Professor Kim Yong-hee from the Department of Biotechnology has developed a microneedle patch loaded with anti-obesity gene therapy. It promotes effective treatment of obesity by suppressing specific fat cells and increases convenience by reducing the burden on patients through the microneedle patch. The research results were published in a world-renowned academic journal in the field of materials science.
▲Professor Yonghee Kim from the Department of Biotechnology has developed an anti-obesity gene therapy that removes fatty acids harmful to the human body, unlike other obesity treatments that suppress the appetite center in the brain. ⓒ Professor Yonghee Kim
Depart from the principles of existing treatments for obesity
The global obesity rate is increasing day by day. The World Obesity Foundation warned in a report last year: “If we do not respond adequately to the problem of obesity, the number of overweight and obese people will exceed half the world’s population by 2035.” In fact, the obesity rate among Koreans has also steadily increased from 31.7% in 2007 to 37.2% in 2022, according to data from the Korea Agency for Disease Control and Prevention.
As the obesity problem becomes more serious, the obesity treatment market has emerged as a mega trend. In addition to improving diet and exercise, there are many attempts to lose weight and improve health through obesity treatments. However, existing treatments for obesity have the disadvantage of causing side effects such as depression and cardiovascular disease because they suppress the appetite center in the brain. Additionally, when administered via injection, many patients feel uncomfortable with the needle.
Professor Kim has developed a new type of microneedle patch loaded with anti-obesity gene therapy to improve the problems of existing treatments for obesity. He explained: “Instead of stimulating the brain, we wanted to reduce the accumulation of fatty acids in the body by suppressing specific fat cells.”
In this process, we developed a self-assembled Oligopeptoplex (SA-OP) that combines plasmid DNA that can inhibit fatty acid binding proteins and a non-viral gene carrier. He said: “Through SA-OP, we introduced plasmid DNA into the nucleus of fat cells and prevented the accumulation of unnecessary fatty acids in the abdomen.”
▲Professor Kim explains microneedle patch loaded with anti-obesity gene therapy. He explains the positive results demonstrated through research. ⓒ Journalist Yoon Sarang
The treatment can be used more conveniently and safely by administering it through a microneedle patch. In addition, the patch can be used for some medicines that cannot be administered orally, and can be administered painlessly and conveniently to patients who are reluctant to receive treatment due to injection needles. Professor Kim said: “There are tiny needles invisible to the eye on the surface of the microneedle patch. If you put a medicine in that area and stick it to your body, the needle area will naturally decompose, so you can simply remove the patch later.” He explained.
The treatment developed by Professor Kim actually led to a 20% weight loss in around 7 weeks. No yo-yo phenomena or problems occur after stopping treatment and can be used effectively to treat metabolic diseases caused by obesity, diabetes and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
world-class academic journal
Professor Kim’s research results were published in a world-renowned academic journal in the field of materials science.
▲ This is Professor Kim when he attended the “Scientist and Engineer of the Month” award ceremony organized by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning in 2015. Professor Kim continuously conducts research and is active in the field of biotechnology. ⓒ Professor Yonghee Kim
Currently, Professor Kim holds the position of director of the Bio Life and Pharmaceutical Research Institute. The Biomedical Research Institute is a place where about 10 professors from the Department of Biotechnology conduct joint research. Experts from each field come together to conduct a wide range of research, including developing new drugs and conducting collaborative projects with companies and academia. He said: “Through joint research, we are integrating the limitations of individual research and thinking together about the treatment system society needs.”
“We will conduct research that is useful to the world.”
Professor Kim is actively conducting research on obesity and cancer. In particular, we are researching anti-tumor immunoassays, which activate the body’s immune cells, and metabolic diseases caused by obesity. Furthermore, we are intensively researching cosmetics and treatments that can easily commercialize microneedles and are looking for ways to use them.
His goal is “to ensure that the results of my research have a positive impact on the world”. Professor Kim said: “I want to conduct research that can help reduce patient pain and improve comfort and establish it as an innovative new drug.” He continued: “Our goal is to continue to conduct research, collaborate with global pharmaceutical companies and ensure competitive technologies around the world.”
Finally, Professor Kim gave heartfelt advice to graduate students and new researchers. “Rather than conducting research alone, conduct research collaboratively with many people. It is important to conduct research not alone in a room, but to experiment and solve problems together by communicating and interacting with people. Rather than conducting research alone, network with many people in various places: “If you accumulate, your range of thinking will become much wider.”
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