Professor Jeong Hyundo's Research Team at Catholic University Achieves Human Tissue Regeneration Using DNA Nanostructures

Professor Hyundo Jeong's research team in the Department of Biomedical Chemical Engineering at Catholic University has developed a 'biomineralized novel DNA nanostructure' with tissue regeneration-promoting capabilities and succeeded in treating diabetic wounds, which have been considered intractable diseases.

According to Catholic University on the 19th, Professor Jeong's team verified the performance of a new DNA nanomedicine by biomineralizing the tissue regeneration substance PDRN, extracted from salmon sperm and seaweed, with the inorganic material silica in a sponge-like form.

PDRN has excellent self-regeneration-promoting ability for damaged cells and tissues and has recently been widely used as an injectable and cosmetic material, while silica is known for its outstanding functions in optimizing collagen synthesis and forming new blood vessels.

Accordingly, Professor Jeong's research team attempted to develop a DNA nanomedicine synthesized by biomineralization of PDRN and silica to maximize the strengths of both substances.

The research team applied AI-based 3D bioprinting technology to utilize the newly developed biomineralized novel DNA nanostructure as a treatment for diabetic wounds, which are classified as intractable diseases due to difficult tissue regeneration.

After making the novel DNA nanostructure into bioink, they custom-printed dressings tailored to the patient's wound size and depth, and the biomineralized novel DNA nanostructure of PDRN with silica showed significantly superior tissue regeneration effects compared to conventional PDRN.

Professor Hyundo Jeong said, “The biomineralized DNA nanostructure developed this time is expected to be applicable not only as a tissue regeneration material for wounds but also as a material for bone tissue regeneration and new materials for cosmetics,” and added, “We plan to conduct follow-up research to apply it to various advanced bio-regenerative medical materials.”

The research achievement of Professor Jeong's team was also selected as the front cover paper of the June issue of the international journal Advanced Science, which boasts world-class authority in the fields of materials science and nanoscience.