Konkuk University Team Unveils New Treatment Approach for Refractory Skin Diseases

• Prof. Ssang-Goo Cho’s Team and UNIST Collaborate with StemExOne and RecensMedical
• New Needle-Free Drug Delivery Technology Developed to Maximize Therapeutic Efficacy

From left: Researcher Se-Jong Kim, Prof. Ssang-Goo Cho, Researcher Hyun-Jun Son, and Prof. Geon-Ho Kim.

A research team led by Prof. Ssang-Goo Cho of the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Division of Advanced Bioengineering at Konkuk University, together with Prof. Geon-Ho Kim’s team from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UNIST, has developed a novel Picoliter Ice Particle Delivery (PIPD) technology in collaboration with StemExOne Co., Ltd. and RecensMedical Co., Ltd. The technology is expected to open a new pathway for treating refractory skin diseases.

The findings were published in the internationally renowned pharmacology journal Journal of Controlled Release (Impact Factor 11.5; top 3.3% in the pharmacology field) under the title, “Picoliter ice particles by supersonic cryogenic jets for transdermal drug delivery: Extracellular vesicle application for skin diseases.” The study was also featured by the Biological Research Information Center (BRIC) in its “Korean Scientists Who Shine (Hanbitsa)” program.

The research team developed a method that uses supersonic cryogenic jets to instantaneously convert liquid drugs into microscopic ice particles, allowing them to pass through the skin barrier without causing tissue damage. The freezing process takes place within 300 microseconds (µs), enabling the safe delivery of protein-based and cell-derived biologics while preserving their structure and function.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) processed through the PIPD system maintained their original size and morphology, as well as more than 98% expression of key surface protein markers, including CD9, CD63, and CD81.

For the study, the researchers used highly functional extracellular vesicles obtained from stem cells through a proprietary 4D culture technology and delivered them using PIPD in animal models of atopic dermatitis and skin wounds.

The results showed that PIPD achieved therapeutic effects comparable to or better than conventional injection methods and significantly outperformed simple topical application. In particular, the technology enabled the therapeutic agents to be distributed evenly across all layers of the skin, overcoming a key limitation of conventional delivery approaches.

△ Research illustration

Prof. Ssang-Goo Cho said, “PIPD technology is an innovative approach that can maximize the therapeutic efficacy of next-generation biologics such as stem cell-derived exosomes. We believe it could offer new hope to patients suffering from chronic inflammatory diseases, including atopic dermatitis.”

Prof. Geon-Ho Kim of UNIST added, “This study demonstrates how the convergence of precision mechanical engineering and biotechnology can address longstanding challenges in drug delivery. We plan to further develop PIPD as a platform technology applicable not only to skin diseases but also to a wide range of tissues and medical conditions.”

As a safe, needle-free drug delivery technology, PIPD has strong potential for application across a broad spectrum of diseases, including refractory skin disorders. The technology is expected to represent a significant step forward in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.