices (LAB2 Lab.)

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Our research goal is to break down the boundaries between physics and biology. Nanoscale properties of biological materials become more and more important to understanding and controlling biological phenomena. We believe that our expertise, and studies for the interaction of quanta and biological materials on the nanoscale, provide useful and unprecedented ways to understand the nano-bio interface.

Research Results-image1
Fields and Topics Recent research results

Biomedical Electronics Using Biomaterials

 "Multifunctional and ultrathin electronic tattoos for on-skin diagnostic and therapeutic applications," Adv. Mater. 33, 2008308, 2021.

Bioinspired Optics

 "Deformable and conformal silk hydrogel inverse opal," PNAS, 114, 6185, 2017.

Lithography and Nanofabrication on Biomaterials

 "Engineering silk protein to modulate polymorphic transitions for green lithography resists," ACS Appl. Mater. & Interfaces, 14, 56623, 2022.