- Precision Medicine Characterization through Integration of Genomic, Transcriptomic, Proteomic, and Clinical Data - Discovery of Novel Therapeutic Targets for Specific, Treatment-Resistant Lung Cancer in Koreans through Collaborative Research by Purely Domestic Research Teams The primary cause of lung cancer is smoking. However, the incidence of lung cancer among never-smokers has been steadily increasing, especially among women. While approximately 80% of never-smoking lung cancer patients are prescribed targeted therapies that focus on mutations in proteins such as EGFR and ALK, the remaining patients often receive cytotoxic chemotherapy with high side effects and relatively low response rates, highlighting the urgent need for targeted therapies. Dr. Lee Cheolju's team at the Chemical Life Convergence Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), along with Dr. Kim Seon-Young's team at the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology and Dr. Han Ji-Youn's team at the National Cancer Center, have elucidated the overexpression of estrogen signaling pathways in specific Korean never-smoking lung cancer cases using multi-omics analysis and proposed the anti-cancer drug saracatinib as a targeted therapeutic agent. Multi-omics integrates various molecular information, with proteomics presenting a particular challenge due to the need to analyze small amounts of proteins without loss, typically microgram-scale. The research team obtained tissue samples from 101 Korean never-smoking lung cancer patients without identified treatment targets among 1,597 patients who visited the National Cancer Center over the past decade and distributed clinical information, genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and phosphoproteomic data to each omics analysis method for mutual referencing. Particularly, proteomic analysis measured an average of over 9,000 proteins and 5,000 phosphorylated proteins per sample using only 100 μg of protein, which is 10% of the amount required for conventional protein analysis, using isotopic labeling techniques. Analysis of genetic mutations and cellular signaling pathways revealed that driver mutations of genes known to be associated with cancer, such as STK11 and ERBB2, were observed in the tissues of never-smoking lung cancer patients. Additionally, while the estrogen signaling pathway was found to be overexpressed, there were no significant changes in estrogen hormone receptors. Based on this, saracatinib, a sub estrogen signaling transduction protein inhibitor, showed statistically significant (p<0.01) cell death effects when applied to cells with mutations in STK11 and ERBB2 compared to the control group without such mutations. Building on this, the research team is developing a molecular diagnostic technique for discriminating patients with specific expression of estrogen signaling pathways among never-smoking lung cancer patients. Additionally, they plan to conduct preclinical trials of saracatinib's therapeutic effects on never-smoking lung cancer animal models in collaboration with the National Cancer Center. Dr. Lee Cheolju of KIST stated, "This successful case of discovering new therapeutic targets for refractory cancer through multi-omics analysis is based on purely domestic research and the collaborative efforts of hospitals and research institutions, which holds significant meaning. Building on this experience, we will lead the expansion of multi-omics research on human diseases." [Figure 1] Overview of Genomic and Proteomic Analysis in Never-Smoking Lung Cancer Patients (Left) Distribution of gender among never-smoking lung cancer patients analyzed in this study, with predominance of females. (Middle) Screening results for genetic mutations in never-smoking lung cancer patients, showing 15% of patients with unidentified mutations in lung tissue. A total of 101 tissue samples underwent genomic and proteomic analysis. (Right) Molecular characterization of Korean never-smoking lung adenocarcinoma using multi-omics analysis. [Figure 2] Representative Features and Identification of Mutant Genes in Patients with Unidentified Mutations (Left) Increased expression of genes associated with estrogen hormone response observed in tissues from patients with unidentified mutations in both genetic and protein analyses. (Right) Patients with driver mutations in STK11 and ERBB2 show significant differences in smoking history, and a high estrogen response shows similar results to known KRAS mutations. [Figure 3] Drug Discovery and Anticancer Effects Demonstration Based On Specific Mutations in Korean Never-Smoking Lung Cancer (Left) Validation of proteins associated with estrogen response using tissue immunostaining, identifying Saracatinib as the most effective drug in inhibiting the expression of related proteins using public bio big data and cross-analyzing its mechanism with genetic expression in Korean never-smoking lung cancer patients to predict positive anticancer effects. (Right) Selection of cell lines with mutations identical to those found in patients among lung cancer cell lines, treated with Saracatinib alongside a control group without these mutations, demonstrating excellent anticancer effects from low to high concentrations and confirming the anticancer effects of Saracatinib. ### KIST was established in 1966 as the first government-funded research institute in Korea. KIST now strives to solve national and social challenges and secure growth engines through leading and innovative research. For more information, please visit KIST’s website at https://eng.kist.re.kr/ This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT, Korea, under the KIST's main projects and the Bio-Medical Technology Development Program (2022M3H9A2096187). The research results have been published online in the latest issue of the international journal "Cancer Research" (IF 11.2, JCR field 10.6%).

- Develop a mathematical model of tumor dynamics considering acquired resistance and cancer cell plasticity - Derive effective dose window capable of maintaining tumor burden under a tolerable level - Propose evolutionary therapy dosing cycles to redirect tumor dynamics for improved outcomes Cancer poses significant challenges due to the development of resistance and the likelihood of relapse. Resistance may arise from permanent genetic changes in cancer cells or non-genetic alterations in cancer cell behavior induced by treatment. Standard of care in cancer treatments typically involves administering the maximum tolerated dose of a drug to eradicate drug-sensitive cells effectively. However, this approach often fails in the long term because drug-resistant cancer cells can grow more rapidly when all drug-sensitive cancer cells are killed off. An evolution-based treatment approach, called adaptive therapy, personalizes treatment dose or breaks based on individual patient responses. The goal of adaptive therapy is to maintain a sufficient number of sensitive cells to control the growth of resistant cells. Recent studies and clinical trials have demonstrated that adaptive therapy could delay resistance more effectively compared to the standard of care. Determining the dose and treatment breaks for each patient is challenging because cancer is a complex evolving system, and every patient is different. Mathematical models can be helpful in designing such patient-specific treatment strategies. Indeed, several mathematical models have been developed to explore the effects of various treatment strategies on patient outcomes. However, existing mathematical models often overlook the impact of acquired resistance and cancer cell plasticity. 'Acquired resistance' encompasses various types of resistance that emerge, often due to genetic changes. 'Cell plasticity' refers to cancer cells' ability to alter their phenotypes in response to changes in their microenvironment, such as fluctuations in treatment dosage or treatment cessation. A research team led by Dr. Kim Eunjung at the Natural Products Informatics Research Center of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST, Director Oh Sangrok) has established a theoretical foundation for cancer treatment strategies following tumor evolution. They have developed a mathematical model to predict tumor evolution, considering the acquisition of resistance by cancer cells and their ability to alter phenotypic behavior (plasticity) during treatment. The analysis of their model has identified the conditions for the existence of an effective dose window, a range of doses that could maintain tumor volume at an equilibrium point, where the tumor volume remains unchanged and stable. For some tumors with plasticity, taking breaks from treatment helps cancer cells become sensitive again, joining forces with other sensitive cells to suppress resistant cell growth. The research team has proposed evolutionary therapy dosing, which involves administering treatment in cycles comprising treatment holidays, minimum effective doses, and maximum tolerated doses. Pausing treatment allows plastic cancer cells to regain sensitivity, followed by the application of a minimum effective dose to control tumor volume. Subsequently, a maximum tolerated dose is administered to further reduce tumor size. This dosing cycle effectively contains tumor volume at a manageable level. Numerical simulations of the proposed strategies, applied to a melanoma patient, further illustrate these findings. The results show that evolutionary dosing can redirect tumor dynamics, maintaining tumor size below a tolerable burden. The developed mathematical model can predict the effective dosage range of cancer treatment drug candidates prior to clinical trials. It can assist in determining the anticancer effects of new treatments and identifying the effective dosage range for each drug. Furthermore, the model contributes to personalized cancer treatment strategies by considering patient-specific tumor evolutionary dynamics during treatment. Dr. Kim Eunjung stated, "In the current study, we emphasized the role of cancer cells’ phenotypic plasticity in enhancing the controllability of tumor burden with evolutionary treatment cycling doses." She also mentioned plans to utilize the mathematical model in designing animal experiments and clinical trials for potential natural product-derived anticancer drug candidates. This aims to establish dosage regimens that effectively control tumor burden. [Figure 1] Mathematical Model Describing Patient-Specific Tumor Dynamics to Guide Treatment Dose Scheduling A mathematical model describes tumor dynamics where the tumor comprises drug-sensitive cancer cells (S), -resistant cancer cells (R), and plastic cancer cells (P). The model proposes evolutionary therapy dosing cycling, alternating between treatment off, minimum effective dose, and maximum tolerated dose. This schematic illustrates the anticipated changes in tumor composition following the administration of the proposed dosing cycles. [Figure 2] The Evolution of a Tumor Under Proposed Drug Dosing Cycles During treatment breaks, an increase in drug-sensitive cells is observed due to changes in plastic cancer cells. With minimum dosage treatment, the growth of drug-resistant cancer cells is suppressed. Subsequently, the application of a maximum tolerated dose significantly reduces the number of drug-sensitive cancer cells [Figure 3] The Sensitivity of the Effective Dose Window to Drug Resistance Rate and Plasticity Rate The effective dose window remains largely unchanged with variations in plasticity rate, whereas it significantly decreases with an increasing rate of resistance acquisition. ### KIST was established in 1966 as the first government-funded research institute in Korea. KIST now strives to solve national and social challenges and secure growth engines through leading and innovative research. For more information, please visit KIST’s website at https://eng.kist.re.kr/ This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Lee Jong-ho) through KIST's major projects and mid-career researcher programs (2019R1A2C1090219). The research findings were published in the February issue of the international journal "Chaos, Solitons & Fractals" (IF 7.8, JCR top 0.9% of the field).

- Successful clinical testing on pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis using a flexible device enabling sweat gland stimulation and simultaneous biosensing. - Two-year collaborative research between KIST and Northwestern University. Sweat contains biomarkers that can monitor various health conditions, from diabetes to genetic disorders. Sweat sampling, unlike blood collection, is preferred by users due to its painless nature. However, to obtain sufficient nutrients or hormones from sweat for testing, intense physical activity was previously required to induce sweat. This method posed challenges for individuals with limited mobility. Dr. Kim Joohee from the Bionics Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST, Director Oh Sangrok) and Professor John A. Rogers from Northwestern University jointly announced the development of a convenient sweat monitoring device that does not require physical activity but delivers drug stimulation through the skin. Unlike previous methods that induced sweat through exercise, this device delivers drugs that stimulate sweat glands through the skin. The research team developed a flexible device capable of delivering drugs to sweat glands by applying a current to a hydrogel containing drugs. This device, which is small and soft, can be easily attached to the skin. Sweat induced by the drug is collected in microfluidic channels within the device and analyzed for biomarkers using biosensors. This enables the analysis of biomarkers in sweat, reducing the need for cumbersome hospital visits for testing and lowering the risk of biomarker contamination during testing, thereby increasing accuracy. The device developed by the research team was attached to infants with cystic fibrosis, and the chloride concentration, a biomarker in sweat, was confirmed. The results were consistent with those obtained from traditional analysis methods using sweat collected in hospitals, with an accuracy of over 98%. Additionally, the stability of the device on the skin was ensured by confirming skin temperature and pH values. Since cystic fibrosis mainly manifests during infancy, continuous monitoring of disease progression and physical condition is necessary. With this device, monitoring can be easily done at home, reducing the psychological and physical stress on pediatric patients and their caregivers. This newly developed device contributes to the expansion of non-invasive disease monitoring technology based on sweat in healthy adults as well. Furthermore, the technology of delivering drugs through the skin can be utilized not only to induce sweat but also to increase the delivery rate of drugs in localized areas such as skin conditions or wounds, thereby accelerating recovery. Dr. Kim Joohee stated, "Through two years of collaborative research with Northwestern University, we have not only addressed the limitations of existing methods for inducing sweat but also achieved success in clinical research, bringing us one step closer to commercialization." Professor John A. Rogers added, "We plan to conduct large-scale clinical studies and commercialization, including adults, in the future." [Figure 1] Schematic and Actual Photo of Wearable Device Enabling Drug Delivery for Sweat Induction and Disease Monitoring Illustration and photograph of the device capable of drug delivery for sweat induction and simultaneous monitoring of biomarkers in sweat. [Figure 2] Testing the Wearable Device Attached to a Child A child with the traditional wired device attached to the left arm and the developed device adhered to the right arm, delivering drugs to stimulate sweat glands. [Figure 3] Comparison Graphs of Results and Pain Perception During Testing (Left) Graph showing over 98% agreement between the traditional diagnostic method and the developed device's biomarker analysis results for five patients. (Right) Graph comparing the pain perception experienced by patients during disease monitoring using the traditional diagnostic method and the developed device. The graph indicates that the developed device causes less discomfort compared to the traditional diagnostic method. ### KIST was established in 1966 as the first government-funded research institute in Korea. KIST now strives to solve national and social challenges and secure growth engines through leading and innovative research. For more information, please visit KIST’s website at https://eng.kist.re.kr/ This research was conducted through KIST's major projects and the Outstanding Young Researcher Program (RS-2023-00211342) supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Lee Jong-ho). The research findings were recently published online in the latest issue of the international journal "Biosensors & Bioelectronics" (IF 12.6).

- Researchers have observed grid cell activity in the human brain during self-location illusions induced by multisensory virtual reality, without altering visual perspectives. This groundbreaking study opens up new avenues for the objective diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric symptoms, such as out-of-body experiences, enhancing our understanding of brain mechanisms behind perceptual illusions. Dr. Hyuk-June Moon from the Bionics Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), in collaboration with Prof. Olaf Blanke’s team at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), has successfully induced self-location illusions with multi-sensory virtual reality (VR) in the MRI scanner and observed corresponding changes in the human brain's grid cell activity. The brain is known to contain grid cells and place cells, which perform global positioning system (GPS) functions that allow us to recognize where we are. While traveling to a specific place, the GPS cells along the way fire in turn, depending on their location, and these cells play an important role in recognizing our location in the form of coordinates and remembering events in space. Humans can sometimes perceive themselves to be in a different location without actually moving their physical bodies such as during an illusion, such as out-of-body experience. However, such purely cognitive self-location changes—and the corresponding response of the brain's GPS cells—have not been investigated in animal models like rats, where these perceptions cannot be induced or confirmed. Furthermore, conventional methods to study GPS cell studiess have required opening the skull and measuring the activity of individual cells in the deep brain structures with invasive electrodes, limiting our understanding of human GPS cells. To observe grid cell activity during the illusory self-location changes, the researchers combined MRI-compatible VR technology with multisensory bodily stimulation to induce the illusion, which was precisely controlled in various directions as designed. The fMRI Images measured during the experiment were used to estimate the activities of grid cells, and the subjective illusory experiences of participants were assessed through post-experiment questionnaires and behavioral metrics reflecting their perceived self-location. As a result, the team demonstrated for the first time that purely cognitive changes in magnetic positionsuch illusory self-location changes induced by multisensory bodily stimulation, without any changes in the visual environmental cues, elicit corresponding activities of human grid cells. This is the first clinical study to demonstrate that multisensory bodily stimuli alone can evoke grid cell activities, without any kind of navigation (not active nor imagined) and without change in the visual perspective. It shows that GPS coordinates in the human brain respond not only to the physical location of the body but also to location information based on various cognitive activities and experiences, raising the possibility of objective diagnosis of hallucinatory symptoms through brain image analysis. The findings are also expected to contribute to the development of new therapies by providing targets for the treatment of patients suffering from illusory symptoms such as out-of-body experience. Dr. Moon stated, "Unlike previous human grid cell studies, which have relied on changes in visual environmental cues from a first-person perspective, we have newly suggested a key research element of integrating multisensory bodily signals." adding, "We plan to conduct follow-up international collaborative research to further understand the brain mechanisms underlying illusions caused by various mental and neurological diseases, and to develop non-invasive brain stimulation treatments that can alleviate these symptoms." [Figure 1] Controlled induction of self-location illusion through multisensory VR in the MRI scanner. Combining an MRI-compatible VR system with multisensory (visuo-tactile) bodily stimulation during fMRI scans, illusions that changes perceived self-location illusion were induced in a precisely controlled manner. [Figure 2] Grid cell activities in the Entorhinal cortex during different task conditions Grid cell activities during different task conditions was estimated through fMRI signals in the entorhinal cortex, where grid cells are mostly distributed. Grid cell activity was significantly observed during the illusion condition, where multisensory bodily signals were sychronously integrated, but not in the control condition, where the equivalent level of multisensory signals were not integrated and separately applied. Confirming validity of the methods used in the study, grid cell activity was also observed during normal VR navigation condition. [Figure 3] Similarity between illusion-induced and VR navigation-induced grid cell activity Illusion-induced grid cell activity is significantly correlated with grid cell activity observed during conventional VR navigation with the matched self-location changes (in both direction and distance). This proportional relationship was not observed when illusion induction was not successful (when illusory self-location changes were smaller; < 0.5 meter). This suggests that illusion-induced self-location changes and VR navigation-induced self-location changes evoke similar activity of grid cells. ### KIST was established in 1966 as the first government-funded research institute in Korea. KIST now strives to solve national and social challenges and secure growth engines through leading and innovative research. For more information, please visit KIST’s website at https://eng.kist.re.kr/ This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Lee Jong-ho) under the KIST Major Project and the Swiss National Science Foundation (320030_188798). The results of the research were published in March in the international journal PNAS (IF: 11.1).

- Development of a CCU process for formic acid production with both economic and environmental viability - Expected to expedite the commercialization of CCU through the world's largest-scale demonstration CCU (Carbon Capture & Utilization), which captures CO2 and converts it into useful compounds, is crucial for rapidly transitioning to a carbon-neutral society. While CCS (Carbon Capture & Storage), which only involves CO2 storage, has entered the initial commercialization stage due to its relatively simple process and low operational costs, CCU has only been explored at the research level due to the complexity of conversion processes and high production costs of compounds. Dr. Lee Ung's team at the Clean Energy Research Center of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST, Director Oh Sang Rok) announced the development of a novel CCU process that converts CO2 into formic acid. Formic acid, an organic acid, is a high-value compound used in various industries such as leather, food, and pharmaceuticals. Currently formic acid retains a large market consuming around one million tons annually, which is expected to grow in the future owing to its potential use as a hydrogen carrier. Moreover, it has a higher production efficiency compared to other CCU-based chemicals, as it can be produced from a single CO2 molecule. The research team selected 1-methylpyrrolidine, which exhibited the highest CO2 conversion rate among various amines mediating formic acid production reactions, and optimized the operating temperature and pressure of the reactor containing a ruthenium (Ru)-based catalyst, thereby increasing the CO2 conversion rate to over twice the current level of 38%. Furthermore, to address the excessive energy consumption and formic acid decomposition issues during CO2 separation from air or exhaust gases and formic acid purification, the team developed a simultaneous capture-conversion process that directly converts CO2 captured within the amine without separating it. As a result, they significantly reduced the formic acid production cost from around $790 per ton to $490 per ton while mitigating CO2 emissions, compared to conventional formic acid production. To evaluate the commercialization potential of the developed formic acid production process, the research team constructed the world's largest pilot plant capable of producing 10 kg of formic acid per day. Previous CCU studies were conducted on a small scale in laboratories and did not consider the product purification process required for large-scale production. However, the research team developed processes and materials to minimize corrosion and formic acid decomposition, and optimized operating conditions that led to successful production of formic acid with a purity exceeding 92%. The team plans to complete a 100 kg per day pilot plant by 2025 and conduct process verification, aiming for commercialization by 2030. Success in process verification with the 100 kg pilot plant is expected to enable transportation and sales to demand companies. Dr. Lee Ung stated, "Through this research, we have confirmed the commercialization potential of our process that converts CO2 to formic acid, which is a huge breakthrough considering that most CCU technologies are being conducted at lab-scale." He further expressed his intention to contribute to achieving the country's carbon neutrality goal by accelerating the commercialization of CCU. . [Figure 1] Process for Formic Acid Production via Carbon Dioxide Conversion Flowchart of the process (above) for producing formic acid through the conversion of newly developed carbon dioxide (CO2) using Carbon Capture & Utilization (CCU) technology, and pilot-scale process verification data (below). [Figure 2] Pilot-Scale Demonstration Process Producing 10kg of Formic Acid per Day A depiction of the pilot-scale demonstration process in operation. It consists of a reaction section, separation section, recycling, and vacuum systems, enabling stable continuous operation and enhancing commercialization potential. ### KIST was established in 1966 as the first government-funded research institute in Korea. KIST now strives to solve national and social challenges and secure growth engines through leading and innovative research. For more information, please visit KIST’s website at https://eng.kist.re.kr/ This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Lee Jong-Ho) as part of KIST's major projects and the Carbon-to-X project (2020M3H7A1098271). The research results were published in the latest issue of the international journal "Joule" (IF 39.8, JCR top 0.9%).

- Smart labs powered by AI robots are 500x more efficient in material development than simple automation - Expect a new R&D paradigm to address the aging research workforce In the early 20th century, the development of a catalyst for ammonia synthesis by the Haber-Bosch method took more than 10,000 experiments before it was successful. The development of new materials is a time-consuming and costly process from design to commercialization. However, in recent years, researchers have been working to shorten the development period by using artificial intelligence (AI). When combined with robots, it is possible to conduct material development research 24 hours a day, 365 days a year without human intervention. The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) announced that Dr. Sang Soo, Han and Dr. Donghun, Kim of the Computational Science Research Center and Professor Kwan-Young Lee of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at Korea University (President Kim Dong-won) have developed a bespoke synthesis platform of nanomaterials using AI and robotics, called Smart Lab. The KIST-Korea University joint research team first developed an automated device that synthesizes nanoparticles based on a robotic arm and measures the optical properties of the synthesized nanoparticles. By combining AI technology with this, a smart laboratory for bespoke synthesis of nanomaterials was developed, with which researchers can readily synthesize nanomaterials that meet their requirements just by inputting the desired material properties. The AI technology applied to the Smart Lab platform combines a Bayesian optimization method with the early stopping technology to increase the efficiency for material discovery by more than 500 times compared to simple automated devices. Human experiments are often difficult to obtain reproducible results because the results are very sensitively dependent on the research environment and the proficiency of researchers; however, the developed smart lab has the advantage of producing consistent, high-quality data in large quantities. The researchers also developed an AI technology to ensure the safety of smart labs. Although there is no risk of injury to researchers in unmanned smart labs, it is difficult to prevent safety accidents such as malfunctions due to robot overload. The researchers developed an AI vision technology (DenseSSD) to detect and prevent such safety accidents in advance and installed it in the smart lab. DenseSSD detects various objects in the lab, including research equipment and materials, and notifies users of any abnormalities so that they can take appropriate measures. "The smart lab platform, which enables material development without human intervention, will be a new R&D paradigm that can solve the problem of declining research manpower due to aging," said Dr. Sang Soo, Han of KIST. "In the future, we plan to incorporate interactive language models such as ChatGPT to make it easier for non-experts to use the smart lab," said Dr. Donghun, Kim. The research team plans to expand the Smart Lab platform to various material fields such as catalysts, batteries, and displays. [Figure 1] KIST Computational Science Research Center Smart Lab development staff photo [Figure 2] Conceptualization of a closed-loop experimentation phase with AI robots [Figure 3] Illustration of quantitative efficiency of AI-powered experimental design versus traditional methodologies ### KIST was established in 1966 as the first government-funded research institute in Korea. KIST now strives to solve national and social challenges and secure growth engines through leading and innovative research. For more information, please visit KIST’s website at https://eng.kist.re.kr/ The research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Lee Jong-ho) through the Korea Research Foundation's Nano and Materials Technology Development Project, and the results were published online March 6 and February 22 in the international journals Advanced Functional Materials and npj Computational Materials, respectively.

- A fibrous adsorbent selectively recovers high-purity gold from waste - Dramatically reduces the cost and time of the recovery process and enables material to be mass-produced and repeatedly recycled Korea relies on imports for most of its metal resources, and in recent years, due to resource depletion and rising raw material prices, 'circular resources' that recycle waste metal resources have emerged. In response, SK hynix has established a mid- to long-term plan to increase the percentage of copper, gold, etc. recovered and reused from waste generated in the semiconductor manufacturing process to more than 30% by 2030, and Samsung Electronics is running a collection program for used mobile phones in cooperation with E-circulation Governance, a non-profit corporation. The global circular economy market is expected to more than double in size from approximately $338 billion in 2022 to approximately $712 billion in 2026. In this context, a team led by Dr. Jae-Woo Choi of the Water Resource Cycle Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) announced that they have developed a technology that can selectively recover high-purity gold from electrical and electronic waste containing various metals using textile materials. Adsorbents for metal recovery are generally granular in shape to increase adsorption efficiency based on high specific surface area, but they are difficult to control underwater, resulting in low recovery rates and even secondary environmental pollution. On the other hand, fiber-like materials are easy to control underwater and can be made into various shapes through the weaving process, so they have high potential for industrial application. However, due to their thin thickness and low strength, they are easily broken when gold recovery is applied to the support. KIST researchers have chemically immobilized alkaline molecules on the surface of polyacrylonitrile (PANF) fibers to improve both molecular gold recovery performance and structural stability. The amine-containing polymer fiber has a dramatically larger surface area, which can improve the adsorption performance of gold ions (Au) in waste by up to 2.5 times (from 576 mg/g to 1,462 mg/g) compared to the team's previously developed granular gold adsorption material. The developed fibrous adsorbent not only showed a gold recovery efficiency of more than 99.9% in solutions obtained by leaching real CPUs, but also achieved a gold recovery efficiency close to 100% in a wide range of pH 1-4, which includes most waste liquids. It is particularly noteworthy that only gold ions can be recovered with a high purity of over 99.9%, even in the presence of 14 other metal ions coexisting in the solution. Furthermore, the gold recovery rate was maintained at 91% even after 10 uses, demonstrating excellent reusability. "By enabling efficient and eco-friendly metal resource recovery, the fiber-type adsorbent developed by KIST can reduce Korea's dependence on resource imports and prepare for the risk of rising raw material prices," said Dr. Jae-Woo Choi. "We plan to expand the scope of future research to selectively recover various target metals in addition to gold, said Dr. Youngkyun Jung." [Figure 1] Preparation and physicochemical characteristics of the aminated polyacrylonitrile fibers (PANFs). [Figure 2] Au recovery performance of the ALPF. [Figure 3] Applicability of the ALPF adsorbent for Au recovery processes. ### KIST was established in 1966 as the first government-funded research institute in Korea. KIST now strives to solve national and social challenges and secure growth engines through leading and innovative research. For more information, please visit KIST’s website at https://eng.kist.re.kr/ The research, which was funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Jong-ho Lee) through the Leading Materials Innovation Project (2020M3H4A3106366) and the KIST Air Environment Complex Response Research Project (2E33081), was published in the international journal Chemical Engineering Journal.

- Development of textile technology for atypical energy storage optimized for wearable devices - No need for additional active substances, mass production by wet spinning process The latest wearable devices, such as Samsung's Galaxy Ring and Apple's Vision Pro, are taking healthcare a step further and even enabling people to work virtually. Given the characteristics of wearable devices that require them to be small and lightweight, there is an inevitable limitation on battery capacity, still presenting a technical barrier to incorporating a variety of functions. In order for wearable devices to fully realize the imagined life, it is necessary to develop a lighter and more fromlessenergy storage method. The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) announced that a joint research team led by Dr. Hyeonsu Jeong and Namdong Kim of the Center for Functional Composite Materials, Jeonbuk Branch, and Dr. Seungmin Kim of the Center for Carbon Fusion Materials has developed a fiber-like electrode material that can store energy. The fibers are strong, lightweight, and highly flexible, enabling greater freedom in wearable device form factors and the ability to be made into various shapes and applications. Carbon nanotube fibers are flexible, lightweight, and possess excellent mechanical and electrical properties, making them a promising material for wearable devices. However, due to their small specific surface area and lack of electrochemical activity, previous studies have mainly used them as a current collector and coated their surface with active materials. However, this approach is not only uneconomical due to the high cost of additional materials and processes, but also has a high probability of separation of the active material from the fiber during long-term use or physical deformation. To solve this problem, the KIST research team developed a fibrous electrode material with high energy storage capacity without the need for active materials. The team developed carbon nanotube fibers with both electrochemical activity and excellent physical properties by acid-treating and modifying powder-form carbon nanotubes, followed by spinning them into fibers. The modified carbon nanotube fiber has 33 times more energy storage capacity, 3.3 times more mechanical strength, and more than 1.3 times more electrical conductivity than ordinary carbon nanotube fibers. Moreover, since the energy storage electrode material was developed using only pure carbon nanotube fibers, it can be mass-produced using wet spinning technology. When tested with fiber shaped supercapacitors, they retained nearly 100 percent of their performance when knotted and 95 percent of their performance after 5,000 bending tests. They also performed well when woven into the wrist straps of digital watches using a combination of regular and carbon nanotube fibers, after being bent, folded, and washed. Dr. Kim Seung-min of KIST explained the significance of the study, saying, "We have confirmed that carbon nanotubes, which have recently started to attract attention again as a conductive material for secondary batteries, can be used in a much wider range of fields." "Carbon nanotube fiber is a competitive field because we have the original technology and there is not much of a technology gap with advanced countries," said Dr. Hyeon Su Jeong, a co-researcher, adding, "We will continue our research to apply it as a core material for atypical energy storage." Another co-researcher, Dr. Nam-dong Kim, said, " We are currently conducting research to apply this technology to fiber-type batteries with higher energy density, going beyond supercapacitors. ." [Figure 1] Carbon nanotube fibers for energy storage and wearable properties [Figure 2] Properties and electrochemical activity of functionalized carbon nanotubes [Figure 3] Wearable Supercapacitor Demonstration ### KIST was established in 1966 as the first government-funded research institute in Korea. KIST now strives to solve national and social challenges and secure growth engines through leading and innovative research. For more information, please visit KIST’s website at https://eng.kist.re.kr/ This research was supported by KIST Major Projects (ORP, K-DARPA), the Regional Leading Research Center Project (2019R1A5A8080326) of the Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Lee Jong-ho), the Core Technology Development Project for Material Parts Industry (20017548) of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (Minister Ahn Duk-geun), and Hyundai Motor Company. The results were published as a front cover article in the international journal Advanced Energy Materials (IF 27.8, JCR 2.8%).

- 99% green recycling in minutes using only supercritical water - Upcycling recycled fibers into e-mobility battery electrode material Carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) are lighter and stronger than metal and are used in a variety of industries, including aviation, aerospace, automotive, marine, and sporting goods. In recent years, it has also been applied to new industries such as air mobility, which has led to an increase in its use and a waste disposal problem. However, CFRP is not naturally degradable, and high-temperature incineration methods emit toxic substances and cause environmental pollution, so it is urgent to develop recycling technology. The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) announced that a research team led by Yong-chae Jung, director of the RAMP Convergence Research Center (Convergence Research Center for Recyclable Air Mobility, Materials and Platform), has developed a technology that recycles more than 99% of CFRP materials within tens of minutes by using water in a supercritical state, which occurs under conditions of temperature and pressure above a certain level. Supercritical water has a high polarity, diffusivity, and density that allows it to selectively remove only the epoxy impregnated in the CFRP to obtain recycled carbon fiber. The researchers achieved a highly efficient recycling system using only water without using any catalysts, oxidants, or organic solvents. They also found that adding glycine to supercritical water can upcycle CFRP into recycled carbon fiber doped with nitrogen atoms. This upcycled carbon fiber has better electrical conductivity than conventional recycled carbon fiber. This is the first time that a single recycling process has been used to simultaneously recycle and upcycle CFRP within tens of minutes, controlling the structure and properties of the recycled fiber. Until now, recycled CFRP fibers have been limited to being used as fillers in composites due to their inhomogeneous properties. In comparison, the team's upcycled carbon fibers performed as well as or better than graphite in coin cell evaluations when applied as electrodes in e-mobility batteries. "As the amount of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRPs) waste is increasing globally, we have developed a technology to upcycle it in an eco-friendly way," said Yong-chae Jung, director of the RAMP Convergence Research Center, explaining the significance of the research. "It is a meaningful research achievement that not only dramatically reduces carbon emissions, but also presents a virtuous cycle of resources that can be converted into battery electrode materials for E-mobility." [Figure 1] Conceptual diagram of utilizing waste CFRP (Carbon fiber reinforced plastic) as battery electrode materials [Figure 2] Before and after images of CFRP (Carbon fiber reinforced plastic) recycled into water (CFRP: virgin material (before recycling), N-CF: nitrogen-doped carbon fiber (after recycling)) [Figure 3] Battery capacity evaluation of upcycled, recycled and pristine carbon fiber (P-CF: raw material, R-CF: recycled carbon fiber, N-CF: nitrogen-doped recycled carbon fiber) ### KIST was established in 1966 as the first government-funded research institute in Korea. KIST now strives to solve national and social challenges and secure growth engines through leading and innovative research. For more information, please visit KIST’s website at https://eng.kist.re.kr/ This achievement was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Jong-ho Lee) through the KIST Convergence Research Center Project (CRC23011-000) and the Nano and Material Technology Development Project (2021M3H4A1A0304129), and the results were published in the latest issue of the international journal CARBON.

- Development of 'NeuM', a Neuron Labeling Technology Enabling Detailed Observation of Neuronal Structure - Successful Monitoring of Neuronal Changes for up to 72 Hours Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, along with stroke, are among the top three neurodegenerative disorders, characterized by the malfunction and progressive degeneration of neurons, the nerve cells. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these neurological disorders and developing therapies requires labeling technologies that can visualize neuronal changes not only in normal conditions but also in disease states. A research team led by Dr. Kim Yun Kyung from the Brain Science Institute at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), in collaboration with Professor Chang Young-Tae's team from Pohang University of Science and Technology, has announced the development of a next-generation neuron labeling technology called NeuM. NeuM (Neuronal Membrane-selective) selectively labels neuronal membranes, visualizing neuronal structures and allowing real-time monitoring of neuronal changes. Neurons continuously modify their structure and function to transmit information from sensory organs to the brain, regulating thoughts, memories, and behaviors. Therefore, to overcome degenerative neurological diseases, it is essential to develop techniques that selectively label living neurons for real-time monitoring. However, current gene-based and antibody-based labeling technologies, commonly used to observe neurons, suffer from low accuracy and difficulty in long-term tracking due to their dependence on specific gene expression or proteins. NeuM, developed by the research team through molecular design of neuronal cells, possesses excellent binding affinity to neuronal membranes, enabling long-term tracking and high-resolution imaging of neurons. The fluorescent probes within NeuM bind to neuronal membranes utilizing the activity of living cells, emitting fluorescent signals upon excitation by specific wavelengths of light. This visualization of neuronal membranes allows for detailed observation of neuronal terminal structures and high-resolution monitoring of neuronal differentiation and interactions. NeuM, as the first technology to stain cell membranes through endocytosis in living neurons, exhibits selective reactivity towards living cells, excluding dead cells without internalization. Moreover, the research team has succeeded in extending the observation time of neurons from a mere 6 hours to up to 72 hours, enabling the capture of dynamic changes in living neurons over an extended period in response to environmental changes. NeuM is expected to provide insights into research and therapy development for degenerative neurological diseases, for which there are currently no cures. These diseases, including Alzheimer's, result from neuronal damage due to the production of toxic proteins such as amyloid and the influx of inflammatory substances. NeuM's precise observation of neuronal changes can effectively facilitate the evaluation of candidate therapeutic compounds. Dr. Kim stated, "NeuM, developed this time, can distinguish aging and degenerating neurons, becoming a crucial tool in elucidating the mechanisms of degenerative brain disorders and developing treatments." He further added, "In the future, we plan to refine NeuM for even more precise analysis of neurons by designing fluorescence wavelengths to distinguish colors such as green and red." [Figure 1] Molecular Design for Selective Labeling of Neuronal Membranes [Figure 2] Researchers from Dr. Kim Yoon-kyung's team at KIST are utilizing the next-generation neuron labeling technology, 'NeuM,' to visualize neurons in real-time and examine high-resolution images. ### KIST was established in 1966 as the first government-funded research institute in Korea. KIST now strives to solve national and social challenges and secure growth engines through leading and innovative research. For more information, please visit KIST’s website at https://eng.kist.re.kr/ This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Lee Jong-ho) through KIST's major projects and the Dementia Overcoming Project (RS-2023-00261784). The research results have been published in the latest issue of the international academic journal "Angewandte Chemie."