Biodegradable Sensors for the Brain: Intracranial Pressure Monitor for Traumatic Brain Injury
Newly developed brain sensors have the capability to biodegrade: that is, all the sensor materials dissolves away in cerebrospinal fluid over a controlled time period. Secondary surgery to remove implants becomes unnecessary and a nidus of infection, bleeding, and surgical risk is removed. The sensors’ wireless operation provides a fully implantable brain monitor in real time, eliminating the need for hospital visits for for additional treatment. The pressure sensors have 3D microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) structure exploiting piezoresistivity of Si nanomembranes, flexibility of biodegradable polymer (PLGA), and nano-porous or Mg foil structural materials.
Fully Implantable, Wireless Monitoring System with Near-Field Communication (NFC)
This wireless monitor provides a critically important feature in mobile and real-time monitoring. Here the CPU embedded chip-scale wireless system offers high-speed, digitalized communication with wireless energy and information transfer through near-field electromagnetic coupling of biodegradable metal inductor coils. The miniaturized system is smaller than a dime (U.S. 10-cent coin) and can be implanted in the brain cavity. Various sensor modalities can be integrated with the current NFC system for other types of application such as temperature, pressure, flow rates, pH and glucose sensing and the like.
Biodegradable and Self-deployable Electronic Tent : Minimally Invasive Brain Interfaces
A biodegradable, self-deployable electronic tent automatically sets up in various environments, offering minimal invasiveness in limited spaces without manual intervention. It integrates functional devices (ECoG, temperature, strain, and pH sensors) made from thin biodegradable inorganic materials (Si nanomembranes, SiO2, Mg, Mo) for flexibility and high electrical performance. This material integration allows seamless deployment and operation. Equipped with embedded sensors and wireless communication, the tent provides real-time monitoring and data collection for various applications. After use, the tent dissolves in the body over a controlled lifetime, reducing the need for secondary removal surgery and associated risks.
Biodegradable, Inorganic Platform for High-Performance RF Components
Inorganic biomaterials provide robust mechanical characteristics and high performance in electronic operation. A clear understanding of the dissolution products and their biocompatibility demonstrates their usability in biomedical devices with degradable features. Studies have demonstrated that we can generate all necessary electronic components − from resistors, diodes, transistors, and capacitors to inductors − with fully biodegradable metal and Si-based semiconductors less than a few micrometer thick, so that all materials can be dissolved away in the body in a few months. Integrating all components lets us provide more complex and advanced electronic circuits for delicate biomedical sensing and treatment.
Photo-degradable Soft Robots using Silicone Elastomeric Composite
Soft robots with high elasticity and the ability to degrade under ultraviolet (UV) light offer exciting potential for a variety of applications, particularly in military operations. These robots are designed for discreet operations and surveillance, providing a versatile solution for temporary missions. After completing their tasks, the robots can self-dispose in an environmentally friendly manner, significantly reducing their environmental impact. This biodegradability also enhances their use in hazardous areas, where retrieval of traditional hardware may be impractical or risky. Additionally, the robots contribute to hardware security by ensuring that sensitive materials do not remain exposed after their mission is finished.
Notices & News
(2024-12) Our lab's research was covered by SNU College of Engineering and Edu-Donga
(2024-08) Our lab's research was covered by SNU College of Engineering and Chosun-Ilbo
(2024-08) Our lab's research was published in 'Natrue Electronics'.
(2023-01) Our professor and Se-Hun attended and demonstrated the product at CES 2023.
(2022-11) Jaehwan and Myungkyun won an excellent award at KIM.
(2022-09) Minha won the grand prize at KMRS.
(2022-05) Ji-Woo won an excellent award at Korean bio-chip conference.
(2022-04) Minha won an excellent award at KIM.
(2022-04) Ji-Woo won an excellent award at KIM.
(2022-03) Our professor received an exellent lecture award from SNU.
(2021-11) Kyung-Seob won the excellent award at KCERS november 2021.
(2021-11) Kyung-Seob won the excellent award at KIM november 2021.
(2021-11) Jae-Hwan won the execellent award at KIM, november 2021.
(2021-09) Young-hwan won the first award at creative design fair September 27, 2021.
(2021-04) Jae-Young got the excellent poster award from 2021 spring conference of the Korean Institute of Metals and Materials, 29 April.
(2020-11) Jio got the best poster award from 2020 fall conference of the Korean Cerimic Society, 25 November.
(2020-10) Jae-Young got the excellent oral presentation award in biomaterial session, 2020 fall conference of the Korean Institute of Metals and Materials online, 30 October.
(2020-08) New research results are reported on 'Donga Science' article.
(2020-08) New research project kick-off meeting was held in 6 August.
(2020-01) BIE Lab attended 2020 Gordon Research Conference (Robotics/Multifunctional Materials and Structures) in California, 12 January - 24 January. Min-Ha and Kyung-Sub had poster presentations in each session.
(2019-12) All the BIE members shared their research progress for 2019 fall semester wrap-up seminar. After the seminar, we had a BBQ party and played a screen baseball game.
(2019-10) Prof. Kang has been awarded Leading Creative Researchers of 2019 by Seoul National University.
(2019-09) Prof. Kang has been awarded the POSCO Cheongam Science Fellowship.
(2019-08) BIE had a wrap-up dining to celebrate the end of the summer semester in August 30th.
(2019-07) SNU-KIST Joint Research Laboratory opening ceremony was held in 16 July. Department of materials science and engineering professors and KIST researchers attended the ceremony.
(2019-06) BIE had a wrap-up seminar for 19 spring semester in 19 June. After the seminar, we got a special dining for celebrating the end of the semester.
(2019-04) Sung-Geun gave an oral presentation in biomaterial session, 2019 spring conference of the Korean Institute of Metals and Materials in Changwon, 24 April.
(2019-04) BIEL attended 2019 spring conference of the Korean Institute of Metals and Materials in Changwon, 24 April - 26 April.
(2019-04) Prof. Kang delivers an invited talk at 2019 MRS Spring Meeting & Exhibit on Biodegradable and Biocompatible Electronics session on “Bioresorbable Electronics for Minimally Invasive Medical Sensing and Treatment of Nervous System”.
(2019-04) Prof. Kang delivers an invited talk at SPIE Defense Commercial Sensing on Biodegradable Electronics and Sensor session on “Silicon Transient Electronics: Bioresorbable to Hardware-Secure Device”.
(2019-03) Prof. Kang starts a position in Materials Science and Engineering Department at SNU as an assistant professor. We welcome active and passionate students to our group to join our leading research!
Welcome to Multi-Dimensional Materials Laboratory
Our philosophy...
We explore real solutions for society issues including bio-healthcare, environment, safety and reliability problems through understanding, exploiting and sharing multidisciplinary science and engineering in materials science, chemistry, mechanics, electronics, bioengineering, biology and other emerging engineering. We develop and apply multi-dimension electronic materials to provide the bio and environmentally friendly devices for early diagnosis of safety issue in daily life to contribute toward these ultimate goals.
Our vision...
We live in 4D spaces (3D Geometry with Time Space)! We can manipulate the wide range of properties of materials by controlling the materials dimension and its time dependent characteristic. We are seeking the materials design to customize the materials dimension, geometry, morphology and structure from 0D to 4D and tune the degradation, transformation, transition, and sustainability. All aspect of experience in materials design, fabrication and prototype demonstration reveal the leadership in convergent research era.
Our research...
We in the Multi-Dimensional Materials (MDM) Lab focus on materials development for Bio, Environment, and Safety Technologies (BEST) including 1. Biodegradable and minimum-invasive implants offering quick, safe medical treatment at complex levels of surgical care, and reducing the need for surgery, 2. Environmental friendly and waste-free green electronic providing efficient energy harvesting system and bio/eco-compatible resources with zero waste stream, 3. Safety and reliability of devices and structure suggesting convergent prediction and monitoring method to preventing the industrial accident.