Our interests span a range of topics that are related with the Nanobiotechnology and and its application to the Food Science and other biological research. It includes the development of nanomaterials for the advancement of food system and human health. We are working on a variety of problems related with the synthesis of biocompatible nanomaterials, integration of these materials with biological molecules, and confer them specific functions that can be deliverable to our body through food system. Upon scaling down the size of macroscopic materials into nano scale, the physical principles that determine the overall property of the system changes, and we are utilizing this phenomenon to develop an advanced food materials.

1. Nanotechnology can provide effective tools to design smart food system for target specific delivery of various functions by enhancing solubility, improving bioavailability, facilitating the controlled release and stabilizing sensitive micronutrients in food products. These nanomaterials are so small (few nanometer ~ hundreds nanometer) that they minimally affect, if any, the taste, flavor or sensory properties of food. On the other hand, we can confer a specific characteristics to a certain food by releasing the contents of nanomaterials in highly controlled manner. We are also designing food nanoingredients that resembles the physical properties of important food components, such as fat globule, proteins or starch granules, yet are low in calorie for diet food.

2. We are also working on developing micro-sensors for the detection of food pathogen. We employed various nanomaterials and biomaterials to enhance the specificities and sensitivity of the analytical devices.

1. Hwang, K.-Y., S.-Y. Jeong, Y.-R. Kim, K. Namkoong, H.-K. Lim, W.-S. Chung, J.-H. Kim, N. Huh. "Rapid detection of bacterial cell from whole blood: Integration of DNA sample preparation into single micro PCR Chip" Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical. In Press (2009)

2. Kim, H.-N., J. Lee, H.-Y. Kim, Y.-R. Kim. "Enzymatic synthesis of a drug delivery system based on polyhydroxyalkanoate-protein block copolymers" Chemical Communications. 46: 7104-7106 (2009) (Cover article) Featured in "Highlights in Chemical Biology"

3. Lee, S., K. Lee, G.-D. Moon, Y.-S. Won, S.-S. Park, Y.-R. Kim, U. Jeong. "Electrospun hollow carbon nanofibers with macroscopic opening on the surface" Nanotechnology, 20: 445702 (2009)

4. Ha, E.-J., Y.J. Kim, S. S. An, Y.-R. Kim, J.-O. Lee, S.-G. Lee, H.-j. Paik. "Purification of His-tagged proteins using Ni2+-poly(2-acetamidoacrylic acid) hydrogel" Journal of Chromatography B. 876: 8-12 (2008)

5. Kim, H.-J., S.H. Park, T.H. Lee, B.H. Nahm, Y.-R. Kim, H.Y. Kim. "Microarray detection of food-borne pathogens using specific probes prepared by comparative genomics" Biosensors and Bioelectronics. 24: 238-246 (2008)

6. Kim, Y.-R., C.A. Batt. "Riboprint and virulence gene patterns for Bacillus cereus and related species" Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology. 18: 1146-1155 (2008)

7. Kim, Y.-R., J. Min, I. Lee, S. Kim, A.-G. Kim, K. Kim, K. Namkoong, C. Ko. "Nanopore sensor for a fast label-free detection of short double-stranded DNA" Biosensors and Bioelectronics. 22: 2926-2931 (2007)

8. Kim, Y.-R. C. Li, Q. Wang, P. Chen. "Detecting translocation of individual single stranded DNA homopolymers through a fabricated nanopore chip" Frontiers in Bioscience. 12: 2978-2983 (2007)

9. Kim, Y.-R., P. Chen, M. J. Aziz, D. Branton, J. J. Vlassak. "Focused ion beam induced deflections of freestanding thin films" Journal of Applied Physics. 100:104322 (2006)

10. Mitsui, T., D. Stein, Y.-R. Kim, D. Hoogerheide, J.A. Golovchenko. "Nanoscale volcanoes: Accretion of matter at ion-sculpted nanopores." Physical Review Letters. 96: 036102 (2006)

11. Kim, Y.-R., H.-j. Paik, S. Mark, G. W. Coates, C. K. Ober, T. Ryan, C. A. Batt. "Real time analysis of enzymatic surface-initiated polymerization using surface plasmon resonance (SPR)." Macromolecular Bioscience. 6: 145-152. (2006)

12. Paik, H.-j., Y.-R. Kim, G. W. Coates, C. K. Ober, C. A. Batt. "End-functionalization of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) via genetic engineering for solid surface modification." Chemical Communications. 15:1956-1958. (2005)

13. Chen, P., J. Gu, E. Brandin, Y.-R. Kim, Q. Wang, D. Branton. "Probing single DNA molecule transport using fabricated nanopores" Nano Letters. 4(11):2293-2298. (2004)

14. Kim, Y.-R., H.-j. Paik, G. W. Coates, C. K. Ober, C. A. Batt. "Enzymatic surface-initiated polymerization: A novel approach for the in situ solid phase synthesis of the biocompatible polymer, poly[3-hydroxybutyrate]" Biomacromolecules, 5:889-894 (2004)

15. Kim, Y.-R., J. Min, K. Namkoong, K. Cheong, C. Yoo, K. Han, K. Kim "Apparatus for introducing fluid into microfluidic chip by using centrifugal force, a system including the apparatus, and a method of using the apparatus" US 2008/0072994A1 (Pub. date: Mar. 27, 2008)

16. Kim, Y.-R., J. Min, I. Lee, Y. Lee, C. Yoo, K. Han "Method and apparatus for concentrating and amplifying nucleic acid in single micro chamber" US 2007/0269819 A1 (Pub. date: Nov. 22, 2007)

17. Min, J.H., I. Lee, C. Yoo, K. Han, Y.-R. Kim "Method and apparatus for purifying nucleic acid on hydrophilic surface of solid support using hydrogen bonding" US 2007/0238109 A1 (Pub. date: Oct. 11, 2007)

18. Kim, Y.-R., K. Namkoong, J. Min "Apparatus and method for separating material by size" US2007/0238598 A1 (Pub. date: Oct. 11, 2007)

19. Kim, Y.-R., J. Min, I. Lee, A. Kim, K. Kim "Method and device for detecting DNA using surface-treated nanopore" US 2007/0218471 A1 (Pub. date: Sep. 20, 2007)

20. Kim, Y.-R., H. Kim, J. Lee. "Method for the production of particles with targeting ability by enzyme synthesis" KR10-2009-0017516 (Filed for Korea patent application)