Pukyong National University

PKNU Researcher Kim Hye-Jin, received Young Investigator award at the SPIE-ABC 2021 International Conference

- For research on the mechanism of photic simulation effect on cancer cells

△ Kim Hye-Jin (left) ⓒPhoto Heo Gwang-Hoon (PR Team)

Researcher Kim Hye-Jin (4th year in doctoral course) from Department of 4th Industrial Convergence Bionics Engineering at Pukyong National University (President Jang Young-Soo) received the Young Investigator Award at the SPIE-ABC 2021 International Conference.

Kim received excellent evaluations by presenting a study on ‘Stimulation effect on the proliferation and angiogenesis of colorectal cancer cells by laser wavelength.’ at the recent international conference held by the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE) and the Optical Society of Korea.

In this research, which was carried out with support from the National Research Foundation of Korea's (NRF) science and engineering support project of the Key Research Institutes for universities (Research directed by Prof. Jeong Won-Kyo) and Basic Research Project of Science and Engineering for Senior Researcher (Research conducted by Prof. Kang Hyeon-Wook), she showed results of her studies on the stimulation of cancer cell proliferation and angiogenesis due to the effect of Photomodulation of residual cancer cells that can occur during laser cancer treatment.

As a result of irradiating cancer cells and cancer animal models using the 405 nm, 635 nm, and 808 nm laser wavelength bands used for phototherapy, Kim confirmed that these promote the development of protein factors that induce cancer cell multiplication and angiogenesis.

Through the laser stimulation effect confirmed in this study, it was found that it is important to stimulate the residual cancer cells and secure a safety margin for the possibility of cancer recurrence during laser treatment. It was also shown that the mechanism for various wavelength bands currently used for laser treatment needs to be elucidated.

In addition, Kim has been recognized for excellent research by publishing 29 papers, including 6 SCI-level as a first author, in research on laser cancer treatment using gold nanoparticles and organic materials. Since the establishment of the Department of Biomedical Engineering in Graduate School, Pukyong National University, she is the first Ph.D. and will receive her degree in former 2022. <Pukyong Today>

△ An image of a study on the mechanism the effect of Photomodulation on cancer cells.

△ Kim Hye-Jin