Korea University · Medicine
Professor Soo Hyun Kim's research lab specializes in biomedical materials and molecular therapeutics, focusing on the development of bioactive polymers and immune-modulating proteins for regenerative medicine and metabolic disease treatment. Key research directions include designing biodegradable polymeric scaffolds for tissue engineering, particularly using lactide-based star-shaped polymers and copolymers like poly(glycolide-co-caprolactone), and exploring the therapeutic potential of endogenous immune regulators such as IL-18 binding protein in inflammatory conditions like nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The lab also investigates repurposed drugs—such as ezetimibe—for their autophagy-enhancing and anti-inflammatory effects, aiming to uncover novel mechanisms for treating liver fibrosis and metabolic syndrome. These interdisciplinary efforts integrate polymer chemistry, immunology, and translational medicine to develop innovative biomaterials and biologics.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
A novel, constitutively expressed and secreted IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) neutralizes IL-18 and thereby suppresses the production of IFN-gamma, resulting in reduced T-helper type 1 immune responses. In the present study, four human and two mouse isoforms, resulting from mRNA splicing and found in various cDNA libraries, were expressed, purified, and assessed for binding and neutralization of IL-18 biological activities. Human IL-18BP isoform a (IL-18BPa) exhibited the greatest affinity for
Impairment in macroautophagy/autophagy flux and inflammasome activation are common characteristics of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Considering the lack of approved agents for treating NASH, drugs that can enhance autophagy and modulate inflammasome pathways may be beneficial. Here, we investigated the novel mechanism of ezetimibe, a widely prescribed drug for hypercholesterolemia, as a therapeutic option for ameliorating NASH. Human liver samples with steatosis and NASH were analyzed. Fo
Abstract L ‐Lactide was polymerized with stannous 2‐ethylhexanoate (stannous octoate) in the presence of pentaerythritol to investigate multifunctional initiation. The prepared oligomers contain starshaped 4‐arm molecules when the mole ratio of [lactide]/[pentaerythritol] is above 32. The molecular weight of oligomers coincides with the [lactide]/[pentaerythritol] ratio, indicating that pentaerythritol in conjugation with stannous octoate is an initiator for the “living” polymerization of L‐lact
Cyclic mechanical strain has been demonstrated to enhance the development and function of engineered smooth muscle (SM) tissues, and it would be necessary for the development of the elastic scaffolds if one wishes to engineer SM tissues under cyclic mechanical loading. This study reports on the development of an elastic scaffold fabricated from a biodegradable polymer. Biodegradable poly(glycolide-co-caprolactone) (PGCL) copolymer was synthesized from glycolide and epsilon-caprolactone in the pr
The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) is a dedicated spaceborne mission to map the Earth’s gravity field with unprecedented accuracy. The GRACE mission is planned to launch in 2001, for a lifetime of approximately 5 years. It consists of two satellites, co-orbiting in nearly polar orbit, at approximately 300-500 km altitude, separated by 100-500 km along track. Primary measurements are the range change between the two satellites, which represents the gravity perturbation difference
Abstract The ring‐opening polymerization of L‐lactide with stannous octoate was investigated in the presence of pentaerythritol. By this way it was possible to prepare higher molecular weight star‐shaped poly( L ‐lactide)s compared with the linear ones obtained by stannous octoate only. The weight‐average molecular weights of linear and star poly( L ‐lactide)s were measured by light scattering analysis from hexafluoro‐2‐propanol solution, and the respective Mark‐Houwink equations were derived. T
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