Pukyong National University, Pusan National University, and French National Center for Scientific Research Conduct Joint International Study... Propose Nanophotonics Brain Tumor Diagnosis Strategy

Pukyong National University Professor Lim Haegyun's Team Publishes Review Paper
in Prestigious International Journal 'Journal of Nanobiotechnology'

The research team led by Professor Lim Haegyun from the Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Smart Healthcare, at Pukyong National University has attracted attention by presenting diagnostic and treatment strategies for brain tumors using photoacoustic brain imaging technology based on nanophotonics.

The international joint research team, including Professor Lim Haegyun of Pukyong National University, Dr. Badrinathan Sridharan, master's student Park Jinhyung, doctoral student Kim Daehun, Professor Kim Kwangseok of Pusan National University (Department of Optical Mechatronics Engineering), and Professor Jean-Claude Vial of the French National Center for Scientific Research, published a review paper titled "Nanophotonic-enhanced photoacoustic imaging for brain tumor detection" in an international academic journal (IF: 10.6) in March. This journal is ranked in the top 4.6% of prestigious journals in the field of biotechnology.

Professor Haekyun Lim's research team. (Top row from left) Professor Haekyun Lim, Dr. Badrinathan Sridharan, Master's student Jinhyung Park. (Bottom row from left) Doctoral student Daehun Kim, Professor Jean Claude Vial, Professor Kwangseok Kim. Courtesy of Pukyong National University

Photoacoustic brain imaging technology combines the optical contrast of laser light with the superior tissue penetration of ultrasound, enabling noninvasive, high-resolution, real-time imaging of tumors and neurovascular structures inside the brain.

The research team proposed a method to achieve more precise brain tissue imaging by integrating nanophotonics?technology that controls the interaction between light and matter at the nanometer scale?into photoacoustic brain imaging, and by amplifying photoacoustic signals using various nanomaterials (such as gold nanoparticles and organic nanoparticles).

In addition, they revealed methods to effectively overcome physiological barriers such as the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-tumor barrier (BTB), which hinder brain tumor treatment, thereby improving drug delivery efficiency for brain tumor therapy.

In particular, the team emphasized a method that temporarily opens the blood-brain barrier using nanoparticles under ultrasound guidance, allowing drugs or nanomaterials to be delivered precisely and effectively to the brain tumor site.

Professor Lim Haegyun stated, "We expect that photoacoustic brain imaging technology, when combined with existing medical imaging technologies such as MRI, CT, and PET, will greatly enhance the accuracy of brain tumor diagnosis and treatment monitoring, leading to innovative advances in the treatment of various brain diseases."

The international joint research group (headed by Professor Kim Kwangseok) that conducted this study is supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and operates as part of the National Research Foundation of Korea's 'BrainLink' project. The group is building an internationally competitive collaborative research network in the field of nanophotonics based on various organic, inorganic, and biomaterial nanomaterials, and is conducting joint research.