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Discovery of Novel Lung Cancer Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets to Overcome Drug Resistance
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. In particular, non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is often diagnosed at an advanced stage due to the lack of early symptoms. Although targeted therapies such as EGFR-TKIs have significantly improved clinical outcomes, the rapid emergence of therapeutic resistance remains a major barrier to long-term survival. Consequently, identifying novel biomarkers that determine tumor progression and treatment responsiveness, as well as discovering therapeutic targets capable of overcoming resistance, has become a crucial strategy for transforming the lung cancer treatment paradigm. Cancer precision medicine is an approach that integrates genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic information to design personalized therapeutic strategies tailored to each patient’s molecular profile. This research, grounded in precision-medicine–based analyses, identifies previously unrecognized signaling networks driving NSCLC progression and highlights actionable targets with strong potential for future therapeutic development. 1. PYCR1–EGFR–TLR Signaling Axis: A Newly Identified Mechanism Driving Lung Cancer Progression In the study “PYCR1 drives lung cancer progression through functional interactions with EGFR and TLR signaling pathways” (Experimental & Molecular Medicine, 2025, IF 12.9), the researchers uncovered a novel molecular mechanism in which PYCR1, a key enzyme in proline metabolism, functionally interacts with EGFR and TLR signaling to promote lung cancer growth and metastasis. This research is the first to demonstrate that PYCR1—traditionally viewed only as a metabolic enzyme—acts as a central regulatory node within the lung cancer signaling network. The findings highlight PYCR1 as a promising strategic target for developing lung cancer–specific therapeutics. (See Fig. 1.). 2. USP21–EGFR–Lyn Signaling Axis: A Therapeutic Target for Overcoming Resistance The second study, “USP21–EGFR–Lyn axis drives NSCLC progression and therapeutic potential of USP21 inhibition” (Biomarker Research, 2025, IF 11.5), elucidates a mechanism in which the deubiquitinase USP21 simultaneously activates EGFR and Lyn kinase signaling to drive NSCLC progression. This work establishes USP21 as a key regulator of lung cancer progression and demonstrates its value as a biomarker and therapeutic target capable of overcoming resistance to EGFR-targeted therapy. The clinical significance of USP21 inhibition is particularly notable in the context of combination treatment strategies designed to counteract EGFR inhibitor resistance. (See Fig. 2.) These studies were led by Ha-Jeong Lee, an Integrated B.S.–M.S. program applicant, in collaboration with graduate researchers Ji-Young Kim, Ji-Hye Shin, and Ye-Eun Kang from the Laboratory of Molecular Immunology (PI: Professor Kiyoung Lee, School of Medicine). Ha-Jeong’s achievements exemplify the fact that “undergraduate researchers can also produce world-class scientific outcomes.” Her work represents an outstanding model of SKKU’s research-oriented education and demonstrates the impact of a supportive research environment combined with rigorous scientific training. ※ Article title: PYCR1 drives lung cancer progression through functional interactions with EGFR and TLR signaling pathways. ※ Journal name: Experimental & Molecular Medicine. ※ Article link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s12276-025-01577-z ※ Article title: USP21-EGFR-Lyn axis drives NSCLC progression and therapeutic potential of USP21 inhibition. ※ Journal name: Biomarker research. ※ Article link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12239452/
- No. 341
- 2025-11-21
- 2773
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The Backfire Effect of Upside-Down Logos on Consumer Responses to Brands
Brand logos refer to a set of symbolic elements that provide distinctiveness and communicate a company’s identity and values, helping consumers recognize and trust the brand. Recently, several global companies have begun experimenting with an unconventional twist—flipping their logos upside down—to signal creativity and differentiation. Adidas drew attention with an inverted-logo advertising campaign, and other brands such as Nike, New Era, and Supreme have applied similar designs to limited-edition products to create novel brand experiences. However, it still remains unclear whether inverted logos are perceived as bold and innovative or are seen as undermining brand consistency and creating consumer confusion. Professor Tae Hyun Baek from SKKU’s Department of Media and Communication, in collaboration with research teams from the University of Massachusetts (USA), Peking University (China), and the London School of Economics and Political Science (UK), examined how logo orientation influences consumer responses to brands. Across four experimental studies, consumers consistently preferred products featuring standard, upright logos over inverted, upside-down versions. In a consequential choice experiment using a Comme des Gar?ons T-shirt (Study 1A), 74.7% of participants selected the standard logo. A follow-up study using a baseball cap (Study 1B) revealed an even stronger pattern, with 80.8% choosing the standard logo. Notably, these preferences were not explained by demographic characteristics or by consumers’ need for uniqueness, suggesting that the effect is both robust and broadly generalizable. Study 2 extended the findings of Studies 1A and 1B to the context of social media advertising by identifying the psychological mechanisms underlying consumer responses to inverted logos. The results showed that the effect of an inverted logo on purchase intention was sequentially mediated by perceived unexpectedness and perceived rebelliousness. Consumers viewed inverted logos as unfamiliar and unconventional design choices that deliberately violated expected visual norms, which in turn led to more negative reactions. Study 3 revealed that political ideology moderated the negative effect of inverted logos. Whereas liberal consumers were largely indifferent to logo orientation, conservative consumers exhibited significantly more negative attitudes toward brands featuring inverted logos. It is suggested that inverted logos conflicted with conservatives’ preference for orderly, conventional design elements. Thus, political ideology shaped how consumers interpreted visual disruptions in branding, indicating that unconventional design strategies such as inverted logos could be ineffective—or even counterproductive—for certain segments. Taken together, these findings offer practical insights into the growing trend of global brands leveraging inverted logos. Such unconventional logo designs should be deployed selectively, particularly when they align with the political values of the target audience and with a brand’s rebellious, edgy, or innovative personality. The research was recently published in the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, a top-tier SSCI Q1 journal ranked within the top 1.7% in the Business category (2024 Impact Factor: 13.1). Baek, T. H., Yim, M. Y-C., Park, J., & Cho, A. (2026). Disruptive but costly: How upside-down logos backfire in consumer responses to brands. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 88, 104500. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2025.104500 ※ Title: Disruptive but costly: How upside-down logos backfire in consumer responses to brands. ※ Journal: Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services ※ Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2025.104500 ※ Portal(Pure): https://pure.skku.edu/en/persons/tae-hyun-baek/
- No. 340
- 2025-11-18
- 3106
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Innovating User Experience in the Era of Generative AI
This study is the result of a collaborative effort by Professor Jang Hyun Kim of the School of Global Convergence and members of the Data Science & Social Analytics Lab (DSSAL), including Dongyan Nan (Ph.D. graduate, now Assistant Professor at Macau University of Science and Technology), Seungjong Sun (Ph.D. candidate), Shunan Zhang (Ph.D. graduate, now Fellow at Huaqiao University in China), and Xiangying Zhao (Ph.D. graduate). The purpose of this research is to gain an in-depth understanding of user behavior toward Generative Artificial Intelligence. Focusing on ChatGPT as a representative example, the study identifies key factors that influence users’ continued usage intention and recommendation intention. Theoretically, it proposes a new integrated model that extends the Expectation Confirmation Model (ECM) by incorporating Information System Success Theory (ISST), privacy concerns, and perceived innovativeness. This approach addresses the limitations of prior studies, which largely focused on initial usage intention, and instead highlights both cognitive and emotional determinants of post-adoption behavior—providing meaningful academic contributions. A total of 252 Korean ChatGPT users participated in an online survey, and the results were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The findings show that the proposed integrated model effectively explains users’ continued use and recommendation behaviors. Information Quality and System Quality emerged as core variables that enhance both types of behavioral intentions by strengthening confirmation, perceived usefulness, and satisfaction. Perceived innovativeness also had a positive effect on user satisfaction, demonstrating that users form more favorable experiences when they view ChatGPT as a creative and cutting-edge technology. Conversely, privacy concerns negatively affected satisfaction, although the impact was relatively small—suggesting that users may be willing to accept certain privacy risks in exchange for convenience and utility. Based on these findings, the study offers practical implications for promoting the adoption of generative AI services. Service providers can enhance user engagement by improving model accuracy and stability to reduce information bias, designing user-friendly interfaces, and effectively promoting the creativity and innovativeness of AI technologies. Professor Kim noted, “By comprehensively analyzing the determinants of continued use and recommendation of generative AI, this study offers new insights into user experience–based AI adoption research. We plan to further advance the model by expanding our research to include voice- and image-based generative AI in the future.” His research team continues to explore the intersection of AI and user experience (UX) and has published numerous SSCI/SCIE-indexed papers in related fields. ※ Title: Analyzing behavioral intentions toward Generative Artificial Intelligence: the case of ChatGPT ※ Journal: Universal Access in the Information Society ※ Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-024-01116-z ※ Portal(Pure): https://pure.skku.edu/en/persons/janghyun-kim/ Dongyan Nan(Ph.D. graduate, now Assistant Professor at Macau University of Science and Technology), Shunan Zhang(Ph.D. graduate, now Fellow at Huaqiao University in China), Xiangying Zhao(Ph.D. graduate)
- No. 339
- 2025-11-13
- 2951
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Political Bias: Even AI Journalists Aren’t an Exception
Professor Joo-Wha Hong, together with Professor Herbert Chang of Dartmouth College and Professor David Tewksbury of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, published this study in Digital Journalism, a leading international journal in the field of communication. The research experimentally examined how audiences perceive and evaluate both AI- and human-authored political news. Grounded in the theoretical frameworks of the machine heuristic and the hostile media effect, the study investigated how the author’s identity (human vs. AI) and readers’ political orientations influence perceptions of news credibility and journalist credibility. The experiment was conducted with 442 adult participants in the United States through an online survey. Participants were randomly assigned to read articles on four politically sensitive issues (i.e., abortion law, gun control, minimum wage, and health-care reform) authored either by AI or human journalists and published under three different news outlets representing distinct ideological leanings (i.e., liberal, neutral, and conservative). This design enabled the researchers to analyze interactions among author identity, reader ideology, and political distance from the media outlet. Results revealed that readers trusted and evaluated human-written articles more favorably, yet perceived AI journalists as less biased and more neutral. In other words, while readers regarded AI as a “more objective and emotionally detached journalist,” they still tended to view AI as biased when its political stance differed from their own—a sign of an ambivalent attitude toward machine-generated content. Furthermore, evaluations of AI journalists were moderated by the extent to which individuals accepted AI as a rational and objective actor. The relative hostile media effect also appeared for AI: as the political distance between readers and news outlets increased, trust and likability decreased, regardless of whether the article was written by a human or AI. This study highlights that artificial intelligence is not merely a technical substitute for human journalists but a new social actor capable of shaping public trust and political perceptions. It empirically demonstrates how audiences cognitively process AI-generated content and how their beliefs about AI’s capabilities influence evaluations of information credibility. Looking ahead, the research team plans to extend this line of inquiry to examine public responses to AI’s broader social roles, such as counselor, educational partner, creative collaborator, and conversational companion. These efforts aim to provide crucial insights into the social legitimacy and trust-building mechanisms of AI as it becomes increasingly embedded in human social life. ※ Title: Can AI Become Walter Cronkite? Testing the Machine Heuristic, the Hostile Media Effect, and Political News Written by Artificial Intelligence ※ Journal: Digital Journalism ※ Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2024.2323000 ※ Research Portal(Pure): https://pure.skku.edu/en/persons/joo-wha-hong/
- No. 338
- 2025-11-03
- 3535
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Elucidation of Single-Nuclear Transcriptomic and Molecular Signaling Mechanisms, Preclinical Validation of Therapeutics
Professor Yunjong Lee’s research team (first authors: Ji Hun Kim, Ph.D. student; Hyo Jung Kim, Ph.D.; and Prof. Yunjong Lee) at the Department of Pharmacology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, has developed a conditional Tet-off transgenic mouse model expressing ZNF746 (PARIS) specifically in midbrain dopaminergic neurons to elucidate the molecular pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and to enable preclinical evaluation of therapeutic agents. PARIS (ZNF746) is a substrate of the autosomal recessive PD gene Parkin and is known as a transcriptional repressor that accumulates in the brains of PD patients, playing a direct pathogenic role in dopaminergic neuronal degeneration. PARIS represses key regulators of cellular survival, including PGC-1α, a master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, and MDM4, an upstream modulator of the apoptosis regulator p53, thereby leading to metabolic dysfunction and neuronal death. This study was conducted in collaboration with Professor Jaeyoul Joo’s research group (co-first authors: Prof. Jaeyoul Joo and Soomin Yang) at the College of Pharmacy, Hanyang University, who performed single-nuclear transcriptome analysis to systematically characterize cell-type-specific pathological alterations. A major challenge in PD research has been the lack of an animal model that faithfully reproduces the progressive and relatively selective degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, the hallmark pathology of the disease. To overcome this limitation, Prof. Lee’s team established a Tet-off genetic switch–based model that enables adult-onset, dopaminergic neuron–specific expression of PARIS, avoiding developmental lethality caused by early transgene expression. This model successfully recapitulates progressive motor deficits, clinically relevant extent of dopaminergic neuronal loss, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammatory activation over a two-month period, overcoming key limitations of previous transgenic PD models. Using this model, the team further conducted preclinical drug validation studies, demonstrating that L-DOPA, a symptomatic dopamine replacement therapy, ameliorates motor deficits, while the c-Abl inhibitor Nilotinib suppresses neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation, thereby exerting disease-modifying effects. These results establish this model as a robust preclinical platform for evaluating both symptomatic and disease-modifying therapeutic candidates for PD. In addition, by combining single-nuclear transcriptomic and protein-level analyses of the midbrain region, the study identified the c-Abl–PARIS signaling axis as a key pathogenic pathway that suppresses PGC-1α–mediated mitochondrial biogenesis, activates p53-dependent apoptotic signaling, and promotes glial inflammatory remodeling. Collectively, this research presents a novel PARIS-expressing PD mouse model that overcomes the limited pathological fidelity of conventional transgenic systems, providing a powerful experimental platform for elucidating molecular pathomechanisms and assessing preclinical efficacy of therapeutic candidates targeting neurodegeneration and inflammation in Parkinson’s disease. ※ Title: Preclinical studies and transcriptome analysis in a model of Parkinson’s disease with dopaminergic ZNF746 expression ※ Journal: Molecular Neurodegeneration ※ Paper Link: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13024-025-00814-3 ※ Portal(Pure): https://pure.skku.edu/en/persons/yunjong-lee/
- No. 337
- 2025-10-24
- 3497
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Design of an Origami-Based Hybrid Pneumatic Joint and Implementation of a High-Torque Manipulator
This study developed a hybrid pneumatic joint by combining a soft pneumatic-driven origami chamber and a rigid frame with a fixed rotational axis. The hybrid joint appropriately limited the excessive compliance, which was a drawback of existing inflatable joints, and was able to maintain high torque and control accuracy over a wide range of motion. This was expanded into a meter-scale hybrid robot manipulator, which stably performed pick-and-place tasks of heavy objects such as fruit. The objective of this study is the development of a hybrid joint with a hard/soft combined structure that compensates for the drawbacks of existing pneumatic-driven inflatable joints, such as excessive compliance and high control difficulty. This joint has the advantage that deformation is predictable due to the origami structure, it can operate under both positive and negative pressure without the chamber shape collapsing through the use of facet reinforcement, and excessive expansion of the chamber can be prevented through the use of internal constraint. Additionally, the origami chamber, when combined with a rigid frame, allows the use of general rotational angle measurement sensors such as rotary encoders or potentiometers. The origami chamber was made of tarpaulin, a type of functional fabric, and combined with a 3D-printed frame to form the hybrid joint. Unlike existing pneumatic-based joints, the joint developed in this study has the advantage of being capable of bidirectional actuation by alternating positive/negative pressure in a single chamber, and bidirectional, antagonistic actuation can also be realized by placing two origami chambers facing each other. Furthermore, by applying opposing pressures to the antagonistic chambers, a type of cooperation between chambers that significantly enhances the joint’s torque is possible, which can generate twice the torque of the original at the same chamber pressure limit. Finally, the developed hybrid joints were configured into a 3-degree-of-freedom hybrid manipulator. This robotic arm showed excellent range of motion even under applied payload and, based on compliance, operated normally even under external shocks, demonstrating a well-blended result of the advantages of soft robots and rigid-body-based robots. Furthermore, it repeatedly performed the task of receiving fruit over 1kg from a user and placing it into a fixed basket without issue, proving its applicability to everyday human tasks. ※ Paper Title: Hybrid Hard-Soft Robotic Joint and Robotic Arm Based on Pneumatic Origami Chambers ※ Journal: IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics ※ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/TMECH.2024.3411629 ※ Research Portal(Pure): https://pure.skku.edu/en/persons/hugo-rodrigue
- No. 336
- 2025-10-16
- 3558
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Identification of spin decoherence mechanism in VB- defect qubits of h-BN
The team led by Prof. Hosung Seo systematically studied the magnetic-field–dependent behavior of spin decoherence in the negatively charged boron vacancy (VB?) defect of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and proposed practical guidelines for extending the coherence time (T?). The study shows that the decoherence mechanism undergoes a transition across distinct magnetic-field regimes and provides recommended magnetic field ranges together with their microscopic origins for quantum information applications. As a next-generation 2D materials platform for quantum technologies, the VB? defect in h-BN offers an optically addressable spin qubit operating at room temperature. However, its short T? time has been a critical bottleneck to practical applications, calling for both practical strategy and microscopic understanding to enhance coherence. In this work, the researchers combined density functional theory calculations with the generalized cluster-correlation expansion (CCE) to quantitatively investigate the decoherence across a broad range of magnetic fields. The results show that the isotopic composition of boron and nitrogen markedly affects T?, and that a critical magnetic field strength (called transition boundary) exists, above which T? increases by two orders of magnitude. The analysis also identifies distinct modulations in coherence at particular magnetic fields originating from specific nuclear spins in h-BN. This study presents a unified theoretical framework for the distinctive decoherence physics of h-BN, characterized by a dense nuclear-spin bath with high-nuclear-spin isotopes. Building on this framework, we propose design guidelines for spin qubits in 2D materials based on isotopic engineering and magnetic-field control. These guidelines support the quantum-devices design and the optimization of sensing conditions for h-BN based quantum information technologies. This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), by Creation of the Quantum Information Science R&D Ecosystem through the NRF, and the education and training program of the Quantum Information Research Support Center at SKKU, funded through the NRF. The excellence of this work was recognized with publication in the Advanced Functional Materials (Impact Factor: 19.0), a leading international journal in the field of Applied Physics, on Aug. 24, 2025. ※ Paper Title: Magnetic-Field Dependent VB? Spin Decoherence in Hexagonal Boron Nitrides: A First-Principles Study ※ Journal: Advanced Functional Materials ※ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202511274 VB- spin decoherence as functions of magnetic fields and transition boundary for decoherence
- No. 335
- 2025-10-10
- 3032
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Metalens-Based Volumetric Photoacoustic Imaging Technology for Brain Organoids
A collaborative research group led by Professor Inki Kim (Department of Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University), in partnership with Professors Byullee Park and Jong-Chan Park, has successfully developed a large-area volumetric photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) platform utilizing a metalens. This breakthrough enables unprecedented three-dimensional imaging of neuromelanin within brain organoids, with profound implications for the study of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. Photoacoustic imaging is a hybrid modality that combines optical excitation with ultrasonic detection: pulsed laser light is delivered into biological tissue, where absorbed photons induce thermoelastic expansion and generate ultrasonic waves. While optical imaging suffers from severe scattering within tissue, ultrasound experiences minimal attenuation, permitting deeper penetration. Thus, PAM uniquely offers the synergistic advantages of optical-resolution imaging and ultrasonic depth reach, and has been actively applied in oncology, vascular studies, and metabolic research without the need for exogenous labels. Conventional PAM, however, is constrained by the fundamental trade-off between resolution and depth of focus. As imaging departs from the optical focal plane, both signal strength and resolution rapidly decline, making label-free volumetric imaging of thick biological constructs such as organoids extremely challenging. To overcome this limitation, the research team engineered a novel phase-controlled metalens capable of generating a non-diffracting needle beam. By merging phase maps corresponding to lenses of distinct focal lengths into a single titanium dioxide (TiO?)-based metasurface, the group produced a lens that preserves diffraction-limited resolution while extending the depth of focus by more than 13.5-fold compared to conventional optics. This innovation, unachievable with traditional refractive lens designs, represents a transformative step in lens engineering. The needle-beam metalens was subsequently integrated into a photoacoustic microscope, enabling high-resolution volumetric visualization of neuromelanin distribution within living brain organoids. Neuromelanin, a critical biomarker for Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, has previously been inaccessible to quantitative imaging due to the optical opacity of brain tissue models. Using this platform, the team successfully captured three-dimensional maps of neuromelanin across forebrain and midbrain organoids, and experimentally demonstrated dynamic changes in melanin distribution as a function of culture duration. These findings hold direct significance for elucidating the pathological mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease, as disease onset and progression are strongly age-related. According to Professor Kim: “Our metalens-based photoacoustic microscopy is not limited to brain organoids, but can be broadly applied to diverse classes of organoid systems. This technology thus provides a versatile tool for probing pathological mechanisms and assessing pharmacological efficacy across a wide spectrum of biomedical research domains.” The study, entitled “Axially multifocal metalens for 3D volumetric photoacoustic imaging of neuromelanin in live brain organoid”, has been published in Science Advances (Impact Factor 12.5). The work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) through the STEAM: Global Convergence Research Program, the K-Brain Project, the Sejong Science Fellowship, and the Young Investigator Program. ※ Title: Axially multifocal metalens for 3D volumetric photoacoustic imaging of neuromelanin in live brain organoid ※ Journal: Science Advances (IF: 12.5) ※ Link: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adr0654 ▲Figure 1. Needle beam metalens with extended depth of focus and its application to brain organoid imaging ▲ Figure 2. Photoacoustic imaging of the 3D melanin distribution within a brain organoid using a needle beam metalens ▲ Figure 3. Metalens-based neuromelanin quantification for Parkinson’s disease research
- No. 334
- 2025-09-26
- 7590
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Development of Biocompatible and Stretchable Semiconductor for Implantable Devices
A research team led by Professor Suk Ho Bhang of the School of Chemical Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University and Professor Jin Young Oh of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Kyung Hee University has developed a core technology for next-generation implantable bioelectronic devices. The team succeeded in realizing a highly stretchable and biocompatible organic transistor that mimics the mechanical softness of biological tissue while maintaining stable function during long-term implantation. This breakthrough offers new possibilities for advancing the performance of clinical implantable devices such as pacemakers, neurostimulators, and insulin pumps. The research addressed the long-standing challenge of tissue damage and inflammation caused by the rigidity of conventional silicon-based semiconductors. By blending semiconducting nanofibers (DPPT-TT) with a medical-grade elastomer (BIIR) and applying a vulcanization process, the team fabricated a semiconducting film that combines skin-like elasticity with stable electrical performance. In addition, the incorporation of dual-layer silver and gold metallization enabled robust operation without corrosion in biofluid environments. The fabricated transistors maintained stable performance even under strains exceeding 50 percent and were successfully applied to drive basic logic circuits such as inverters, NOR gates, and NAND gates. In vitro tests with human dermal fibroblasts and macrophages revealed no signs of toxicity or inflammatory response, while in vivo subcutaneous implantation in BALB/c mice confirmed long-term biocompatibility. Notably, the study demonstrated reduced fibrous capsule formation, a major cause of decreased functionality in implantable devices. The team emphasized that this achievement could serve as a fundamental platform for next-generation implantable electronics, with strong potential applications in real-time physiological signal monitoring, neural interfacing, and personalized therapeutic systems. This work was supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT) through the Materials and Components Technology Development Program, as well as by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) through the Excellent Young Researcher Program, the University-Centered Research Institute Program, and the Engineering Research Center (ERC) Program. The findings were published in the international journal Nature Electronics and were subsequently highlighted in a Nature Electronics Research Briefing (IF: 40.9, JCR < 0.1%) on September 2. Paper Title: A biocompatible elastomeric organic transistor for implantable electronics First authors: Kyu Ho Jung, Dr. Jiyu Hyun, Corresponding authors: Prof. Suk Ho Bhang, Prof. Jin Young Oh Journal: Nature Electronics DOI: 10.1038/s41928-025-01444-9
- No. 333
- 2025-09-23
- 2954
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Development of Hydrogel-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerators That Maintain Durability and Output in Dry Environments
Professor Kyungwho Choi’s team (first author: Thien Trung Luu) of the School of Mechanical Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University, in collaboration with Professor Younghoon Lee’s team in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Kyung Hee University, proposed a strategy to overcome the principal weakness of hydrogel electrodes—performance degradation in dry environments—through kosmotropic-ion embedding. By employing sulfate/sulfite ions (SO???/SO???) to simultaneously form internal crystalline domains and a surface charge-blocking layer (CBL), the team realized a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) technology that enhances both mechanical stability and triboelectric output even under arid conditions. As a result, the TENG fabricated via the kosmotropic process achieved a more than threefold increase in power density and maintained stable output even at 700% strain. The researchers further demonstrated that the developed hydrogel sustains stable performance over 15,000 contact–separation cycles, and continues to operate reliably after 6 hours at 50 °C as well as after 30 days of storage at room temperature, thereby overcoming the rapid performance drop typically caused by water evaporation in hydrogel electrodes. They explain that these characteristics arise from ion concentration and the formation of localized polarization regions during partial dehydration, while the CBL suppresses charge leakage, enabling persistent response to mechanical stimuli. Professor Choi, the lead investigator, stated, “Although hydrogel electrodes are renowned for their flexibility and stretchability, they clearly lose their properties in dry environments; the significance of this study lies in overcoming that limitation. Building on this technology, we will continue to develop high-output, highly stable energy-harvesting systems and pursue applications in wearable devices and sustainable energy systems.” This research was supported by the 4th BK21 Future HRD Education and Research Center for Human-Centered Convergence Mechanical Solution and by the Korea government (MSIT). The results were published in Chemical Engineering Journal (JCR top 3%; IF 13.2) in August 2025 Title: Kosmotropic ions embedded hydrogel for significantly enhancing deformability and performance of iontronic triboelectric nanogenerators Journal: Chemical Engineering Journal DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.167062
- No. 332
- 2025-09-19
- 1949
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Breakthrough in 3D Integration: Monolithic AI Memory and Room-Temperature Ferromagnetism via a Single-Step Plasma Proces
Sungkyunkwan University announced that Prof. Taesung Kim’s research group in the Department of Mechanical Engineering has achieved a dual breakthrough in next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors and spintronic devices by utilizing van der Waals (vdW) materials. The team successfully fabricated a vdW 2D/3D heterojunction neuromorphic memory device through a single plasma process that simultaneously bonded nanocrystals with a van der Waals lattice, while also endowing bulk vanadium selenide (VSe?), which intrinsically lacks ferromagnetism, with artificial room-temperature ferromagnetic functionality. With the advent of AI and hyper-connected societies, the demand for neuromorphic memory devices capable of performing memory and computation simultaneously has intensified. However, conventional CMOS-based memory technologies have faced inherent limitations in power consumption and scalability, while metal oxide-based ReRAM has been constrained by grain-boundary effects and filamentary inhomogeneity, which compromise long-term reliability and large-scale integration. To overcome these challenges, the researchers implemented a single-step plasma sulfurization process in which ion penetration and ion-penning effects of Ar and H?S were precisely controlled, enabling the direct formation of a three-dimensional monolithic integrated architecture without additional deposition or bonding. This approach demonstrated reliable long-term potentiation (LTP), long-term depression (LTD), and analog synaptic weight modulation, with stable operation confirmed for over 1.8×10? switching cycles. Moreover, the research team also succeeded in realizing two-dimensional room-temperature ferromagnetism, which had long been considered unattainable. Previously, two-dimensional magnetic materials could only be obtained through monolayer exfoliation and exhibited magnetic ordering solely at cryogenic temperatures, precluding practical application. By nanocrystallizing and isolating the lattice of inherently nonmagnetic bulk VSe?, the team artificially induced ferromagnetic ordering at room temperature. Notably, magnetic force microscopy (MFM) observations revealed that nanocrystalline grain boundaries function as pinning centers for magnetic domains, thereby elucidating a previously unrecognized structure-magnetism coupling mechanism in vdW ferromagnets. These dual achievements hold profound significance in simultaneously broadening both the universality and applicability of the van der Waals material platform. The 3D monolithic neuromorphic memory offers an alternative architecture that overcomes the physical and process-related limitations of conventional silicon-based integration, while the realization of room-temperature ferromagnetism paves the way for next-generation spintronics and quantum devices. Prof. Taesung Kim emphasized, "Through the development of Single-Step plasma process, we aim to establish a novel vdW material platform that enables the artificial injection of synaptic behavior and room-temperature ferromagnetism, thereby accelerating both next-generation AI semiconductors and spintronic technologies." This research was jointly conducted with the IBS Center for Quantum Nanoscience, Washington University in St. Louis, the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials, and the Park Systems R&D Center, and the two research projects were published in "Advanced Science" on May 28 and August 27, respectively. Authors: Corresponding author: Prof. Taesung Kim; Joint first authors: Jinhyoung Lee (Ph.D. candidate), Gunhyoung Kim (Ph.D. candidate), Hyunho Seok (Postdoctoral Fellow), Hyunbin Choi (Ph.D. candidate), Sujeong Han (M.S. candidate). Article 1: Monolithically-integrated van der Waals Synaptic Memory via Bulk Nano-crystallization Article 2: Artificial Room-Temperature Ferromagnetism of Bulk van der Waals VSe2 Journal Link 1: https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202510961 Journal Link 2: https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202504746
- No. 331
- 2025-09-16
- 2400
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Scientific Verification of Sanitary Pad Safety Announced
Prof. Chun Gwon Park’s research team from the Department of Biomedical Engineering, in collaboration with Prof. Juhee Kim’s team at the University of Hawaii and Prof. Sena Kim at Chungbuk National University, has published the results of an international joint study comprehensively evaluating the chemical safety and potential toxicity of sanitary pads available on the market. This study, released on August 29, 2025, carries significant meaning as the first comprehensive analysis addressing the safety of sanitary products closely linked to women’s health. The global collaborative research team analyzed 29 types of sanitary pads distributed domestically and internationally, focusing on volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, microplastic detection, and in vitro evaluation of cytotoxicity. The results showed that toluene* was detected in multiple products at levels ranging from 0.04 to 2.79 μg per pad. While this is lower than the existing occupational safety threshold (37 mg/m?), the researchers noted that closer scrutiny is needed considering skin absorption characteristics and prolonged use. *Toluene: A widely used industrial VOC that can be harmful to health upon repeated exposure to skin or mucous membranes. In addition, all sanitary pad products were found to contain polypropylene (PP)-based microplastics, while some products also contained small amounts of other types of microplastics, such as PET and PE. With growing concerns about the impact of microplastics on human health, this study is noteworthy for scientifically demonstrating the potential for microplastic exposure through close-contact sanitary products. In vitro cytotoxicity evaluation revealed that some sanitary pads reduced cell viability to below 80%, indicating moderate cytotoxicity. Notably, certain products labeled as “organic” also exhibited cytotoxic effects, underscoring the need for further verification studies. These findings suggest that the types of chemicals used in the manufacturing process and their treatment methods may directly influence the toxicity levels of the products. Prof. Park stated, “This study delivers meaningful results by raising awareness of the safety issues surrounding sanitary products based on concrete scientific data. For products that remain in close contact with the skin for extended periods, transparency of ingredients and thorough safety verification are essential.” The study, jointly conducted by researchers from Sungkyunkwan University, the University of Hawaii, and Chungbuk National University, is expected to serve as a foundation for public health policies and regulatory standards aimed at protecting women’s health and ensuring consumer safety. The findings were published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials (Impact Factor 12.2), one of the most influential journals in the field of environmental risk assessment and safety research.
- No. 330
- 2025-09-12
- 1699
