Jimin PARK

Jimin Park designed new apparatuses and model systems to investigate the function of signaling molecules in animal behavior 

To understand the effect of pH in breathing behaviors in rodents, he developed nanotransducers capable of converting non-invasive magnetic fields into protons as model systems. Combined with a custom-designed magnetic field generator, these nanotransducers enabled a real-time investigation of proton-mediated changes in mouse breathing rates.

Motivated by an interesting hypothesis that radical pair signals allow migrating birds to sense magnetic fields (avian magnetoreception), he supervised work on developing an electromagnetic-electrochemical apparatus to investigate the radical pair hypothesis of magnetoreception.

Based on his experience in designing bioinspired electrocatalysts, Jimin functionalized various biomedical devices with electrocatalysts that can generate and deliver signaling molecules to damaged tissues.

Through collaborations with biologists and surgeons, he developed new orthopedic implants that electrochemically produce hydrogen peroxide signaling molecules.

Hydrogen peroxide released from electrocatalysts induced the formation of new blood vessels and reduced the remodeling time of the fractured bones. Furthermore, Jimin demonstrated that this strategy can be applicable to metallic cardiovascular stents for preventing restenosis. This experience gave him an understanding of how to interface biomedical devices with cells by electrochemically producing signaling molecules.

Inspired by the enzymatic denitrification reaction, he first developed iron-sulfur nanocatalysts that electrochemically generate nitric oxide from nitrite precursors. By integrating these nanocatalysts in an implantable fiber, he was able to deliver this gaseous molecule to neurons and control nitric oxide-dependent signaling in the mouse brain for the first time.

Recently, he demonstrated that this electrochemical strategy can be generalized as a means of producing gaseous signaling molecules in living systems.