Research interests

Jung Yong Yeon's laboratory is a molecular imaging application laboratory. Based on radiology, research is conducted on the theme of cancer diagnosis and treatment development suitable for various treatment techniques such as radiation therapy, thermotherapy, and photothermal therapy. We have developed particles with various forms and functions using inorganic or polymer nanoparticles to find optimized particles and treatments for cancer treatment, and have been conducting research on complex anticancer treatments using them. In recent years, we have been conducting research to overcome the recurrence and metastasis of cancer through particle development that combines immunotherapy.

1. Development of Radiation Therapy Adjuvant Using Oxygen-Generation Particulates

About 90% of modern diseases are known to be associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are typical diseases that can be found around chronic inflammation, cancer, stroke, and myocardial infarction

Excessive amounts of ROS can cause cancer, as well as cause various diseases and aging due to poor physiological function

Overproduction of ROS is reported to be related to tumor resistance to chemotherapy as well as tumor development, growth and metastasis. Various tumor therapy techniques through active oxygen control are reported

In this laboratory, we are developing multi-functional cancer treatment nanodrugs that can remove ROS by using manganese-based nanoparticles that generate oxygen through ROS and increase the radiation treatment effect by using the generated oxygen for radiation treatment

2. Development of Nano Liposomes for Induction of Magnetic Force and Anti-cancer Drugs for Brain Tumor Treatment

Liposomes having a structure similar to the cell membranes of cells forming the human body have excellent stability and are widely used clinically in various forms

Liposome has the advantage of not only the drug of hydrophilic but also the drug of hydrophobicity being possible in inside and outside and compositively mounting the various drug and delivering to the disease part

The liposome structure is equipped with iron oxide nanoparticles capable of hydrophilic magnet guiding and MR imaging, and a hydrophobic brain tumor treatment agent is installed at the same time to study drugs that enable brain tumor diagnosis and treatment at the same time

The iron oxide nanoparticle having magnetic force is increased the inflow to the brain tumor part by using the magnetic force and the target rate of the simultaneously loaded anti-cancer drug is enhanced and the therapeutic effect is maximized

3. Development of smart nanoparticles that release drugs in response to various micro-environments around cancer

The laboratory is actively conducting research on smart nanoparticles that can specifically release drugs in response to various environments such as pH, ROS, temperature, etc. using various biocompatible polymers.

The main polymers are various polysaccharides such as glycol chitosan, hyaluronic acid, alginic acid, etc., and the optimal drug synthesis is performed by selecting disease-specific drugs. The optimal nanostructures for each disease are evaluated by combining these polymers and reactive molecules.

그림1 . 산소발생 나노입자를 이용하여 ROS를 제거하고 산소를 발생시켜 방사선 치료 효과를 극대화 하는 연구 모식도

그림2 . 뇌종양 자기 약물 유도의 예와 그에 따른 약물 표적화 정도를 보여주는 MRI 결과

그림3 . 다양한 형태의 고분자 나노입자의 모식도