Hyeonji Kim

All Publications

• Implantable ocular therapeutic systems: an insight into their clinical potential in the long-term treatment of ocular diseases. Biofabrication Kim, H., Kang, N. W., Hong, W., Abdollahramezani, S., Ngo, G. H., Raja, D., Peters, O., Mahajan, V. B., Myung, D., Deboer, C. 2026

  Abstract

  Despite the rapid pace of biomedical engineering research, translating developed products into clinical practice remains challenging due to regulations, manufacturing, and long-term in vivo safety. The eye offers advantageous features to lower translational hurdles, making it an ideal clinical target and an approachable testbed for biofabricated implants. However, eyes also have anatomical and physiological barriers that hinder conventional ophthalmic delivery routes, leading to poor drug bioavailability. Advances in biofabrication and biomaterials used in ophthalmic therapeutic implants have the potential to address the current challenges. This review will explore biomaterials, biofabrication methods, and possible ocular implantation sites from the perspective of developing effective therapeutic implants. It also examines clinically available products and current clinical trials, along with recent advancements and next-generation technologies in ophthalmic therapeutic delivery implants. This review aims to provide insights that facilitate the translation of emerging ocular therapeutics into clinically available treatments.

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1758-5090/ae49fe

  View details for PubMedID 41734453

• Biomechanical Modification of the Sclera: An Ex Vivo Study on Porcine Eyes. Investigative ophthalmology & visual science Ross, A. K., Jang, K., Nahmou, M., Kim, H., DeBoer, C., Myung, D., Goldberg, J. L., Chiang, B. 2026; 67 (2): 51

  Abstract

  Scleral biomechanics are altered in various ocular pathologies. Modification of sclera biomechanics has been proposed as a potential treatment strategy. This study characterizes the biomechanical effect of collagenase (COL), glyceraldehyde (GAD), microbial transglutaminase (mTG), transglutaminase 1 (TG1), transglutaminase 2 (TG2), and lysyl oxidase (LOX) on ex vivo porcine sclera.Tissue biomechanics were assessed by uniaxial tensile testing. Tangent modulus (ET) was calculated from the stress-strain curve. The biomechanical response was analyzed based on dose-response curves. Locally applied treatments to the intraocular, extraocular, and combined intra- and extraocular scleral surface were compared with incubated tissue strips. Treatment safety was investigated on human adult retinal pigment epithelium cells (ARPE19) and mouse retinal ganglion cells.GAD 0.1 M and mTG 1 U/mL led to a 10.53-fold (P = 0.0011) and 4.71-fold (P = 0.0210) increase in ET, respectively. COL 0.05 mg/mL decreased tissue stiffness by 2.33-fold (P < 0.0001). Incubation with TG1, TG2, and LOX did not lead to significant changes in tissue ET. The effect of strip incubation was significantly higher for GAD (P < 0.0001) and mTG (P < 0.01) compared with local applications, with no quantitative difference for COL. Viability assays showed a relatively safe application of mTG and COL on retinal ganglion cells and ARPE19, but increased cytotoxicity at higher GAD concentrations.COL, GAD, and mTG induced dose-responsive biomechanical changes in ex vivo scleral biomechanics with acceptable safety. Locally applied treatments showed reduced biomechanical impact compared with strip incubation. Further experiments need to confirm these findings in vivo and determine its role in diseased eyes.

  View details for DOI 10.1167/iovs.67.2.51

  View details for PubMedID 41733411

• 3D Bioprinting of Cellular Therapeutic Systems in Ophthalmology: from Bioengineered Tissue to Personalized Drug Delivery. Current ophthalmology reports Kim, H., Ngo, G. H., Hong, W., Lee, S. H., Mahajan, V. B., DeBoer, C. 2025; 13 (1): 10

  Abstract

  In this article, we provide a brief overview of 3D bioprinting technologies and the types of cells employed in ophthalmic cell therapy. We then explore recent applications of 3D bioprinting in ophthalmic cell delivery systems.Cell therapy in ophthalmology is a promising treatment for various eye diseases, there exists some limitations of existing cell therapy strategies Such as cell loss, poor integration with Surrounding tissues, and the sustainability of long-term effects. In this regard, 3D bioprinting technology provides a beneficial method for developing highly biomimetic and reliable cell delivery systems for ophthalmic disease research. Recent advances have shown bioengineered tissues which replicate the microstructure of native tissues, personalized ophthalmic devices, and encapsulated cell-delivery systems. While still in the early stages of advancement, the development of cell delivery systems based on bioprinting technologies is indeed inspiring and has the potential to be applied to other ocular diseases.Cell therapy based on 3D bioprinting technology in ophthalmology has great potential in ophthalmic disease treatment as well as ocular tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s40135-025-00337-6

  View details for PubMedID 41019312

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC12474738

• Antifibrotic Nanoparticle for Corneal Regeneration Following Traumatic Injuries Jang, K., Kang, N., Kim, H., Jiang, L., Seo, Y., Song, E., Chen, F., Han, U., Liu, W., Myung, D. ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC. 2025

  View details for Web of Science ID 001559816200009

• Mechanical Stress and Geographic Atrophy: Investigating the Role of Retinal Pigment Epithelium Disruptions in Age-Related Macular Degeneration Raja, D., Kim, H., Moshfeghi, D., Deboer, C. ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC. 2025

  View details for Web of Science ID 001561711600005

• Evaluation of Refillable Drug-Eluting Intraocular Implant Kim, H., Kang, N., Myung, D., Deboer, C. ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC. 2025

  View details for Web of Science ID 001568844900025

• Refillable Intraocular Drug-Eluting Implant. ACS applied materials & interfaces Kim, H., Kang, N. W., Wise, R., Feliz, A., Myung, D., DeBoer, C. 2025

  Abstract

  The increasing incidence of ophthalmic diseases has led the need for multiple dosage regimens, which can cause patient discomfort and noncompliance due to the frequency of medication administration. Still, ophthalmic drug delivery methods, such as eye drops and intravitreal injection, pose challenges, such as poor bioavailability, short half-life, and patient compliance. In this study, we introduce a novel refillable intracapsular drug-eluting reservoir for the long-term management of ocular diseases. This device, made of medical-grade silicone and stainless steel, has features to contour the lens capsule to facilitate microincisional implantation. Rheological and mechanical analyses of the silicone revealed the optimized conditions for the device construction and its application compliance for ocular intracapsular implantation. Furthermore, in vitro release studies exhibit controlled drug release, the kinetics of which were along with Fickian diffusion, while ex vivo implantation testing shows that the device can be easily delivered and placed at the time of cataract surgery. Taken altogether, the developed implant holds significant potential for improving therapeutic outcomes while offering a practical surgical application and compliance of patients.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acsami.5c03985

  View details for PubMedID 40331902

• Gelatin nanofibers coated with hyaluronic acid as a mesenchymal stromal cell scaffold for corneal regeneration. International journal of pharmaceutics da Silva, G. R., Song, E., Chen, K. M., Chen, F., Jiang, L., Kim, H., Kang, N. W., Myung, D. 2024: 125009

  Abstract

  Electrospun gelatin nanofibers coated with hyaluronic acid (GelNF-HA) were synthesized as a scaffold for delivering human corneal mesenchymal stromal cells (C-MSCs) directly to deep corneal injuries. Aligned GelNFs were produced by electrospinning, crosslinked using vapor of glutaraldehyde, coated with HA, and crosslinked with EDC/NHS. The GelNF-HA was characterized by SEM, mechanical, and optical properties. It was then investigated as a substrate for C-MSC proliferation and migration in vitro and in a rabbit cornea culture model. The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was determined in the ex vivo model. SEM showed that the GelNF-HA scaffold was composed of aligned GelNFs with 75 % of the fibers oriented against the same angle. It exhibited a Young's modulus of 1.66 ± 0.59 MPa and approximately 93 % transmittance of visible light. The GelNF-HA membranes supported C-MSC proliferation in vitro. In a scratch migration assay, it facilitated complete wound closure after 48 h in culture. C-MSC-laden GelNF-HA scaffolds supported corneal wound healing in an ex vivo model as well, expressing a lower percentage of stromal α-SMA compared to both the no-treatment keratectomy-only and C-MSC groups (p < 0.05). The C-MSC-supportive GelNF-HA scaffolds hold therapeutic potential for stromal regeneration in the treatment of deep corneal defects.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2024.125009

  View details for PubMedID 39613275