Small vesicles.
New possibilities.
At BDELab, Incheon National University, we engineer extracellular vesicles and bioengineering platforms to advance therapeutics, precision diagnostics, and biomaterial production.
Our research connects next-generation biologics, plant-derived vesicles, liquid biopsy, and efficient bioprocesses.
Explore our research and publications, meet our team, or contact us about graduate study and collaboration.
Lab on a Chip (2020) · In collaboration with KBSI
Key articles
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"Dual-targeted M1 macrophage extracellular vesicles reprogram the tumor microenvironment and enhance natural killer cell immunotherapy in breast cancer" Journal of Extracellular Vesicles (Accepted)
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"Extracellular vesicles for macrophage reprogramming: an emerging paradigm in immunomodulatory therapeutics" Journal of Biological Engineering 20:13 (2026).
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"Plant-derived EVs: current status and challenges for developing a new paradigm in therapeutics development" VIEW 6:20240115 (2025) Journal cover
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"IL-2 surface displayed M1 macrophage-derived EVs for modulating the tumor microenvironment" International Journal of Nanomedicine 20:14185-14200 (2025)
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"Engineered plant-derived extracellular vesicles for targeted regulation and treatment of colitis-associated inflammation" Theranostics 14:5643-5661 (2024) Journal cover
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"Exploiting spinach-derived extracellular vesicles for anti-obesity therapy through lipid accumulation inhibition" Advanced Therapeutics 7:2400150 (2024) Journal cover
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"Bioreducible exosomes encapsulating glycolysis inhibitors potentiate mitochondria-targeted sonodynamic cancer therapy via cancer-targeted drug release and cellular energy depletion" Biomaterials 301:122242 (2023)
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"Brain endothelial cell-derived extracellular vesicles with a mitochondria-targeting photosensitizer effectively treat glioblastoma by hijacking the blood‒brain barrier” Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 13:3834-3848 (2023)
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"Size-selective filtration of extracellular vesicles with a movable-layer device" Lab on a Chip 22:3699 (2022)
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"Engineered extracellular vesicle-based sonotheranostics for dual stimuli-sensitive drug release and photoacoustic imaging-guided chemo-sonodynamic cancer therapy" Theranostics (2022) Journal cover
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"Inhibition of tumor progression and M2 microglial polarization by extracellular vesicle-mediated microRNA-124 in a 3D microfluidic glioblastoma microenvironment" Theranostics 11:9687-9704 (2021) Journal cover
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"Single-step equipment-free extracellular vesicle concentration using super absorbent polymer beads" Journal of Extracellular Vesicles 10:e12074 (2021)
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"Isolation of cabbage exosome-like nanovesicles and investigation of their biological activities in human cells" Bioactive Materials 6:4321-4332 (2021)
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"Safe and targeted sonodynamic cancer therapy using biocompatible exosome-based nanosonosensitizers" ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 13:25575-25588 (2021)
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"Exosome-mediated microRNA-497 delivery for anti-cancer therapy in a microfluidic 3D lung cancer model" Lab on a Chip 20:548 (2020)
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"Simultaneous multiplexed detection of exosomal miRNAs and surface proteins for prostate cancer diagnosis" Biosensors and Bioelectronics 146:111749 (2019)
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"Inhibition of apoptosis using exosomes in Chinese hamster ovary cell culture" Biotechnology and Bioengineering 115:1331-1339 (2018)
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“Simultaneous and multiplexed detection of exosome microRNAs using molecular beacons” Biosensors and Bioelectronics 86:202-210 (2016)
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"In situ single step detection of exosome microRNA using molecular beacon" Biomaterials, 54:116-125 (2015)
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“Enzyme delivery using the 30Kc19 protein and human serum albumin nanoparticles” Biomaterials 35:1696-1704 (2014)
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"High-throughput generation of spheroids using magnetic nanoparticles for three-dimensional cell culture" Biomaterials 34: 8555-8563 (2013)
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"A Protein delivery system using 30Kc19 cell-penetrating protein originating from silkworm" Biomaterials 33: 9127-9134 (2012).
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“Quantum dot-fluorescent protein FRET probes for sensing intracellular pH” ACS Nano 6: 2917-2924 (2012).
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“Enhancement of neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells by iron oxide nanoparticles” Biomaterials 32: 2871-2877 (2011).
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“HuR regulates the expression of stress-sensitive genes and mediates inflammatory response in human umbilical vein endothelial cells” PNAS 107:6858-6863 (2010).
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“Use of molecular beacons to image effects of titanium surface microstructure on β1 integrin expression in live osteoblast-like cells” Biomaterials, 31: 7640-7647 (2010).
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“Slow non-specific accumulation of 2’-deoxy and 2’-O-methyl oligonucleotide probes at mitochondria in live cells” Nucleic Acids Research, 38: e109 (2010).
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“Translation inhibition reveals interaction of 2’-deoxy and 2’-O-methyl molecular beacons with mRNA targets in living cells” Nucleic Acids Research, 37:4977-4986 (2009).
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“Fluorescent probes for live-cell RNA detection” Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering, 11:25-47 (2009).
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“Target accessibility and signal specificity in live-cell detection of BMP-4 mRNA using molecular beacons” Nucleic Acids Research, 36. e30 (2008).
Research highlights
Cancer liquid biopsy (e-SMK)
Plant exosome-derived biologics (e-SMK)
엑소좀 엔지니어링 기반 항암 치료 연구
뇌종양 유전자 치료(2021) 및 유방암 약물 전달(2022) 표지논문
세포밖소포체 초간단 농축 공정 개발 (2021)
양희철 · 함유민 · 이원종 — 언론 보도
액체 생검 기술 개발
언론 인터뷰 및 보도 (2015–2016)
We are currently recruiting M.S., Ph.D. and post-doctoral fellows (including foreigners) in the fields of biotechnology, chemistry, and biology. Interested applicants may contact to wjrhee@inu.ac.kr.