This technology forms convex and concave structures on the surface of a lithium metal anode and selectively applies a lithium-non-reactive barrier layer only onto the convex parts, directing lithium-ion intercalation and deintercalation to occur primarily within the concave areas.
When using lithium metal anodes, uneven lithium deposition on the surface leads to dendrite growth. This results in shortened battery life and reduced reliability.
This technology uses a transfer process with a master substrate to create convex and concave structures on the lithium base electrode surface. By placing lithium-non-reactive materials—such as polymers, oxides, or metals—only on the convex parts, electrochemical reactions are confined to the concave areas, where additional surface texturing further improves lithium deposition uniformity. This method can be applied to surface treatment for lithium metal, lithium-sulfur, and anode-free batteries, allowing for the simultaneous creation of patterns and protective layers in a single bonding step without the need for lithography.
This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for the development of lithium metal secondary battery technology based on ion-distribution-controlled electrolytes and micro-patterned electrode technology for dendrite suppression.
This technology features the Lactobacillus fermentum MSK 408 strain, newly isolated from kimchi and deposited as KCTC18855P, as well as food and pharmaceutical compositions for preventing or treating epilepsy that utilize this strain or its cultures and ferments as an active ingredient.
Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder affecting 0.5–2% of the global population, yet existing anticonvulsants like phenytoin, valproate, and carbamazepine cause side effects such as gastrointestinal irritation and dizziness. The high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet used for drug-resistant patients also presents challenges, as it often leads to significant gut-related side effects like nausea, diarrhea, and constipation, making it difficult to maintain.
This technology enables the MSK 408 strain to reduce brain glucose metabolism and blood cholesterol, inhibit the production of the inflammatory cytokine TNF-α, and regulate blood-brain barrier permeability. It also modulates the gut microbiome by decreasing Bacteroidetes while increasing Firmicutes and Desulfobacterota. Furthermore, it alleviates seizure symptoms by increasing the expression of GABA receptors (GABAA1, GABAB1b) and the glutamate transporter GLT-1, and can be formulated for co-administration with a ketogenic diet. It can be applied to adjunctive therapies for pediatric refractory epilepsy, probiotics for use alongside ketogenic diets, and neurological health supplements, offering a new non-pharmacological management tool that reduces seizure frequency via the gut microbiome while mitigating the gastrointestinal side effects of ketogenic diets.
This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Education for research on the protective effects of synbiotics on epilepsy and neurons.
This technology involves mixing soy sauce and rice bran in a 7:3 to 6:4 (v/w) ratio, adding 1–4 mg of PLP (pyridoxal-5'-phosphate) per 100g of the mixture, and creating anaerobic conditions to rapidly increase the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content in the soy sauce.
GABA is a functional ingredient known for its calming, stress-relieving, and blood pressure-lowering effects. However, natural plant sources often lack sufficient levels to provide physiological benefits, leading to the development of GABA-enriched products like green tea, rice germ, and germinated brown rice. Methods for increasing GABA in soy sauce have rarely been reported, and there has been a need for new materials and processes beyond existing functional soy sauce technologies that rely on medicinal herbs or mushroom mycelia.
This technology utilizes the glutamate decarboxylase in rice bran to convert the abundant glutamic acid in soy sauce into GABA, while supplementing with PLP—a coenzyme for the enzyme—to accelerate the reaction. Anaerobic treatment is performed at 30–50℃ for 2–24 hours. By pre-spraying rice bran with water, soy sauce, protein hydrolysates, or pH-adjusted ionized water to reach 20–60% moisture, and then adding PLP under anaerobic storage, one can prepare rice bran with pre-enriched GABA. This method is applicable to acid-hydrolyzed, brewed, and enzymatically hydrolyzed soy sauces. It can be used to produce premium functional soy sauce, low-sodium seasonings for blood pressure management, and GABA-fortified sauces and dressings, allowing for the upcycling of rice bran—a milling byproduct—to impart GABA functionality to soy sauce in about a day without long-term fermentation.
This technology provides pharmaceutical and food compositions for the prevention and treatment of macular degeneration, containing Compound K—the final intestinal metabolite of ginseng saponin—and the eye health ingredient lutein in a weight ratio of 1:5 to 1:50. Compound K serves to mitigate the side effects associated with lutein use.
Macular degeneration, along with cataracts and glaucoma, is a leading cause of blindness. Dry macular degeneration, which accounts for about 90% of cases, is often overlooked in its early stages as it is asymptomatic or mistaken for presbyopia. While lutein is taken for prevention, long-term high-dose intake can paradoxically cause retinal cell death and accelerate macular degeneration, creating a need for a solution to prevent these effects.
This technology combines Compound K—obtained via chromatography of ginseng extract or commercial sources—with lutein to slow or prevent the cell death and accelerated macular degeneration caused by high-concentration, long-term lutein administration, preferably at a 1:5 to 1:10 ratio. It can be formulated into tablets, capsules, or drinks. Applicable to lutein supplement reformulation, ginseng-based eye health products, and early-stage dry macular degeneration treatments, it allows long-term users to consume lutein safely without fear of retinal damage.
This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT for research on the therapeutic effects of the endogenous metabolite kynurenic acid on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease through the amelioration of endoplasmic reticulum stress.
This technology forms an artificial cathode-electrolyte interphase (CEI) layer by coating the surface of Ni-rich NCM cathode active materials with lithium tetramethylsilyl borate (LTB). This layer captures F- ions, which are impurities in the electrolyte, and enhances interfacial stability.
Ni-rich NCM cathodes have historically faced issues with electrolyte decomposition caused by Ni4+ species in high-voltage and high-temperature environments. This leads to transition metal dissolution, which significantly limits cycle life.
This technology involves adding LTB, synthesized by reacting tris(trimethylsilyl) borate with lithium trimethylsiloxide, to the cathode slurry to form a 1–20nm thick artificial CEI layer during electrode manufacturing. LTB undergoes an SN2 reaction with F- ions to produce fluorotrimethylsilane, preventing fluorine-related side reactions and increases in surface resistance. Suitable for high-voltage cells in EVs and power tools that operate frequently at high temperatures, it allows for improved 55℃ cycle performance without additional coating equipment by reducing the binder content proportionally to the additive amount.
This technology involves surface modification by coating lithium trimethylsiloxide (LiOTMS) onto the surface of high-nickel NCM cathode active materials. It removes HF generated within the battery and suppresses side reactions with the electrolyte.
High-nickel cathode materials, such as NCM811, have faced issues with interfacial instability caused by Ni4+ during charging and accelerated electrolyte decomposition. Furthermore, hydrogen fluoride (HF) generated by reactions with moisture leads to transition metal dissolution and electrode degradation.
This technology involves mixing LiOTMS with the cathode active material in an NMP solvent, applying it to the surface, and heat-treating it at 600–800°C (optimally 700°C). During this process, LiOTMS undergoes pyrolysis to form a stable inorganic surface film. Applicable to ESS cells requiring long lifespans and high-nickel cathode surface treatment processes, it provides a simple way to reduce HF-induced degradation by adding only a coating step to existing slurry processes.
This technology is a fiber-reinforced solid electrolyte that improves ionic conductivity, water absorption, and mechanical flexibility by stepwise functionalizing sugarcane bagasse-derived base fibers with enzymes, functional groups such as methyl or carboxymethyl, chitosan, and ammonium compounds.
Conventional polymer electrolytes suffer from low ionic conductivity. Gel electrolytes, which are used to address this, face limitations in implementing flexible batteries due to a trade-off: increasing electrolyte content degrades mechanical properties, while increasing polymer content reduces ionic conductivity.
This technology utilizes a biomass-based sugarcane bagasse fiber structure, enzymatically hydrolyzed and chemically bonded with chitosan and ammonium-based functional groups to create absorbent sites. This structure retains a large amount of hydroxide ions, simultaneously enhancing ionic conductivity and flexibility. It can be applied to flexible zinc-air batteries, wearable power sources, and alkaline anion exchange membranes, offering the eco-friendly advantage of converting agricultural byproducts into high-value electrolyte materials.
This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT for the development of a high-energy-density soft materials platform through the design of new organic superionic plastic crystal materials.
This technology enhances ORR and OER electrochemical performance by doping benzene-ring-based 2D atomic crystal structures (C2N) with heteroatoms like sulfur (S) or phosphorus (P) to modify lattice bond angles and band structures, while controlling 0D to 3D network structures through solvent blending and acidity adjustment.
Conventional 2D graphene materials have a zero bandgap, making them difficult to apply in electronic devices. Existing nitrogen-doping methods also involve complex processes, carry risks of metal contamination, and suffer from structural instability in the doped regions, which limits bandgap control.
This technology polymerizes hexaaminobenzene and benzene derivatives to create a C2N aerogel, then introduces S or P dopants to adjust structural stress and form a bandgap. By optimizing the composition of organic solvents, water, alcohol ratios, and acidity-adjusting sources like thiourea or sulfuric acid, the network dimension can be freely modified. This material can be used in metal-air battery cathodes, metal-free electrocatalysts, and semiconducting 2D device channels, allowing for custom band structure design without the risk of metal contamination.
This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT for the development of a high-energy-density soft materials platform through the design of new organic superionic plastic crystal materials.
This technology involves the CaAPIK1 protein (SEQ ID NO: 1), a newly identified MAP3 kinase that interacts with CaAIPP1 in chili peppers, the gene encoding it, and a recombinant vector containing said gene. It provides a composition for enhancing drought stress resistance in plants, as well as a method for increasing resistance by overexpressing this gene in plants and the resulting transgenic plants.
Drought hinders normal plant growth, leading to reduced yields. As desertification progresses, the need for crops that can withstand water scarcity is growing. However, the complete signaling pathway—from ABA recognition by PYR/PYL/RCAR receptors to the phosphorylation proteins that trigger stomatal closure and stress gene expression—remains unclear, limiting the availability of regulatory genes for improving drought tolerance.
This technology identifies that CaAPIK1 pairs with CaAIPP1 to act as a positive regulator of ABA-mediated stomatal closure. By transforming plants with the chili-derived gene (SEQ ID NO: 2) to overexpress the protein, transpiration loss is suppressed under water-deficit conditions. The resulting transgenic plants are also covered by the scope of this technology. Applicable to breeding drought-tolerant chili varieties for greenhouses and open fields, developing water-saving crops, and creating seeds for export to arid regions, it provides a new genetic target—the CaAIPP1-linked phosphorylation pathway—expanding options for multi-trait breeding in combination with other drought-resistance genes.
This invention was developed with support from the Rural Development Administration's project to develop breeding materials for disease and disaster resistance through the functional characterization of stress-related genes in chili peppers.
This technology involves the MAP3 kinase CaADIK1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), identified as a protein interacting with CaADIP1 in the Nokkwang pepper cultivar, the gene encoding it, a composition for enhancing drought stress resistance containing a recombinant vector with said gene as an active ingredient, and a method for overexpressing this gene in plants via transformation.
As global warming and desertification exacerbate water shortages, drought is hindering crop growth and significantly reducing grain yields. While plants respond to drought by closing stomata via abscisic acid (ABA) signaling, the downstream pathways following ABA receptors remain incompletely understood, limiting the genetic resources available for developing drought-tolerant crops.
This technology leverages the role of CaADIK1 as a positive regulator of ABA signaling that enhances ABA-mediated stomatal closure, reducing water loss in transgenic plants overexpressing the pepper-derived gene (SEQ ID NO: 2). The scope of the claims covers compositions for enhancing drought resistance in the form of proteins, genes, or recombinant vectors. Applicable to breeding field peppers and solanaceous vegetables, developing drought-tolerant crops for regions with irregular rainfall, and creating plants for greening arid areas, this technology utilizes the ADIP1-linked signaling axis to produce crops that remain resilient even with reduced irrigation.
This invention was developed with support from the Rural Development Administration's project to develop breeding materials for disease and disaster resistance through the functional characterization of stress-related genes in chili peppers.
This technology utilizes mastic gum, a resin from the Mediterranean mastic tree, as an active ingredient in pharmaceutical compositions and health supplements for the prevention and treatment of influenza A virus infections. The composition inhibits infection by blocking the stage where the virus enters host cells.
Current treatments like neuraminidase inhibitors (e.g., oseltamivir) and M2 ion channel inhibitors (e.g., amantadine, rimantadine) target viral replication. However, frequent antigenic mutations have led to an increase in drug-resistant viruses. Furthermore, these treatments require oral or intravenous administration, must be taken within 48 hours of symptom onset, and are associated with side effects like nausea and headaches, creating a need for safe, natural alternatives.
By inhibiting the phosphorylation of the MAPK signaling pathway activated during viral infection, this technology blocks the virus from entering cells entirely. Because its mechanism differs from existing drugs that target replication enzymes, it remains effective against resistant strains. Designed for direct nasal administration, it acts rapidly against influenza A-related conditions such as the flu, pharyngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and sepsis. It can be applied to nasal spray flu preventatives, adjunctive therapies for Tamiflu-resistant patients, and respiratory health supplements, enabling the creation of natural antiviral products that block infection at the nasal mucosa, the virus's primary entry point.
This technology utilizes butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), a widely used food antioxidant, as an active ingredient in a pharmaceutical composition and a health functional food composition for the prevention and treatment of Leydig cell tumors, orchitis, epididymitis, testicular cancer, and hydrocele caused by the hyperplasia of testosterone-producing Leydig cells.
Leydig cells in the testicular interstitium are central to steroid hormone synthesis; while their abnormal proliferation can lead to tumors or inflammatory diseases, there has been no suitable substance to selectively inhibit them. Although BHT has been reported to exhibit anti-estrogenic and anti-androgenic activity in hormone-sensitive organs, its therapeutic effect on testicular diseases had not previously been identified.
This technology leverages the mechanism by which BHT activates the MAPK signaling pathway and induces endoplasmic reticulum stress in Leydig cells, thereby halting proliferation and increasing apoptosis. It is distinguished by its focus on diseases derived from Leydig cells rather than Sertoli cells. The technology also claims a method for inhibiting the proliferation and enhancing the apoptosis of Leydig cells in non-human mammals. It can be applied to targeted therapies for Leydig cell tumors, as an adjunct for testicular diseases related to androgen excess, and in research on testicular tumors in pets and livestock, providing a therapeutic material that selectively controls the abnormal proliferation of hormone-producing cells using BHT, which is inexpensive and available in large quantities.
This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT for research into the role of sideroxylin extracted from Callistemon viminalis in the prevention and treatment of gynecological cancers.
This technology features a polymer binder created by graft-polymerizing highly conductive aniline-based polymers onto a chitosan backbone. By securing both mechanical strength and electrical conductivity, it suppresses the volume expansion of silicon anodes and maintains a stable electrical network.
Conventional silicon anode binders, such as PVdF, often fail to withstand the significant volume changes of silicon particles during charge and discharge cycles, leading to electrode structural collapse. Furthermore, they suffer from rapid capacity degradation as electrical contact with the current collector is lost.
This technology utilizes a graft copolymer binder, combining natural chitosan—which provides mechanical strength and adhesion—with conductive aniline-based polymers via radical polymerization. By introducing carboxyl groups and controlling weight ratios, the binder enhances bonding with silicon particles and improves electrochemical stability. Applicable to high-capacity, silicon-rich anodes and eco-friendly materials derived from crustacean byproducts, this solution reduces reliance on conductive additives while effectively delaying electrode structural collapse.
This technology forms an artificial cathode-electrolyte interface (CEI) layer containing silyl ether (Si-O) functional groups by coating Ni-rich NCM cathode active materials with dimethoxydimethylsilane (DODSi) and performing heat treatment. This suppresses side reactions with the electrolyte and enhances cathode stability.
Ni-rich NCM cathodes suffer from electrolyte decomposition at the surface due to chemically unstable Ni4+ in the charged state. The resulting nucleophilic fluoride (F-) ions cause transition metal dissolution and increased surface resistance, leading to a rapid decline in cycle life.
This technology involves coating the surface of NCM active materials with DODSi in an NMP solvent, followed by heat treatment at 400–800°C. The formed Si-O functional groups act as a protective layer to prevent electrolyte decomposition and selectively scavenge fluoride ions, inhibiting transition metal dissolution. Applicable to high-capacity cells for EVs and high-nickel cathode development, it helps improve cathode specifications requiring high-temperature cycle retention.
This technology is a structural design that loads electrolyte additives or lithium salts into needle-like carriers with unidirectional pores to control the gradual release of additives within a battery. Adding a polymer coating layer to the surface allows for even more precise control over the release rate.
Conventional methods of adding additives directly to the electrolyte suffer from rapid depletion during initial battery reactions, failing to maintain performance improvements over time. Furthermore, residual additives can lead to increased impedance and degraded rate capability.
This technology utilizes needle-like carriers with unidirectional pores—such as alumina, silica, or halloysite—to load additives via vacuum impregnation. By forming a polymer coating layer, such as polyethyleneimine (PEI) or PVdF, on the surface, the release path is physically delayed. This allows for application in electrolyte composition design, lithium metal anode cells, and fast-charging cells, enabling additive replenishment when needed without excessive initial loading, while preventing impedance rise.
This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT for energy storage and conversion systems based on sustained-release material control.
