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Jung Hee Lee

Sungkyunkwan University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor Jung Hee Lee's research lab specializes in the development of advanced nanomaterials and smart contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with a focus on targeted, pH-responsive, and biocompatible systems for precise diagnostic imaging. The lab pioneers innovative surface engineering strategies for rare-earth and iron-based nanoparticles to enhance their stability, compatibility, and functionality in biological environments. Key research directions include the design of stimuli-responsive nanocarriers for tumor imaging and therapy, as well as the application of MRI techniques such as DCE-MRI to evaluate treatment efficacy in clinical settings like uterine fibroid ablation. The lab integrates materials science, biochemistry, and medical imaging to create next-generation diagnostic tools with high specificity and sensitivity.

MRI contrast agentspH-responsive nanocarriersnanoparticle surface engineeringbiocompatible nanomaterialstargeted medical imaging

Research Overview

Papers
347
Total Citations
7,156
Papers (5y)
70
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
70total
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Citations per year (5y)
433total
20212022202320242025

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|161 citations·2013
Bio-Inspired, Melanin-Like Nanoparticles as a Highly Efficient Contrast Agent for T1-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Kuk‐Youn Ju, Won Jae Lee, Geun Ho Im, Sang‐Hee Lee, Jung‐Soo Pyo, Seung Bum Park, Jung Hee Lee, Jinkyu Lee, Jung Hee Lee, Jinkyu Lee, Jinkyu Lee
SJR Q1Biomacromolecules

The development of nontoxic and biocompatible imaging agents will create new opportunities for potential applications in clinical MRI diagnosis. Synthetic melanin-like nanoparticles (MelNPs), analogous to natural sepia melanin (a major component of the cuttlefish ink), can be used as contrast agent for MRI. MelNPs complexed with paramagnetic Fe(3+) ions show much higher relaxivity values than existing MRI T1 contrast agents based on gadolinium (Gd) or manganese (Mn); MelNP values at 3T were r1 =

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
2
Article|151 citations·2007
Development of a T1 Contrast Agent for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Using MnO Nanoparticles
Hyon Bin Na, Jung Hee Lee, Kwangjin An, Yong Il Park, Mi‐Hyun Park, In Su Lee, Do‐Hyun Nam, Sung Tae Kim, Seung‐Hoon Kim, Sang‐Wook Kim, Keun‐Ho Lim, Ki Soo Kim
Angewandte Chemie

Kontrastreich: Ein T1-Kontrastmittel für die Kernspintomographie (MRI), das auf MnO-Nanopartikeln beruht, bewirkt eine große Signalverstärkung und macht aufgelöste anatomische Strukturen im T1-gewichteten MR-Bild eines Maushirns sichtbar (siehe Bild; links: MRI, rechts: MnO-verstärkte MRI (MONEMRI)). Mit einem tumorspezifischen Antikörper konjugierte MnO-Nanopartikel wurden zudem genutzt, um Brustkrebszellen in einer Metastase im Hirn selektiv abzubilden. Supporting information for this article

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
3
Article|128 citations·2009
Surface Modification of Exfoliated Layered Gadolinium Hydroxide for the Development of Multimodal Contrast Agents for MRI and Fluorescence Imaging
Young‐su Yoon, Byung‐Il Lee, Kyung Sig Lee, Geun Ho Im, Song‐Ho Byeon, Jung Hee Lee, In Su Lee
SJR Q1Advanced Functional Materials

Abstract A novel method for modifying the surface of magnetic‐resonance‐contrasting layered gadolinium hydroxide (LGdH) is developed providing them with water‐ and bio‐compatibility and acid‐resistance, all of which are essential for medical applications. A stable colloid of exfoliated layers is synthesized by exchanging interlayer anions of LGdH with oleate ions. The delaminated layers are successively coated with phospholipids with poly(ethylene glycol) tail groups, and their effectiveness as

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
4
Article|117 citations·2010
pH-responsive polymeric micelle based on PEG-poly(β-amino ester)/(amido amine) as intelligent vehicle for magnetic resonance imaging in detection of cerebral ischemic area
Guanghui Gao, Jae Won Lee, Minh Khanh Nguyen, Geun Ho Im, Jehoon Yang, Hyejung Heo, Pyoung Jeon, Tae Gwan Park, Jung Hee Lee, Doo Sung Lee, Jung Hee Lee, Doo Sung Lee
SJR Q1Journal of Controlled Release
BiomaterialsMaterials Science
5
Article|116 citations·2012
Fe3O4/MnO hybrid nanocrystals as a dual contrast agent for both T1- and T2-weighted liver MRI
Geun Ho Im, Soo Min Kim, Dong-Gyu Lee, Won Jae Lee, Jung Hee Lee, In Su Lee
SJR Q1Biomaterials
Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
6
Article|112 citations·2012
The use of pH-sensitive positively charged polymeric micelles for protein delivery
Guanghui Gao, Min Jung Park, Yi Li, Geun Ho Im, Jaehoon Kim, Hun Nyun Kim, Won Jae Lee, Won Jae Lee, Pyoung Jeon, Oh Young Bang, Jung Hee Lee, Jung Hee Lee
SJR Q1Biomaterials
BiomaterialsMaterials Science
7
Article|107 citations·2010
Magnetite‐Nanoparticle‐Encapsulated pH‐Responsive Polymeric Micelle as an MRI Probe for Detecting Acidic Pathologic Areas
Guanghui Gao, Geun Ho Im, Min-Sang Kim, Won Jae Lee, Won Jae Lee, Jehoon Yang, Hyesung Jeon, Jung Hee Lee, Jung Hee Lee, Doo Sung Lee
SJR Q1Small

A facile and powerful pH-responsive polymeric micelle encapsulates Fe3O4 nanoparticles as an acid-targeting MRI contrast agent for pathologic diagnosis. This MRI probe remains in a micellar state in the physiological environment whereas it can be dissolved in acidic pathological areas. More biomedical applications will be possible owing to its unique ability to target an acidic pathologic environment.

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
8
Article|73 citations·2015
pH-Responsive biodegradable polymeric micelles with anchors to interface magnetic nanoparticles for MR imaging in detection of cerebral ischemic area
Hong Yu Yang, Moon-Sun Jang, Guanghui Gao, Jung Hee Lee, Doo Sung Lee
SJR Q1Nanoscale

A novel type of pH-responsive biodegradable copolymer was developed based on methyloxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly[dopamine-2-(dibutylamino) ethylamine-l-glutamate] (mPEG-b-P(DPA-DE)LG) and applied to act as an intelligent nanocarrier system for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The mPEG-b-P(DPA-DE)LG copolymer was synthesized by a typical ring opening polymerization of N-carboxyanhydrides (NCAs-ROP) using mPEG-NH2 as a macroinitiator, and two types of amine-terminated dopamine groups and p

BiomaterialsMaterials Science
9
Article|68 citations·2011
Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging Predicts Immediate Therapeutic Response of Magnetic Resonance-Guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation of Symptomatic Uterine Fibroids
Youngsun Kim, Hyo Keun Lim, Jae‐Hun Kim, Hyunchul Rhim, Byung Kwan Park, Bilgin Keserci, Max O. Köhler, Duk‐Soo Bae, Byoung‐Gie Kim, Jeong‐Won Lee, Tae‐Joong Kim, Shunmugavelu Sokka
SJR Q1Investigative Radiology

: A higher K value at baseline DCE-MRI suggested a poor ablation efficacy of MR-HIFU therapy for symptomatic uterine fibroids.

Biomedical EngineeringEngineering
10
Article|67 citations·2025
Tumor-targeting and redox-responsive photo-cross-linked nanogel derived from multifunctional hyaluronic acid-lipoic acid conjugates for enhanced in vivo protein delivery
Wei Sun, Moon-Sun Jang, Siqi Zhan, Changling Liu, Sheng Li, Jung Hee Lee, Yan Fu, Hong Yu Yang
SJR Q1International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Organic ChemistryChemistry
11
Article|66 citations·2019
Chemical exchange saturation transfer imaging of phosphocreatine in the muscle
Julius Juhyun Chung, Tao Jin, Jung Hee Lee, Seong‐Gi Kim
SJR Q1Magnetic Resonance in MedicineOA

Purpose To determine the exchange parameters for the CEST of phosphocreatine (PCrCEST) in phantoms and to characterize PCrCEST in vivo in the muscle at different saturation powers and magnetic fields. Methods Exchange parameters were measured in PCr solutions using varying saturation power at 15.2 T. Z‐spectra were analyzed using multipool Lorentzian fitting in the hindlimb using various powers at 2 different fields: 9.4 T and 15.2 T. Modulation of PCr signal in PCrCEST and phosphorus MRS was ob

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
12
Article|63 citations·2013
Mn2+-doped silica nanoparticles for hepatocyte-targeted detection of liver cancer in T1-weighted MRI
Soo Min Kim, Geun Ho Im, Dong-Gyu Lee, Jung Hee Lee, Won Jae Lee, In Su Lee
SJR Q1Biomaterials
BiomaterialsMaterials Science
13
Article|60 citations·2015
Tumor-Targeted Delivery of Paclitaxel Using Low Density Lipoprotein-Mimetic Solid Lipid Nanoparticles
Jinho Kim, Youngwook Kim, Ki Hyun Bae, Tae Gwan Park, Jung Hee Lee, Keunchil Park
SJR Q1Molecular PharmaceuticsOA

Water-insoluble anticancer drugs, including paclitaxel, present severe clinical side effects when administered to patients, primarily associated with the toxicity of reagents used to solubilize the drugs. In efforts to develop alternative formulations of water-insoluble anticancer drugs suitable for intravenous administration, we developed biocompatible anticancer therapeutic solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), mimicking the structure and composition of natural particles, low-density lipoproteins

BiomaterialsMaterials Science
14
Article|57 citations·2017
Multifunctional and Redox-Responsive Self-Assembled Magnetic Nanovectors for Protein Delivery and Dual-Modal Imaging
Hong Yang, Moon-Sun Jang, Yi Li, Jung Hee Lee, Doo Sung Lee
SJR Q1ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

Nanoparticle (NP) based model carriers present an emerging strategy for protein delivery. However, constructing a multifunctional nanocarrier with high loading capacity, diagnostic imaging capacity, and controlled release capability is a tremendous challenge for protein delivery systems. Thus, we herein report on the fabrication of redox-responsive magnetic nanovectors (termed RMNs) through self- assembly of Fe 3 O 4 NPs and redox-responsive polymer ligands, which could effectively transport pro

BiomaterialsMaterials Science
15
Article|55 citations·2019
Hierarchical tumor acidity-responsive self-assembled magnetic nanotheranostics for bimodal bioimaging and photodynamic therapy
Hong Yu Yang, Moon-Sun Jang, Yi Li, Yan Fu, Te Peng Wu, Jung Hee Lee, Doo Sung Lee
SJR Q1Journal of Controlled Release
Biomedical EngineeringEngineering

Research Areas

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and ImagingMaterials ChemistryInformation SystemsBiomaterialsMolecular BiologySurgery

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