Nano-Biomedicine Lab
Controlled release systems for therapeutic molecules.
Korea University
Nano-Biomedicine Lab
Engineering nanobiomaterials and drug delivery platforms for immunotherapy, regenerative medicine, and translational therapeutics.
About us
Nano-Biomedicine Lab
The Nano-Biomedicine Lab at Korea University develops biomaterials and drug delivery technologies for immunotherapy, regenerative medicine, and translational therapeutics. We design engineered nano-bio systems that connect molecular medicines with precise biological control.
View MoreResearch Focus
Engineering nano-bio systems for precise therapeutic delivery.
We connect biomaterials, immune engineering, and regenerative strategies to build translational delivery platforms.
View ResearchResponsive nanoparticles, vesicles, and controlled release platforms.
Immune-modulating materials for cancer and inflammatory disease.
Bioengineered systems for repair, recovery, and tissue regeneration.
Information
Key pages for research, publications, people, and contact.
Lab Calendar
06
June 2026
- 03 Vote day
- 05 Reserve Forces Training
- 19 CAR-TAM meeting
- 26 Lab gathering
Quick Service
Research
Therapeutics at the interface of nanotechnology, biomaterials, and medicine.
The lab designs delivery systems that connect molecular therapeutics with precise biological control.
Research Areas
01 Core Research Area
Nanobioengineering
Designing nano-scale delivery systems that control where, when, and how therapeutics move through biological environments.
Drug Depot
Extracellular Vesicles
Stimuli-Responsive Release
Research Strategy
Precision delivery systems built at the nanoscale
Nanobioengineering uses the size, surface chemistry, charge, and molecular architecture of engineered materials to tune how therapeutics move through biological systems. Our lab develops nanoparticles, extracellular vesicle-inspired carriers, and stimulus-responsive depots that improve where, when, and how drugs are released.
Current work focuses on controlled release, cell-derived nanovesicles, biomimetic delivery, and image-guided therapeutic platforms that connect engineering design with clinically relevant disease models.
Drug depot design
Extracellular vesicles
Stimulus-responsive release
Representative research publications in this area
- Kang, M.; Quintana, J. M.; Hu, H.; et al. Sustained and Localized Drug Depot Release using Radiation-Activated Scintillating Nanoparticles. Advanced Materials, 2024. DOI: 10.1002/adma.202312326
- Hu, H.; Ng, T. S. C.; Kang, M.; et al. Thyroid cancers exhibit oncogene-enhanced macropinocytosis that is restrained by IGF1R and promotes albumin-drug-conjugate response. Clinical Cancer Research, 2023. DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-22-2976
- Kim, H. Y.; Kang, M.; Choo, Y. W.; et al. Immunomodulatory lipocomplex functionalized with photosensitizer-embedded cancer cell membrane inhibits tumor growth and metastasis. Nano Letters, 2019. DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b01571
- Jung, M.; Kang, M.; Kim, B. S.; et al. Nanovesicle-mediated targeted delivery of immune checkpoint blockades to potentiate therapeutic efficacy and prevent side effects. Advanced Materials, 2022. DOI: 10.1002/adma.202106516
- Hong, J.; Kang, M.; Jung, M.; et al. T-Cell-Derived Nanovesicles for Cancer Immunotherapy. Advanced Materials, 2021. DOI: 10.1002/adma.202101110
- Hong, J.; Jung, M.; Kim, C.; Kang, M.; et al. Senescent cancer cell-derived nanovesicle as a personalized therapeutic cancer vaccine. Experimental & Molecular Medicine, 2023. DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-00951-z
- Choo, Y. W.; Kang, M.; Kim, H. Y.; et al. M1 macrophage-derived nanovesicles potentiate the anticancer efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. ACS Nano, 2018. DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.8b02446
02 Core Research Area
Immunotherapy
Engineering immune cells, cytokine networks, and biomaterial interfaces to strengthen anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory responses.
Macrophage Programming
T Cell Activation
Checkpoint Delivery
Research Strategy
Engineering immune responses against cancer and inflammation
Immunotherapy aims to redirect immune cells and cytokine networks toward effective, durable disease control. Our lab engineers nano-immune modulators that activate anti-tumor immunity, coordinate macrophage and T cell responses, and reduce adverse immune effects.
We combine biomaterial carriers, cell membrane-inspired interfaces, and immune checkpoint modulation to improve delivery specificity and strengthen therapeutic responses in tumor and inflammatory microenvironments.
Macrophage programming
T cell activation
Checkpoint blockade delivery
Representative research publications in this area
- Moon, S.; Jung, M.; Go, S.; Hong, J.; Kang, M.; et al. Engineered nanoparticles for enhanced antitumoral synergy between macrophages and T cells. Advanced Materials, 2024. DOI: 10.1002/adma.202410340
- Kang, M.; Kim, H. Y.; Bhang, S. H. T-cell membrane coating for improving polymeric nanoparticle-based cancer therapy. Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2022.11.043
- Kang, M.; Lee, S. H.; Kwon, M.; et al. Nanocomplex-Mediated In Vivo Programming to Chimeric Antigen Receptor-M1 Macrophages for Cancer Therapy. Advanced Materials, 2021. DOI: 10.1002/adma.202103258
- Kang, M.; Hong, J.; Jung, M.; et al. T-Cell-Mimicking Nanoparticles for Cancer Immunotherapy. Advanced Materials, 2020. DOI: 10.1002/adma.202003368
- Koo, S.; Sohn, H. S.; Kim, T. H.; Kang, M.; et al. Ceria-vesicle nanohybrid therapeutic for modulation of innate and adaptive immunity. Nature Nanotechnology, 2023. DOI: 10.1038/s41565-023-01523-y
- Kim, H. Y.; Kang, M.; Choo, Y. W.; et al. Immunomodulatory lipocomplex functionalized with photosensitizer-embedded cancer cell membrane inhibits tumor growth and metastasis. Nano Letters, 2019. DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b01571
- Jung, M.; Kang, M.; Kim, B. S.; et al. Nanovesicle-mediated targeted delivery of immune checkpoint blockades to potentiate therapeutic efficacy and prevent side effects. Advanced Materials, 2022. DOI: 10.1002/adma.202106516
03 Core Research Area
Regenerative Medicine
Developing bioengineered materials and cell-derived therapeutic signals for tissue repair, functional recovery, and inflammation control.
Secretome Therapy
Tissue Repair
Anti-inflammatory Regeneration
Research Strategy
Bioengineered materials for repair and functional recovery
Regenerative medicine restores tissue function by combining biomaterials, secretome-based therapeutics, stem cell engineering, and controlled delivery. Our lab uses nanobioengineering tools to guide repair signals in degenerative, inflammatory, and injury-related disease models.
We focus on therapeutic vesicles, cell-derived factors, senolytic delivery, and tissue-protective biomaterials that can modulate inflammation while supporting regeneration and long-term recovery.
Secretome therapeutics
Tissue repair signaling
Anti-inflammatory regeneration
Representative research publications in this area
- Jung, M.; Kim, H.; Hwang, J. W.; Kang, M.; et al. Iron oxide nanoparticle-incorporated mesenchymal stem cells for Alzheimer's disease treatment. Nano Letters, 2023. DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c03682
- Jung, M.; Lee, S.; Park, S.; Hong, J.; Kang, M.; et al. A Therapeutic Nanovaccine that Generates Anti-Amyloid Antibodies and Amyloid-specific Regulatory T Cells for Alzheimer's Disease. Advanced Materials, 2023. DOI: 10.1002/adma.202207719
- Lim, S.; An, S. B.; Jung, M.; Kang, M.; et al. Local delivery of senolytic drug inhibits intervertebral disc degeneration and restores intervertebral disc structure. Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2022. DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202101483
- Lee, J. R.; Park, B. W.; Kim, J.; Choo, Y. W.; Kang, M.; et al. Nanovesicles derived from iron oxide nanoparticle-incorporated mesenchymal stem cells for cardiac repair. Science Advances, 2020. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz0952
Publications
Journal
Articles from the Nano-Biomedicine Lab in nanomedicine, drug delivery, immunoengineering, and regenerative medicine.
† equal contribution / * corresponding author(s)
Members
Professor
Principal investigator profile, education, professional experience, and research interests.
Professor
Principal Investigator
Mikyung Kang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Health and Environmental Science, College of Health Science, Korea University
- Office: Hana Science Hall Building B, Room #665
- Phone: +82-2-3290-5681
- E-mail: ieebun@korea.ac.kr
- Research Area: Nanomedicine / Drug Delivery / Immunoengineering
Therapeutic Nanomedicine
Engineering biomaterial-based delivery platforms that connect drug delivery, immunology, and translational medicine.
Immune Modulation
Designing nano- and cell-derived systems to tune immune responses for cancer therapy and tissue repair.
Bench to Translation
Building research that moves from precise biological engineering toward clinically meaningful therapeutic applications.
Education
Ph.D., Interdisciplinary Program of Bioengineering, Seoul National University (2016 - 2021) Thesis title: Engineered Nanoparticles for Improving Cancer Immunotherapy Advisor: Prof. Byung-Soo Kim B.S., Biomedical Science, Korea University (2012 - 2016) B.A., Psychology, Korea University
Professional Experiences
Assistant Professor, School of Health and Environmental Science, Korea University (2024.03 - Present) Post-doctoral Fellow, Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School (2021.09 - 2024.02) Advisor: Prof. Miles A. Miller Research Assistant, Seoul National University Hospital Biomedical Research Institute (2014.12 - 2015.06)
Honors & Activities
Women in Science Awards, L'Oreal-UNESCO (2025) Best Poster Award, Women in Medicine & Science Symposium, Mass General Brigham (2023) Best Poster Award, Korean American Society in Biotech and Pharmaceuticals (2023) Postdoctoral Fellowship Program - National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) (2022 - 2023) Young Scientists Awards, The Korean Society for Biomaterials (2020) Basic Science Research Program - National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) (2019 - 2021) Best Thesis Award, Interdisciplinary Program in Bioengineering Conference, Seoul National University (2018, 2020)
Lectures
Undergraduate Radiation Biology (KHES301) Advances in Diagnostic Laboratory Science (KHES426) The World of Bioscience (GEBT001) Graduate Special Topics in Clinical Chemistry (HSL611) Research & Application of Clinical Laboratory Medicine (HSL619) Special Topics in Laboratory Science (HSL917) Biomedical Research Methodology (HSL911) Nanobio-pharmaceutics (HSL928) Principles and Applications of Theranostics (HSL927)
Members
Researcher
Graduate students, researchers, and interns in the Nano-Biomedicine Lab.
Researcher
Lab Members
Nano-Biomedicine Lab members.
Total 0 members
Members
Alumni
Former graduate students, undergraduate researchers, and visiting students.
Alumni
Former Members
Gallery
Gallery
Nano-biomedicine Lab News
Contact
Visit us at Korea University
We are located on the 6th floor of Hana Science Hall Building B at Korea University.
- Office
- Hana Science Hall Building B, Room #665
- Lab
- Hana Science Hall Building B, Room #656
- Phone
- +82-2-3290-5681
- ieebun@korea.ac.kr