국립 부경대학교

부경대, 췌장 종양 광 치료법 개발 ‘주목’

- 국소조직에 고출력 레이저 안전하게 전달 성공

△ 트루옹 반 지아(맨 오른쪽), 강현욱 지도교수(오른쪽 두 번째)와 연구원들 사진. ⓒ사진 이성재(대외홍보팀)

레이저를 이용해 췌장 종양을 정밀하게 치료할 수 있는 새로운 광 치료법이 개발돼 주목받고 있다.

국립부경대학교(총장 장영수)는 4차산업융합바이오닉스공학과의 베트남 유학생 트루옹 반 지아 씨(박사과정 3년·지도교수 강현욱)가 최근 췌장 종양 광 치료법 연구로 COOC 2021 제28회 광전자 및 광통신 학술대회에서 우수논문상을 받았다고 8월 10일 밝혔다.

트루옹 씨의 이번 연구는 소속 연구팀인 부경대 의공학과 BioAblation연구실의 ‘Advanced Diffusing’ 특허기술을 활용해 초음파 내시경과 함께 사용할 수 있는 소형 광 전달기기를 제작하고, 고출력 레이저 빛을 국소 조직에 안전하게 전달하는 데 성공한 연구성과로 우수한 평가를 받았다.

현재 췌장 종양을 치료하기 위한 다양한 기술이 개발돼 있지만, 기계적 외상이나 출혈, 열 손상 등 불완전한 치료, 합병증 위험 등으로 한계가 있는 상황이다.

트루옹 씨 등 연구팀이 이번에 개발한 광 치료법은 100 W 이상 출력과 400~2200 nm 파장을 전달할 수 있는 광 전달기기로 레이저 빛을 방사형으로 방출해 국소 조직에 원통형 절제 층을 생성하는 방식이다.

연구팀은 이 광 치료법을 이용해 동물실험을 진행한 결과 생체 내 췌장 조직에서 예측 가능하고 균일한 원통형 절제 층이 생성되는 것으로 나타났다.

이번 연구는 범부처전주기의료기기개발사업(주관 박진석·인하대병원)과 한국연구재단 중점연구소지원사업(주관 정원교·부경대)의 지원을 받아 진행됐고, SCI급 국제학술지 <Biomedical Optics Express>와 <International Journal of Hyperthermia>에도 각각 게재됐다.

부경대 연구팀은 인하대병원, 블루코어컴퍼니와 협업을 통해 이번 연구성과의 사업화도 진행 중이며, 소화기질환 치료를 위한 내시경용 광융합 치료기술 연구 등을 수행하며 15건의 국내외 특허를 등록하는 등 성과를 내고 있다. <부경투데이>

△ 내시경 초음파를 이용한 새로운 광 치료 개념도(왼쪽)와 정밀 치료용 광 전달기기 시제품 이미지(오른쪽)

PKNU, the development of Optical treatment for pancreatic tumors got all attention

- Succeeded in safely delivering high-power laser to local tissue

A new optic treatment that can precisely treat pancreatic tumors using lasers has been developed and attracts public attention.

Pukyong National University (President Jang Young-Soo) announced on August 10th that Truong, Van Gia (3 years Ph.D., advisor Kang Hyun-Wook), a Vietnamese student in the Department of Industry 4.0 Convergence Bionics Engineering, recently received an excellent thesis award at the 28th Photonics Conference of COOC 2021 for his research on optical treatment for pancreatic tumors.

In this research by Truong, using the patented technology of 'Advanced Diffusing' of the BioAblation Lab of the Department of Bionics Engineering at Pukyong National University, which is his research team, he produced a small optical transmission device that can be used with the ultrasound endoscope. He received excellent evaluations for his successful research achievements in delivering high-power laser light to local tissues safely.

Although various technologies have been developed to treat pancreatic tumors, there are still limitations due to incomplete treatment such as mechanical trauma, bleeding, thermal damage, and the risk of complications.

The optic treatment developed by Truong et al.'s research team is a laser delivery device capable of delivering 100 W or more and a wavelength of 400~2200 nm, radiating laser light to create a cylindrical ablation layer in local tissue.

As a result of animal experiments using this light therapy, the research team found that a predictable and homogeneous cylindrical ablation layer was created in the pancreas tissue in vivo.

This research was carried out with the support of the Korea Medical Device Development Fund (KMDF, supervised by Park Jin-Seok at Inha University Hospital) and the National Research Foundation’s Key Research Center support project (supervised by Prof. Jeong Won-Kyo at Pukyong National University), and was also published in the SCI-level international academic journals <Biomedical Optics Express> and <International Journal of Hyperthermia>.

The research team of Pukyong National University is also in the process of commercializing this research result through collaboration with Inha University Hospital and Blue Core Company, and is producing results such as registering 15 domestic and foreign patents while conducting research on endoscopic optical fusion treatment technology for the treatment of digestive diseases. <Pukyong Today>