Niti Sharma, Sung-Kwang Shin, Seong Soo A. An, Meyoung-Kon Jerry Kim
Trends in nanotechnology product registration and media coverage in South Korea across the COVID-19 era
Molecular & Cellular Toxicology (2026)
Nanomaterials and drug delivery
We make silica, silicon and carbon nanomaterials for drug delivery and imaging, and study how nanotechnology is regulated.
The lab belongs to the Department of BioNano Technology, and part of its work is on nanomaterials for medicine. Studies include mesoporous silica and silicon nanocarriers that release drugs in response to two stimuli and can target mitochondria in cancer cells, fluorescent carbon dots made without solvents for bioimaging, combinations of SiO₂ and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles that affect autophagy, and hyaluronan derivatives that target CD44 on neuroblastoma and neuroglioma cells.
We also study how nanotechnology is governed: a meta-analysis of research on nanoparticle regulation from 2015 to 2025, and trends in nanotechnology product registration and media coverage in South Korea across the COVID-19 period.
Key methods
- Synthesis of silica, silicon and carbon nanoparticles
- Stimuli-responsive drug release and photothermal tests
- Autophagy and cancer-cell assays
- Bibliometric and regulatory analysis
Related publications
Sung-Kwang Shin, Niti Sharma, Seong Soo A. An, Meyoung-Kon Kim
The Evolution of Nanoparticle Regulation: A Meta-Analysis of Research Trends and Historical Parallels (2015–2025)
Nanomaterials 16(2):134 (2026)
Vy Anh Tran, Nguyễn Huy Hùng, Thu Thao Thi Vo, Seong Soo A. An, Sang‐Wha Lee, Hun Jeong, Mario A. Tan
Revolutionary NIR-activated silicon nanoparticles: precision-controlled release and targeted 3D cancer cell destruction
RSC Advances 15(7):4958–4969 (2025)
Vo Van Giau, Kummara Madhusudana Rao, Ildoo Chung, Chang‐Sik Ha, Seong Soo A. An, Yang Yun
Derivatization of Hyaluronan to Target Neuroblastoma and Neuroglioma Expressing CD44
Pharmaceutics 16(6):836 (2024)
Sitansu Sekhar Nanda, Danyeong Kim, Hye-Won Yang, Seong Soo A. An, Dong Kee Yi
Synergistic Effect of SiO2 and Fe3O4 Nanoparticles in Autophagy Modulation
Nanomaterials 14(12):1033 (2024)
Vy Anh Tran, Vo Van Giau, Mario A. Tan, Joon‐Seo Park, Seong Soo A. An, Sang‐Wha Lee
Dual Stimuli-Responsive Multifunctional Silicon Nanocarriers for Specifically Targeting Mitochondria in Human Cancer Cells
Pharmaceutics 14(4):858 (2022)
Vy Anh Tran, Vo Van Giau, Kyuhwan Shim, Sang‐Wha Lee, Seong Soo A. An
Multimodal Mesoporous Silica Nanocarriers for Dual Stimuli-Responsive Drug Release and Excellent Photothermal Ablation of Cancer Cells
International Journal of Nanomedicine Volume 15:7667–7685 (2020)
Seshadri Reddy Ankireddy, Vo Van Giau, Seong Soo A. An, Jongsung Kim
Solvent-Free Synthesis of Fluorescent Carbon Dots: An Ecofriendly Approach for the Bioimaging and Screening of Anticancer Activity via Caspase-Induced Apoptosis
ACS Applied Bio Materials 3(8):4873–4882 (2020)
Acharya Balkrishna, Vinay Kumar Sharma, Subrata Kumar Das, Nayan Deep Mishra, Laxmi Bisht, A. B. Joshi, Niti Sharma
Characterization and Anti-Cancerous Effect of Putranjiva roxburghii Seed Extract Mediated Silver Nanoparticles on Human Colon (HCT-116), Pancreatic (PANC-1) and Breast (MDA-MB 231) Cancer Cell Lines: A Comparative Study
International Journal of Nanomedicine Volume 15:573–585 (2020)
Leeja Jose, Aran Hwang, Chaeyeon Lee, KyuHwan Shim, Jae Kwang Song, Seong Soo A. An, Hyun‐jong Paik
Nitrilotriacetic acid-end-functionalized polycaprolactone as a template for polymer–protein nanocarriers
Polymer Chemistry 11(9):1580–1588 (2020)
Chaeyeon Lee, Leeja Jose, KyuHwan Shim, Seong Soo A. An, Sunah Jang, Jae Kwang Song, Jun‐O Jin, Hyun‐jong Paik
Influenza mimetic protein–polymer nanoparticles as antigen delivery vehicles to dendritic cells for cancer immunotherapy
Nanoscale 11(29):13878–13884 (2019)
Vo Van Giau, Seong Soo A. An, John Hulme
Recent advances in the treatment of pathogenic infections using antibiotics and nano-drug delivery vehicles
Drug Design Development and Therapy Volume 13:327–343 (2019)
Vy Anh Tran, KyuHwan Shim, Thu-Thao Thi Vo, Jeong-Keun Kook, Seong Soo A. An, Sang‐Wha Lee
Targeted and controlled drug delivery by multifunctional mesoporous silica nanoparticles with internal fluorescent conjugates and external polydopamine and graphene oxide layers
Acta Biomaterialia 74:397–413 (2018)
Chaeyeon Lee, Ji Eun Choi, Gil Yong Park, Taeheon Lee, Jinku Kim, Seong Soo A. An, Jae Kwang Song, Hyun‐jong Paik
Size-tunable protein–polymer hybrid carrier for cell internalization
Reactive and Functional Polymers 124:72–76 (2018)
Seong Soo A. An, Sang‐Wha Lee, Taeksu Lee, Seungjoo Haam, Saet Byeol Bae, Sang-Eun Park, Jaewon Lee, Kang Kang, Yong‐Min Huh
Comparative hyperthermia effects of silica–gold nanoshells with different surface coverage of gold clusters on epithelial tumor cells
International Journal of Nanomedicine 10(Spec Iss):261 (2015)
Seong Soo A. An, Gyu-Beom Jang, Hwa‐Yong Lee, In‐Sun Hong, Jeong‐Seok Nam
Targeting cancer stem cells by using the nanoparticles
International Journal of Nanomedicine 10(Spec Iss):251 (2015)
Seong Soo A. An, Trần Thanh Tùng, Dušan Lošić, Seung Jun Park, Jean‐François Feller, Tae Young Kim
Core-shell nanostructured hybrid composites for volatile organic compound detection
International Journal of Nanomedicine 10 Spec Iss:203 (2015)
Seong Soo A. An, Mohankandhasamy Ramasamy, Dong Kee Yi
Enhanced detection sensitivity of Escherichia coli O157:H7 using surface-modified gold nanorods
International Journal of Nanomedicine 10 Spec Iss:179 (2015)
Seong Soo A. An, Kyusik Yun, Linlin Zhong
Graphene oxide-modified ZnO particles: synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial properties
International Journal of Nanomedicine 10 Spec Iss:79 (2015)
Seong Soo A. An, Ramesh Subbiah, Seong Beom Jeon, Kwideok Park, Kyusik Yun, Sang Jung Ahn
Investigation of cellular responses upon interaction with silver nanoparticles
International Journal of Nanomedicine 10 Spec Iss:191 (2015)
Seong Soo A. An, Mohankandhasamy Ramasamy, Sang Jung Ahn, Kyusik Yun, Saravanan Govindaraju, Rengarajan Baskaran
Ultraviolet light and laser irradiation enhances the antibacterial activity of glucosamine-functionalized gold nanoparticles
International Journal of Nanomedicine 10 Spec Iss:67 (2015)
Seong Soo A. An, Dong Kee Yi, Minakshi Das
Analyses of protein corona on bare and silica-coated gold nanorods against four mammalian cells
International Journal of Nanomedicine 10:1521 (2015)
Seong Soo A. An, Sitansu Sekhar Nanda, Dong Kee Yi
Oxidative stress and antibacterial properties of a graphene oxide-cystamine nanohybrid
International Journal of Nanomedicine 10:549 (2015)
Seong Soo A. An, Hark-Soo Park, Seon-Ju Kim, Taek-Jin Lee, Geon-Yong Kim, Eun-Ho Meang, Jeong-Sup Hong, Su-Hyon Kim, Sang-Bum Koh, Seung-Guk Hong, Yle-Shik Sun, Jin Seok Kang, Yuri Kim, Myeong-Kon Kim, Jayoung Jeong, Jong Kwon Lee, Jae‐Hak Park, Woo‐Chan Son
A 90-day study of sub-chronic oral toxicity of 20 nm positively charged zinc oxide nanoparticles in Sprague Dawley rats
International Journal of Nanomedicine 9 Suppl 2:93 (2014)
Seong Soo A. An, Hark-Soo Park, Sung-Sup Shin, Eun-Ho Meang, Jeong-Sup Hong, Jong‐Il Park, Su-Hyon Kim, Sang-Bum Koh, Seung Young Lee, Dong-Hyouk Jang, Jong Yun Lee, Yle-Shik Sun, Jin Seok Kang, Yuri Kim, Myeong-Kon Kim, Jayoung Jeong, Jong‐Kwon Lee, Jae‐Hak Park, Woo‐Chan Son
A 90-day study of subchronic oral toxicity of 20 nm, negatively charged zinc oxide nanoparticles in Sprague Dawley rats
International Journal of Nanomedicine 9 Suppl 2:79 (2014)
Seong Soo A. An, Kyu Hwan Shim, John Hulme, Eun-Ho Meang, Myeong-Kon Kim
Analysis of SiO2 nanoparticles binding proteins in rat blood and brain homogenate
International Journal of Nanomedicine 9 Suppl 2:207 (2014)
Seong Soo A. An, Kyu Hwan Shim, John Hulme, Eun-Ho Meang, Myeong-Kon Kim
Analysis of zinc oxide nanoparticles binding proteins in rat blood and brain homogenate
International Journal of Nanomedicine:217 (2014)
Seong Soo A. An, Kyu Hwan Shim, Kyeong‐Hoon Jeong, Sun Oh Bae, Min O Kang, Eun-Ho Meang, ChulSoo Choi, Yuri Kim, John Hulme, Eun Kyu Lee, Myeong-Kon Kim
Assessment of ZnO and SiO2 nanoparticle permeability through and toxicity to the blood–brain barrier using Evans blue and TEM
International Journal of Nanomedicine 9 Suppl 2:225 (2014)
Seong Soo A. An, Yuri Kim, Eun Jeong Lee, Sung Ha Park, Hyo Jin Kwon, Sang Wook Son, Young Rok Seo, Jae‐Eun Pie, Myoung Yoon, Ja-hei Kim, Myeong-Kon Kim
Comparative analysis of nanotechnology awareness in consumers and experts in South Korea
International Journal of Nanomedicine 9 Suppl 2:21 (2014)
Seong Soo A. An, Jee Young Kwon, Preeyaporn Koedrith, Young Rok Seo
Current investigations into the genotoxicity of zinc oxide and silica nanoparticles in mammalian models in vitro and in vivo: carcinogenic/genotoxic potential, relevant mechanisms and biomarkers, artifacts, and limitations
International Journal of Nanomedicine 9 Suppl 2:271 (2014)
Seong Soo A. An, Jeong-Sup Hong, Myeong-Kyu Park, Minseok Kim, Jeong-Hyeon Lim, Gil-Jong Park, Eun-Ho Meang, Jae‐Ho Shin, Yuri Kim, Jong Kwon Lee, Jong-Choon Kim, Ho‐Chul Shin, Jina Park, Myeong-Kon Kim
Effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles on dams and embryo–fetal development in rats
International Journal of Nanomedicine 9 Suppl 2:145 (2014)
Seong Soo A. An, Dongwook Kwon, Jaehong Park, Seo Yeon Choi, Tae Hyun Yoon, Jonghoon Park
Effects of surface-modifying ligands on the colloidal stability of ZnO nanoparticle dispersions in in vitro cytotoxicity test media
International Journal of Nanomedicine 9 Suppl 2:57 (2014)
Soo-Ki Kim, Jae-Heon Kim, Cheol-Su Kim, Rosa Mistica C. Ignacio, Dong-Heui Kim, Ma. Easter Joy Sajo, Eun-Ho Meang, Xufeng Qi, Seong‐Eun Park, Yuri Kim, Myeong-Kon Kim, Kyu‐Jae Lee, Seong Soo A. An
Immunotoxicity of silicon dioxide nanoparticles with different sizes and electrostatic charge
International Journal of Nanomedicine 9 Suppl 2:183 (2014)
Seong Soo A. An, Cheol-Su Kim, Hai-Duong Nguyen, Rosa Mistica C. Ignacio, Jae-Heon Kim, Hyeon-Cheol Cho, Eun-Ho Meang, Yuri Kim, Myeong-Kon Kim, Bae-Keun Park, Soo‐Ki Kim
Immunotoxicity of zinc oxide nanoparticles with different size and electrostatic charge
International Journal of Nanomedicine 9 Suppl 2:195 (2014)
Seong Soo A. An, Jung-Eun Kim, Hyejin Kim, Eun-Ho Meang, Yoon‐Jae Song, Myeong-Kon Kim
In vitro cytotoxicity of SiO2 or ZnO nanoparticles with different sizes and surface charges on U373MG human glioblastoma cells
International Journal of Nanomedicine 9 Suppl 2:235 (2014)
Seong Soo A. An, Chang‐Moon Lee, Tai Kyoung Lee, Daeik Kim, Yuri Kim, Myeong-Kon Kim, Hwan‐Jeong Jeong, Myung‐Hee Sohn, Seok Tae Lim
Optical imaging of absorption and distribution of RITC-SiO2 nanoparticles after oral administration
International Journal of Nanomedicine 9:243 (2014)
Seong Soo A. An, Yuri Kim, Sung Ha Park, Jong‐Kwon Lee, Jayoung Jeong, Ja-hei Kim, Eun-Ho Meang, Tae Hyun Yoon, Seok Tae Lim, Jaeho Shin, Myeong-Kon Kim
Organization of research team for nano-associated safety assessment in effort to study nanotoxicology of zinc oxide and silica nanoparticles
International Journal of Nanomedicine 9 Suppl 2:3 (2014)
Seong Soo A. An, Kyoung–Min Kim, Mun–Hyoung Choi, Jong Kwon Lee, Jayoung Jeong, Yu-Ri Kim, Myeong-Kon Kim, Seung‐Min Paek, Jaeho Shin
Physicochemical properties of surface charge-modified ZnO nanoparticles with different particle sizes
International Journal of Nanomedicine 9 Suppl 2:41 (2014)
Seong Soo A. An, Jeong-Sup Hong, Myeong-Kyu Park, Min‐Seok Kim, Jeong-Hyeon Lim, Gil-Jong Park, Eun-Ho Meang, Jayoung Jeong, Jae‐Ho Shin, Myeong-Kon Kim, Jina Park, Jong-Choon Kim, Ho‐Chul Shin
Prenatal development toxicity study of zinc oxide nanoparticles in rats
International Journal of Nanomedicine 9 Suppl 2:159 (2014)
Seong Soo A. An, Myeong-Kon Kim
Safety assessment of silica and zinc oxide nanoparticles
International Journal of Nanomedicine 9 Suppl 2:1 (2014)
Seong Soo A. An, Kyoung–Min Kim, Hye Min Kim, Won–Jae Lee, Chang–Woo Lee, Tae–il Kim, Jong‐Kwon Lee, Jayoung Jeong, Seung‐Min Paek, Jaeho Shin
Surface treatment of silica nanoparticles for stable and charge-controlled colloidal silica
International Journal of Nanomedicine 9 Suppl 2:29 (2014)
Seong Soo A. An, Jeong-A Lee, Mikyung Kim, Hee-Jeong Paek, Yuri Kim, Myeong-Kon Kim, Jong‐Kwon Lee, Jayoung Jeong, Soo‐Jin Choi
Tissue distribution and excretion kinetics of orally administered silica nanoparticles in rats
International Journal of Nanomedicine 9 Suppl 2:251 (2014)
Seong Soo A. An, Yuri Kim, Jong‐Il Park, Eun Jeong Lee, Sung Ha Park, Nak-Won Seong, JunHo Kim, Geon-Yong Kim, Eun-Ho Meang, Jeong-Sup Hong, Su-Hyon Kim, Sang-Bum Koh, Min‐Seok Kim, Cheol-Su Kim, Soo‐Ki Kim, Sang Wook Son, Young Rok Seo, Boo Hyon Kang, Beom Seok Han, Hyo-In Yun, Myeong-Kon Kim
Toxicity of 100 nm zinc oxide nanoparticles: a report of 90-day repeated oral administration in Sprague Dawley rats
International Journal of Nanomedicine 9 Suppl 2:109 (2014)
Seong Soo A. An, Yuri Kim, Seung Young Lee, Eun Jeong Lee, Sung Ha Park, Nak-Won Seong, Heung-Sik Seo, Sung-Sup Shin, Seon-Ju Kim, Eun-Ho Meang, Myeong-Kyu Park, Min‐Seok Kim, Cheol-Su Kim, Soo-Ki Kim, Sang Wook Son, Young Rok Seo, Boo Hyon Kang, Beom Seok Han, Beam Jun Lee, Myeong-Kon Kim
Toxicity of colloidal silica nanoparticles administered orally for 90 days in rats
International Journal of Nanomedicine 9 Suppl 2:67 (2014)
Seong Soo A. An, Jee Young Kwon, Hye Lim Kim, Jong Yun Lee, Ju YH, Ji Soo Kim, Seung Hun Kang, Yuri Kim, Jayoung Jeong, Myeong-Kon Kim, Eun-Ho Meang, Young Rok Seo, Jong‐Kwon Lee
Undetactable levels of genotoxicity of SiO2 nanoparticles in in vitro and in vivo tests
International Journal of Nanomedicine 10:173 (2014)
Seong Soo A. An, Hwa Jung Ryu, Mu-Yeb Seo, Sung Kyu Jung, Eun-Ho Meang, Seung Young Lee, Dong-Hyouk Jang, Taek-Jin Lee, Ki-Yeon Jo, Yuri Kim, Kyu-Bong Cho, Myeong-Kon Kim, Beam Jun Lee, Sang Wook Son
Zinc oxide nanoparticles: a 90-day repeated-dose dermal toxicity study in rats
International Journal of Nanomedicine 9 Suppl 2:137 (2014)
Seok-Jeong Oh, Hwa Kim, Yingqiu Liu, Hyo‐Kyung Han, Kyenghee Kwon, Kyung-Hwa Chang, Kwangsik Park, Younghun Kim, Kyuhwan Shim, Seong Soo A. An, Moo‐Yeol Lee
Incompatibility of silver nanoparticles with lactate dehydrogenase leakage assay for cellular viability test is attributed to protein binding and reactive oxygen species generation
Toxicology Letters 225(3):422–432 (2014)
Thanavel Rajangam, Hyun‐jong Paik, Seong Soo A. An
Application and toxicity of CNTs in human body
Toxicology and Environmental Health Sciences 2(2):94–98 (2010)
Jun Seok Park, Seong Jae Cha, Beom Gyu Kim, Yoo Shin Choi, Gui Young Kwon, Hyun Kang, Seong Soo A. An
An Assessment of the Effects of a Hyaluronan-Based Solution on Reduction of Postsurgical Adhesion Formation in Rats: A Comparative Study of Hyaluronan-Based Solution and Two Film Barriers
Journal of Surgical Research 168(1):49–55 (2009)
Eun‐Ju Ha, Chun-Ho Park, Seong Soo A. An, Hyun‐jong Paik, Jang-Oo Lee
Preparation and Characterization of Inorganic–Organic Composites with Highly Dense CdS Nanoparticles Using Poly(2-acetamidoacrylic acid) Hydrogels
Composite Interfaces 16(4-6):493–505 (2009)