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A large puncture closer of aortic wall by multi-memory actions with thrombo-hemodynamic control

2026-05-01T00:00:00Z

Title: A large puncture closer of aortic wall by multi-memory actions with thrombo-hemodynamic control Authors: Cho, Sungwoo; Ha, Hyun-Su; Lee, Sangmin; Kim, Hyunjae; Lee, Seok Joon; Kim, Jueun; Lee, Yerin; Lee, Kang Suk; Joo, Hyun-Chel; Sung, Hak-Joon; 하현수; 이예린 Abstract: The vascular wall regulates the pattern and pressure of blood flow. In cardiovascular interventions, catheters are deployed by puncturing the vessel wall, without exception. Despite continuous progress, the outcomes remain highly operator-dependent, and large punctures with high-pressure bleeding continue to pose clinical challenges. As a translatable solution, this study introduces a shape memory vascular wall plug (VWP) that automates both the Body and Wing functions within a single component, supported by a Ring assembly to maximize pressure resistance. The VWP is deployed into a 6-mm puncture in a porcine thoracic aorta under peak blood pressure, and shape recovery is triggered by a 45 degrees C saline flush to enable automated activation. Upon recovery, Body expansion combined with Ring compression tightly seals the puncture tract. The curved Wing induces hemostatic sealing and then flattens to maintain healthy blood flow and physiologic pressures. The VWP achieves suturinglevel performance in aortic puncture closure, demonstrating effective hemostasis, patency, and endothelialization. The flow-blockage ratio required to balance hemostasis with hemodynamics is computationally modeled and validated using whole-blood microfluidics. Pressure resistance is maximized by tuning Ring strain through polymer blending, indicating multi-level strategies in polymer, device design, and memory function to advance the vascular closure technology.

A Clinical Trial Report: A Nasolacrimal Stent with Shape Memory as an Advanced Alternative to Silicone Products

2026-05-01T00:00:00Z

Title: A Clinical Trial Report: A Nasolacrimal Stent with Shape Memory as an Advanced Alternative to Silicone Products Authors: Byeon, Hyeong Ju; Kim, Jueun; Park, Ju Young; Yoon, Jin Sook; Sung, Hak-Joon; Ko, JaeSang Abstract: Silicone tubes have been used as nasolacrimal stents for over 40 years due to their excellent elastic and biocompatible properties. Nonetheless, long-standing clinical issues persist, including biofilm formation, insufficient tear drainage, and invasiveness during insertion through occluded ducts. To address these issues, a prospective, single-arm, open-label clinical study was performed with 16 patients over 20 weeks using a shape memory stent. The shape memory function reduces invasiveness through temporarily thinned insertion by pulling, followed by diameter expansion upon accumulation of inner-body heat energy (on-site programming). The unique semicrystalline surface suppresses bacterial adhesion due to the spreading of anti-fouling crystalline ridges and the consequent narrow widths of the adhesive amorphous regions, effectively suppressing bacterial adhesion and subsequent biofilm formation. Furthermore, in aligned patterns, water-impenetrable crystalline ridges facilitate the flow-down of tears to the absorbable amorphous regions, thereby improving the drainage efficiency. Consequently, the clinical success rate (Munk's score of 0-1) reached 78.6% with a significant decrease in tear meniscus height over 20 weeks and postoperative fluorescein dye disappearance test grades <= 2 in all patients. Four cautionary symptoms occurred, leading to early stent removal in two patients due to corneal abrasion and insertion-site granuloma. These results suggest that the shape memory stent is a promising noninferior option to the silicone stent.

Cell-Derived Nanocarriers for Monocyte-Mediated Therapeutic Delivery: Concept and Challenges

2026-05-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Cell-Derived Nanocarriers for Monocyte-Mediated Therapeutic Delivery: Concept and Challenges Authors: Yu, Seung Eun; Kim, Jueun; Sung, Hak-Joon; 유승은 Abstract: Nano-delivery has been largely focused on ligand-based navigational targeting, but several common limitations have been recognized. First, the same targeting ligand can be sporadically expressed by unintended cells and tissues across different temporal and spatial contexts. Second, clearance from blood circulation via the liver, kidney, lung, and spleen is largely uncontrollable, in addition to nonspecific uptake by immune cells during circulation or tissue accumulation. Accordingly, inherent characteristics of cells have recently been utilized as alternative strategic points for delivery. Cell-derived nanocarriers utilize plasma membranes as modulators of targeting and delivery mechanisms, including cell hitchhiking to alter carrier behavior, reprogram phenotypes, and enable drug hand-over. The membrane mediates contact with target cells in a manner analogous to cell-cell interactions, thereby enabling physical bridging between cells and natural homing to peer cells, in addition to user-specified molecular display through mother cell expression or chemical conjugation. Here, cell-derived nanocarriers for therapeutic delivery (CDNTD) are reviewed with emphasis on their mechanistic basis, distinctions from synthetic nanoparticles, and therapeutic potential. We recently introduced spleen-mediated delivery strategies that employ resident monocytes as second therapeutic carriers following uptake of primary nanocarriers. In this way, the natural targeting behavior of monocytes in response to inflammatory cues enhances payload delivery efficiency to ischemic sites. Future directions of CDNTD research are also discussed with respect to clinical translation.

Wearable microneedle sensors for continuous interstitial fluid monitoring

2026-04-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Wearable microneedle sensors for continuous interstitial fluid monitoring Authors: Cho, Junghyun; Son, Heeju; Kim, Jayoung; Song, Hyun Seok; Lee, Wonryung Abstract: Wearable microneedle (MN) sensors for continuous interstitial fluid (ISF) monitoring are emerging as transformative tools for real-time biochemical profiling in healthcare. Unlike point-of-care (POC) devices that provide single-time-point results, continuous MN systems deliver time-resolved molecular data over extended periods, enabling detection of rapid physiological changes and supporting timely, personalized interventions. This review focuses exclusively on continuous MN systems designed for on-body, long-term operation, integrating engineering fundamentals, clinical application priorities, and translational strategies for MN-based electrochemical ISF sensing. We describe how MN architecture, materials, and fabrication methods are optimized for long-term in vivo performance and outline core sensing modalities with an emphasis on electrochemical approaches. Three clinical domains are highlighted: chronic disease management, early disease detection, and therapeutic drug monitoring, each imposing distinct technical and operational challenges. Cross-cutting requirements such as antifouling, secure skin adhesion, and closed-loop integration are critically examined. Regulatory readiness and clinical workflow integration are discussed to align MN technologies with established pathways. By linking technical progress to clinical translation, this review provides a practical roadmap to accelerate MN-based continuous monitoring from laboratory innovation to real-world adoption.