Yong Min Huh

Artificially engineered magnetic nanoparticles for ultra-sensitive molecular imaging

Successful development of ultra-sensitive molecular imaging nanoprobes for the detection of targeted biological objects is a challenging task. Although magnetic nanoprobes have the potential to perform such a role, the results from probes that are currently available have been far from optimal. Here we used artificial engineering approaches to develop innovative magnetic nanoprobes, through a process that involved the systematic evaluation of the magnetic spin, size and type of spinel metal ferrites. These magnetism-engineered iron oxide (MEIO) nanoprobes, when conjugated with antibodies, showed enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sensitivity for the detection of cancer markers compared with probes currently available. Also, we successfully visualized small tumors implanted in a mouse. Such high-performance, nanotechnology-based molecular probes could enhance the ability to visualize other biological events critical to diagnostics and therapeutics.

Nanomaterials for Theranostics: Recent Advances and Future Challenges

Challenges Eun-Kyung Lim,†,‡,§ Taekhoon Kim, Soonmyung Paik, Seungjoo Haam, Yong-Min Huh,*,† and Kwangyeol Lee* Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, Korea †Department of Radiology, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-752, Korea Severance Biomedical Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 120-749, Korea Division of Pathology, NSABP Foundation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212, United States Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Korea ‡BioNanotechnology Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 305-806, Korea Electronic Materials Laboratory, Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, Mt. 14-1, Nongseo-Ri, Giheung-Eup, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-Do 449-712, Korea

Convertible Organic Nanoparticles for Near-Infrared Photothermal Ablation of Cancer Cells†

Well-designed photothermal nanomaterials have attractedthe interest of many scientists pursuing a better means toaccurately diagnose cancer and assess the efficacy of treat-ment, because these materials enable therapies in which thetumor region is pin-pointed with a laser-guided light sourcewithout surgical intervention.

pH-triggered drug-releasing magnetic nanoparticles for cancer therapy guided by molecular imaging by MRI.

E.-K. Lim , Prof. S. Haam Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringYonsei UniversitySeoul 120-749, Republic of Korea E-mail: haam@yonsei.ac.kr Prof. .-M. Y Huh , Prof. J. ang , Y Prof. J.-S. Suh Department of RadiologyYonsei UniversitySeoul 120-752, Republic of KoreaE-mail: jss@yuhs.ac Prof. .-M. Y Huh , Prof. J. ang , Y Prof. J.-S. Suh , Prof. S. Haam YUHS-KRIBB Medical Convergence Research InstituteSeoul 120-752, Republic of Korea Prof. .-M. Y Huh , Prof. J.-S. Suh Severance Biomedical Science Institute(SBSI)Seoul 120-752, Republic of Korea Prof. K. Lee Department of ChemistryKorea UniversitySeoul 136-701, Republic of Korea

Role of magnetic resonance imaging in entrapment and compressive neuropathy - What, where, and how to see the peripheral nerves on the musculoskeletal magnetic resonance image: Part 1. Overview and lower extremity

The diagnosis of nerve entrapment and compressive neuropathy has been traditionally based on the clinical and electrodiagnostic examinations. As a result of improvements in the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging modality, it plays not only a fundamental role in the detection of space-occupying lesions but also a compensatory role in clinically and electrodiagnostically inconclusive cases. Although ultrasound has undergone further development in the past decades and shows high resolution capabilities, it has inherent limitations due to its operator dependency. We review the general concepts that should be known to evaluate the entrapment and compressive neuropathy in MR imaging. We also review the course of normal peripheral nerves, as well as various clinical demonstrations and pathological features of compressed and entrapped nerves in the lower extremities on MR imaging, according to the nerves involved. The common sites of nerve entrapment of the lower extremity are as follows: sciatic nerve around the piriformis muscle; tibial nerve at the popliteal fossa and tarsal tunnel, common peroneal nerve around the fibular neck, and digital nerve near the metatarsal head. Although MR imaging can depict the peripheral nerves in the extremities effectively, radiologists should be familiar with nerve pathways, common sites of nerve compression, and common space-occupying lesions resulting in nerve compression in MR imaging.

Smart Drug‐Loaded Polymer Gold Nanoshells for Systemic and Localized Therapy of Human Epithelial Cancer

Near-infrared-light-sensitive multifunctional smart drug-loaded polymer gold nanoshells are fabricated as advanced prototypes, composed of chemotherapeutic agents (therapeutic antibody and anticancer drug-loaded polymeric nanoparticles) for systemic chemotherapy of human epithelial cancer and a polymer-based gold nanoshell for localized photothermal treatment by NIR light.

Fluorescent magnetic nanohybrids as multimodal imaging agents for human epithelial cancer detection

Cetuximab conjugated fluorescent magnetic nanohybrids (CET-FMNHs) were synthesized for detection of human epithelial cancer via magnetic resonance (MR) and optical imaging. Spherical FMNHs consist of MnFe(2)O(4) magnetic nanocrystals encapsulated in pyrene-labeled PCL-b-PMAA as a surfactant prepared by a nano-emulsion method. FMNHs demonstrated excellent colloidal stability and biocompatibility for biomedical application. Antibody conjugated fluorescent magnetic nanohybrids (CET-FMNHs) served as effective agents for both magnetic resonance (MR) and fluorescence optical imaging of cancer cell lines.

Molecular imaging with terahertz waves

A novel terahertz molecular imaging technique using nanoparticle probes is discussed in terms of sensitivity, resolution, and quantification. The in-vivo diagnostic results of cancers are also presented as an example.

Self-assembled fluorescent magnetic nanoprobes for multimode-biomedical imaging

We fabricated multimode nanoprobes for acquisition of biological information at different object levels, i.e., in vivo detection and ex vivo validation for characterizing tumor angiogenesis. Fluorescent magnetic nanoprobes (FMNPs) were synthesized by using amphiphilic pyrenyl polyethylene glycol (Py-PEG) and superparamagnetic MnFe(2)O(4) nanocrystals (MNCs). Py-PEG, which is synthesized by conjugation of hydrophilic PEG with hydrophobic and fluorescent 1-pyrenebutyric acid through an esterification process, is capable of self-assembly and maintaining a high UV fluorescent intensity in aqueous phase. Py-PEG can be used as a fluorescent surfactant that simultaneously and efficiently encapsulates MNCs to exhibit fluorescent and magnetic properties as well as maintaining high water-solubility. Consequently, we proved that our biologically non-toxic FMNPs were prominent multimode imaging probes by showing not only excellent MR sensitivity but also high illumination intensity with strong signal strength under short exposure time of UV light from the extensive imaging studies of in vitro/vivo and ex vivo using orthotopic and xenograft mice models.

Isolation of RNA Aptamers Targeting HER -2-overexpressing Breast Cancer Cells Using Cell-SELEX

Global Research Laboratory for RNAi Medicine, Department of Chemistry and BK21 School of Chemical Materials Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Korea. *E-mail: dklee@skku.edu †Department of Radiology & Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-752, Korea Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul 100-715, Korea. *E-mail: skim@dongguk.edu Received May 14, 2009, Accepted June 16, 2009