치료생체재료공학연구실

We are currently developing next-generation mRNA delivery platforms tailored for organ- and tissue-specific targeting. Our research focuses on engineering ionizable lipoplexes and lipid nanoparticles with enhanced permeability and biodistribution properties, enabling mRNA delivery to otherwise hard-to-reach tissues such as the nasal mucosa, brain, and lymph nodes. In the respiratory field, we are optimizing mucosa-permeable, nanoscale lipoplexes for intranasal mRNA delivery. These carriers are being applied to therapeutic models including intranasal mRNA vaccination, antiviral therapy, and allergic airway inflammation. We are also developing lymph node-targeting ionizable lipoplexes for intramuscular mRNA vaccination. These systems are designed to minimize hepatic expression and PEG-related adverse effects, providing a safer and more targeted immune response. We are developing in situ RNA delivery platforms to modulate diverse cell populations within the tumor microenvironment (TME), including immune cells, stromal cells, and even tumor cells themselves. By locally deliverying functional RNAs via lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), we aim to reprogram cellular behavior at the tumor site without the need for ex vivo manipulation, thereby transforming immunologically "cold" tumors into "hot", inflamed tumors responsive to immunotherapy. This approach enables tailored modulation of various TME components: activating innate immune cells, reprogramming exhausted T cells, remodeling fibroblasts and extracellular matrix, and sensitizing tumor cells to immune attack. We utilize mRNA, siRNA, and combination strategies to enhance antigen presentation, relieve immune suppression, and facilitate immune cell infiltration and effector function.