Small vesicles.
New possibilities.
At BDELab, Incheon National University, we explore the intrinsic therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) while engineering multi-functional EVs to develop novel treatments for intractable diseases beyond the reach of conventional therapies.
Our research connects next-generation biologics, precision diagnostics through liquid biopsy, and efficient bioprocess development.
Explore our research and publications, meet our team, or contact us about graduate study and collaboration.
Key articles
Dual-targeted M1 macrophage extracellular vesicles reprogram the tumor microenvironment and enhance natural killer cell immunotherapy in breast cancer
Journal of Extracellular Vesicles (Accepted)
Extracellular vesicles for macrophage reprogramming: an emerging paradigm in immunomodulatory therapeutics
Journal of Biological Engineering 20:13 (2026).
Plant-derived EVs: current status and challenges for developing a new paradigm in therapeutics development
VIEW 6:20240115 (2025) Journal cover
IL-2 surface displayed M1 macrophage-derived EVs for modulating the tumor microenvironment
International Journal of Nanomedicine 20:14185-14200 (2025)
Engineered plant-derived extracellular vesicles for targeted regulation and treatment of colitis-associated inflammation
Theranostics 14:5643-5661 (2024) Journal cover
Exploiting spinach-derived extracellular vesicles for anti-obesity therapy through lipid accumulation inhibition
Advanced Therapeutics 7:2400150 (2024) Journal cover
Bioreducible exosomes encapsulating glycolysis inhibitors potentiate mitochondria-targeted sonodynamic cancer therapy via cancer-targeted drug release and cellular energy depletion
Biomaterials 301:122242 (2023)
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)
Size-selective filtration of extracellular vesicles with a movable-layer device
Lab on a Chip 22:3699 (2022)
Engineered extracellular vesicle-based sonotheranostics for dual stimuli-sensitive drug release and photoacoustic imaging-guided chemo-sonodynamic cancer therapy
Theranostics (2022) Journal cover
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
Single-step equipment-free extracellular vesicle concentration using super absorbent polymer beads
Journal of Extracellular Vesicles 10:e12074 (2021)
Isolation of cabbage exosome-like nanovesicles and investigation of their biological activities in human cells
Bioactive Materials 6:4321-4332 (2021)
Safe and targeted sonodynamic cancer therapy using biocompatible exosome-based nanosonosensitizers
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 13:25575-25588 (2021)
Exosome-mediated microRNA-497 delivery for anti-cancer therapy in a microfluidic 3D lung cancer model
Lab on a Chip 20:548 (2020)
Simultaneous multiplexed detection of exosomal miRNAs and surface proteins for prostate cancer diagnosis
Biosensors and Bioelectronics 146:111749 (2019)
Inhibition of apoptosis using exosomes in Chinese hamster ovary cell culture
Biotechnology and Bioengineering 115:1331-1339 (2018)
Simultaneous and multiplexed detection of exosome microRNAs using molecular beacons
Biosensors and Bioelectronics 86:202-210 (2016)
In situ single step detection of exosome microRNA using molecular beacon (Our lab's 1st paper)
Biomaterials, 54:116-125 (2015)
–2014
Enzyme delivery using the 30Kc19 protein and human serum albumin nanoparticles
Biomaterials 35:1696-1704 (2014)
High-throughput generation of spheroids using magnetic nanoparticles for three-dimensional cell culture
Biomaterials 34: 8555-8563 (2013)
A Protein delivery system using 30Kc19 cell-penetrating protein originating from silkworm
Biomaterials 33: 9127-9134 (2012).
Quantum dot-fluorescent protein FRET probes for sensing intracellular pH
ACS Nano 6: 2917-2924 (2012).
Enhancement of neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells by iron oxide nanoparticles
Biomaterials 32: 2871-2877 (2011).
HuR regulates the expression of stress-sensitive genes and mediates inflammatory response in human umbilical vein endothelial cells
PNAS 107:6858-6863 (2010).
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).
Slow non-specific accumulation of 2’-deoxy and 2’-O-methyl oligonucleotide probes at mitochondria in live cells
Nucleic Acids Research, 38: e109 (2010).
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).
Fluorescent probes for live-cell RNA detection
Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering, 11:25-47 (2009).
Target accessibility and signal specificity in live-cell detection of BMP-4 mRNA using molecular beacons
Nucleic Acids Research, 36. e30 (2008).
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.