Chonnam National University Research Team Develops Advanced Nanomaterial Technology for Knee Cartilage Treatment
A research team from Chonnam National University, led by Professor Kim Jang-ho (Department of Convergence Bio-System Mechanical Engineering) and Professor Sun Jong-geun (College of Medicine), has developed an advanced nanomaterial technology for regenerating damaged knee cartilage. This innovative approach combines stem cells with nanomaterials to promote cartilage regeneration, addressing the chronic and prevalent issue of degenerative cartilage disease, which affects over 65% of the population and lacks a complete cure.
The team’s nanomaterial, created from biodegradable biomaterials, mimics the extracellular matrix structure of cartilage, facilitating cell growth and tissue regeneration. In preclinical trials on rabbits, the implanted nanomaterial promoted significant cartilage regeneration with increased expression of Collagen II, a marker of healthy cartilage. Additionally, when combined with stem cells, the nanomaterial further enhanced cartilage cell differentiation, growth factor secretion, and extracellular matrix formation, resulting in regenerated cartilage with normal structure and mechanical strength.
Supported by the Regenerative Medicine Technology Development Project and the BK21 Phase 4 IT-Bio Convergence System Agricultural Education Research Group, the research findings have been published in Biomaterials (Impact Factor: 14) and are currently in the technology transfer stage to NanoBioSystem Inc., with clinical trials planned.
The research team emphasized that this novel concept of regenerative nanomaterials for knee cartilage treatment is a world first, and they are committed to conducting follow-up studies to ensure the technology translates into practical benefits for patients.
※ Evidence: News article https://today.jnu.ac.kr/WebApp/web/HOM/COM/Board/board.aspx?boardID=147&bbsMode=view&page=8&key=1037
Chonnam National University Professor Ham Yoo-geun’s Collaborative Research Team Identifies Causes of Global Extreme Rainfall
A collaborative research team led by Professor Ham Yoo-geun of Chonnam National University, along with Dr. Kim Jung-hwan and Professor Min Seung-gi of POSTECH, has identified the causes of extreme rainfall events worldwide, linking them to short-term rainfall pattern shifts influenced by global warming. This groundbreaking study was published in Nature on August 31, 2023.
The international team developed a deep learning model to quantify the relationship between the intensity of global warming and daily precipitation patterns, applying it to satellite rainfall data from 1980 to 2020. The results reveal that since 2015, over 50% of daily precipitation patterns globally have shifted beyond natural variability, clearly impacted by anthropogenic climate change. Notable regions experiencing significant changes include the eastern United States, East Asia (including South Korea), the Amazon rainforest, and the subtropical Eastern Pacific.
This study stands out for its use of deep learning to detect daily precipitation variability driven by global warming, an approach that surpasses the limitations of previous research focused on monthly or yearly averages. The deep learning model's nonlinear activation functions also enable it to detect complex, nonlinear responses like intensified rainfall variability. The research further demonstrates how global warming has increased the frequency of extreme rainfall and dry days, both indicators of climate change.
Supported by South Korea's Ministry of Environment as part of the 'Observational Greenhouse Gas Spatial Information Mapping Technology Development Project' for carbon neutrality, this research offers valuable insights that can inform national climate response strategies and carbon neutrality efforts. Professor Ham emphasized the urgency for robust technological support for carbon neutrality, calling for comprehensive national R&D backing to accelerate climate-tech innovations.
※ Evidence: News article https://today.jnu.ac.kr/WebApp/web/HOM/COM/Board/board.aspx?boardID=147&bbsMode=view&page=8&key=1036
Chonnam National University Professor Lee Ok-ran’s Team Develops Rapid Cultivation Method for High-Quality Rice Varieties
Professor Lee Ok-ran’s research team from Chonnam National University’s Department of Applied Plant Sciences has developed a groundbreaking method to shorten the development time of new rice varieties to less than two years. By identifying the genetic factor ‘OsMATL2’ as responsible for haploid induction in japonica rice—a variety known for its sticky texture favored by Korean consumers—the team successfully reduced the time to develop pure line rice varieties from 7-8 years to just two years.
This technique utilizes the process of haploid induction, where rice plants inherit a single set of chromosomes, allowing selective breeding for desirable genetic traits. The team’s method enables efficient chromosome doubling of the haploid lines with advantageous genes, either naturally or through chemical treatment, to produce diploid crops more quickly.
Although previous methods for haploid induction in rice existed, they were labor-intensive and limited by variety-specific constraints, which this new approach overcomes. This research was published in Plant Physiology on July 20, 2023, and has been filed for international patent.
This study was conducted in collaboration with Professor Kim Yoo-jin’s team from Pusan National University’s Department of Environmental Chemistry and was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea, the Practical Breeding Technology Commercialization Program by the Rural Development Administration, and the BK21 Phase 4 IT-Bio Convergence System Agricultural Education Research Group.
※ Evidence: News article https://today.jnu.ac.kr/WebApp/web/HOM/COM/Board/board.aspx?boardID=147&bbsMode=view&page=9&key=1029
Chonnam National University Professor Na Kyung-soo’s Team Develops Greenhouse Gas Reduction Chemical Process Technology
Professor Na Kyung-soo’s research team from Chonnam National University’s Department of Chemistry has developed a chemical process technology to reduce greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. The team focused on converting carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄), two major greenhouse gases, into acetic acid through a single, environmentally-friendly process that does not require costly hydrogen or external oxidants, making it both effective for greenhouse gas reduction and economically viable.
The research team overcame the challenge of directly combining CO₂ and CH₄—two gases that do not naturally react—by sequentially activating them on a cost-effective metal oxide surface, allowing the production of acetic acid as a single product. By repeating the sequential injection of CO₂ and CH₄, the process continuously produced acetic acid. To enhance structural stability and prevent performance decline, the team developed a core-shell metal oxide catalyst with a porous silica shell, enabling sustained acetic acid production without catalyst degradation.
This innovative chemical process, which directly consumes CO₂ and CH₄, was both theoretically modeled and experimentally validated, receiving high praise for its potential to produce high-value organic compounds while reducing greenhouse gases.
Supported by the C1 Gas Refinery project from the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea, the research was published in Applied Catalysis B: Environmental (Impact Factor: 22.1), one of the top journals in the fields of chemistry and environmental engineering.
※ Evidence: News article https://today.jnu.ac.kr/WebApp/web/HOM/COM/Board/board.aspx?boardID=147&bbsMode=view&page=9&key=1027
