A research team led by Professor Kim Jang-ho (Department of Rural and Bio-systems Engineering) developed a nano-needle-structured biomaterial parts technology from collaborative research with Professor Jeong Hoon (School of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering of the Ulsan Institute of Science and Technology).
 
The researchers found that culturing stem cells on a hydrogel-based nano-needle scaffold could stimulate growth factor secretion, and enhance the differentiation into certain cells, such as bone, cartilage, and fat. This ultimately contributes to effective tissue regeneration. They also found clues to prevent the bio-film formation of bacteria that could be a problem during stem cell cultures and medical device insertion surgery.

In other words, the research has developed the next-generation nanomaterial parts technology that can stimulate function of the stem cell through stimulation of nano-needle structure, which inhibits biofilm formation.

The research accomplishments were published on September 13 (local time) in the online edition of the ACS NANO (Impact factor: 13.903), the journal of the American Chemistry Society.