Dooyup Jung

Multifunctional Adhesive Silk Fibroin with Blending of RGD-Bioconjugated Mussel Adhesive Protein

Silk has recently been exploited in various fields due to its superior mechanical properties. However, this materials lack of biological functions and relatively poor biodegradation have hindered its wide use in applications related to cells and tissues. Here, we improved the overall characteristics of silkworm silk fibroin (SF) by introduction of RGD peptide-fused recombinant mussel adhesive protein (MAP-RGD). Simple blending of MAP-RGD provided not only bulk-scale adhesive ability but also microscale adhesiveness to cells and various biomolecules. MAP-RGD-blended SF fibers supported enhanced adhesion, proliferation, and spreading of mammalian cells as well as the efficient attachment of biomolecules, including carbohydrate and protein. In addition, the hydrophilicity, swelling, and biodegradability of the MAP-RGD-blended SF material were improved without notable hampering of the original mechanical properties of SF. Therefore, the adhesive silk fibrous scaffold could be successfully used in diverse biomedical engineering applications.

Natural healing-inspired collagen-targeting surgical protein glue for accelerated scarless skin regeneration

Skin scarring after deep dermal injuries is a major clinical problem due to the current therapies limited to established scars with poor understanding of healing mechanisms. From investigation of aberrations within the extracellular matrix involved in pathophysiologic scarring, it was revealed that one of the main factors responsible for impaired healing is abnormal collagen reorganization. Here, inspired by the fundamental roles of decorin, a collagen-targeting proteoglycan, in collagen remodeling, we created a scar-preventive collagen-targeting glue consisting of a newly designed collagen-binding mussel adhesive protein and a specific glycosaminoglycan. The collagen-targeting glue specifically bound to type I collagen in a dose-dependent manner and regulated the rate and the degree of fibrillogenesis. In a rat skin excisional model, the collagen-targeting glue successfully accelerated initial wound regeneration as defined by effective reepithelialization, neovascularization, and rapid collagen synthesis. Moreover, the improved dermal collagen architecture was demonstrated by uniform size of collagen fibrils, their regular packing, and a restoration of healthy tissue component. Collectively, our natural healing-inspired collagen-targeting glue may be a promising therapeutic option for improving the healing rate with high-quality and effective scar inhibition.

Upconversion Nanoparticles/Hyaluronate–Rose Bengal Conjugate Complex for Noninvasive Photochemical Tissue Bonding

The recent progress in photonic nanomaterials has contributed greatly to the development of photomedicines. However, the finite depth of light penetration is still a serious limitation, constraining their clinical applications. Here, we developed a poly(allylamine) (PAAm)-modified upconversion nanoparticle/hyaluronate-rose bengal (UCNP/PAAm/HA-RB) conjugate complex for photochemical bonding of deep tissue with near-infrared (NIR) light illumination. Compared to the conventional invasive treatment via suturing and stapling, the UCNP/PAAm/HA-RB conjugate complex could be noninvasively delivered into the deep tissue and accelerate the tissue bonding upon NIR light illumination. HA in the outer layer of the complex facilitated the penetration of RB into the collagen layer of the dermis. The NIR light triggered UCNP of NaYF4: Yb/Er (Y:Yb:Er = 78:20:2) in the complex to illuminate visible green light under the skin tissue. The activated RB in the HA-RB conjugate by the green light induced radical formation for the cross-linking of incised collagen matrix. An in vitro light propagation test and collagen fibrillogenesis analysis, an in vivo animal tissue bonding test, and an ex vivo tensile strength test of dissected skin tissues confirmed the successful photochemical tissue bonding effect of the UCNP/PAAm/HA-RB conjugate complex.

Dual-Color-Emitting Carbon Nanodots for Multicolor Bioimaging and Optogenetic Control of Ion Channels

Abstract The development of intrinsically multicolor‐emitting carbon nanodots (CNDs) has been one of the great challenges for their various fields of applications. Here, the controlled electronic structure engineering of CNDs is performed to emit two distinct colors via the facile surface modification with 4‐octyloxyaniline. The so‐called dual‐color‐emitting CNDs (DC‐CNDs) can be stably encapsulated within poly(styrene‐co‐maleic anhydride) (PSMA). The prepared water‐soluble DC‐CNDs@PSMA can be successfully applied to in vitro and in vivo dual‐color bioimaging and optogenetics. In vivo optical imaging can visualize the biodistribution of intravenously injected DC‐CNDs@PSMA. In addition, the light‐triggered activation of ion channel, channelrhodopsin‐2, for optogenetic applications is demonstrated. As a new type of fluorophore, DC‐CNDs offer a big insight into the design of charge‐transfer complexes for various optical and biomedical applications.