Functional Nanomaterials for Healthcare Applications

Joonseok Lee

Recently, the area of nanostructure research is gradually moving toward the directions of the rational design of functional nanostructures for healthcare applications. In this talk, I will briefly overview recent progress and a collection of advances, particularly on the synthesis, characterization, and utilization of lanthanide-doped nanomaterials and 3D-networked porous nanostructures.

Part 1) Near-infrared emitting nanoparticles

Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are promising materials for biological applications based on luminescence resonance energy transfer (LRET). In contrast to classical RET donors such as quantum dots, gold nanoparticles, UCNPs can emit near-infrared (NIR) upon the NIR irradiation, which provides enhanced signal-to-noise due to strong penetration and low autofluorescence in the NIR region known as the diagnostic window. Here we report the first efficient NIR-to-NIR signal-based LRET system for the detection of progesterone, chosen as a proof-of-concept target, via homogeneous competitive immunoassay. To enhance the efficiency of LRET, we constructed inert-core/active-shell/inert-ultrathin shell UCNPs as an LRET donor and a compact progesterone/horseradish peroxidase/IRdyeQC-1 (P-HRP-dyes) complex as an LRET acceptor. The designed donor and acceptor showed significantly improved LRET efficiencies (95% and 85% for donor and acceptor, respectively) compared with conventional donor and acceptor (70% and 50%, respectively). The efficient NIR-to-NIR signal-based LRET system has potential as a simple probe for homogeneous competitive immunoassay, with the ability to rapidly detect biomarkers.

Part 2) 3D-networked highly porous nanostructures

Abnormal accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide aggregates in brain is a major hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ aggregates interfere with neuronal communications, ultimately causing neuronal damage and brain atrophy. Much effort has been made to develop AD treatments that suppress Aβ aggregate formation, thereby attenuating Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. Here, we report the design of Aβ nanodepletors consisting of ultra-large mesoporous nanostructures and anti-Aβ single-chain variable fragments (scFvs), with the goal of targeting and eliminating aggregative Aβ monomers. The Aβ nanodepletors impart a notable decline in Aβ aggregate formation, resulting in significant mitigation of Aβ-induced neurotoxicity in vitro. Furthermore, stereotaxical injections of Aβ nanodepletors into the brain of an AD mouse model system successfully suppress Aβ plaque formation in vivo up to ~30%, suggesting that Aβ nanodepletors can serve as a promising anti-amylodoisis material.

* 졸업논문 교과목 수강자 세미나 필수 참석 안내
석사, 석박통합, 박사과정이 수강하는 <졸업논문연구학점 1~6>수강자는 학과에서 개최하는 목요일 정규세미나에 반드시 참석해야함.

관련공지(skku.edu)https://skb.skku.edu/chem/News/notice.do?mode=view&articleNo=146936&article.offset=10&articleLimit=10)