You recently published a paper, in the journal “Biofabrication, (2021)”, titled “A digital light processing 3D printed magnetic bioreactor system using silk magnetic bioink”. Can you please briefly summarize this paper? Can you please tell us the main difficulties you had in the laboratory work and how you overcome them?

The paper, digital light processing 3D printed magnetic bioreactor using silk magnetic bioink detailed the fabrication and application of an easy to operate magnetic bioreactor with magneto responsive hydrogel. In the study, a biocompatible 3D-printed magnetic hydrogel was developed with a good adaptation of mechanical strength induced by magnetic force produced by a magnetic bioreactor. The magnetic part of the hydrogel was manufactured by adding iron oxide (IO) to Silk-GMA, and the cellular part of the hydrogel was printed with gelatin glycidyl methacrylate (Gel-GMA) by DLP 3D printer using a continuous one-stage layering technique to produce a single composite hydrogel. The cell-encapsulated magnetic hydrogel was cultured in the magnetic bioreactor, manufactured by DLP printing using resin, that supplied uniaxial repetitive magneto-mechanical stimulus without direct contact with the scaffolds. We discovered that the magnetic bioreactor induced the proliferation and multiple myogenic gene expressions of skeletal muscle cells in the 3D-bioprinted scaffold. In the future, the magnetic bioreactor system can offer diverse magneto mechanical forces to cells in 3D settings, investigating approaches to improve differentiation of various cells. The differentiated Gel-GMA encapsulated cells can be detached from the magnetic part with a scalpel and implanted for further in vivo studies.

The major difficulty I have while working on this project is the construction of the electric circuit and writing of codes for the magnetic bioreactor system. My major has been medical science so it’s difficult working in an electronic circuit related field. But I have to study and consult with friends in the electrical major to overcome these challenges.

Please introduce your laboratory, university, or organization to bio-researchers in Korea.

Nano bio-regenerative research medical institute (NBRM) where I am studying molecular medicine at PhD level is one of the translational research institutes at Hallym University Chuncheon. NBRM is an interdisciplinary research laboratory with a focus on tissue engineering and regenerative medicines. We use several techniques such as functionalization and characterization of biomaterials, 3D bioprinting (FDM, SLA, PolyJet, and electrospinning), molecular analyses, bioimaging among others, and are well equipped in these regards. We pride ourselves as one of the best in Korea to apply silk in tissue engineering with many high impact journal publications. Our laboratory under Prof. Park Chan Hum (as PI) is currently working on space tissue engineering and comprises 3 postdoctoral researchers, 7 PhD students and 4 MS students. I would enjoin graduate students to join our lab for interdisciplinary research experience that will better equip them in the dynamic world.

Please tell us your experiences and your thoughts related to research activities in Korea

When I joined NBRM in 2017 as KGSP student, I had no expertise or knowledge of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. However, I was given the support to learn by myself. Although it seems hard in the beginning, but I was able to adapt and develop my study pattern and design. Therefore, I thought the research activities in Korea is such that students are allowed to develop an individual research mind and styles with a strong ethics for standard.

Please tell us your difficulties and good memories as foreign researcher in Korea

As a foreign researcher in Korea, communication can pose a lot of difficulties. Korean is understandably the medium of communication in most lab, as a foreigner with little knowledge of Korean language, this might limit one’s ability to explore research collaboration with Korean researchers and sometimes principal investigator. I have lots of good memories such as conferences and yearly award ceremony of our department most of all, the 38th award anniversary of Hallym University.

Can you provide some advice for younger foreign scientists who have plans to study in Korea?

Korea graduate study is a top-notch and offers high-tech research facilities that can compete favorably with the western university. Besides, most universities offer scholarship to foreign students/researchers. I will encourage foreign researcher to avail themselves of these opportunities. Korean society is friendly to foreigners and always ready to help.

Future plan?

The excitement I am experiencing has endear my heart to go for postdoc training. My focus will be on spinal cord regeneration with conductive biopolymers. I want to join academic and become a research professor in a top University abroad.

Do you have anything else that you would like to tell Korean scientists and students?

Finally, let me encourage fellow researcher to focus more on research that helps in developing the society rather than those that will just help them keep their job. This will make research more interesting and position the society in a better place to face future challenges.