2026-07-17 Two research teams from the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering (CME) at the National University of Kaohsiung (NUK), led by Distinguished Professors Wen-Fu Ho and Yi-Chang Chung, were recently invited to exhibit at "BIO Asia–Taiwan 2026." They showcased two innovative technologies—"High-Performance Medical Implant Materials" and a "Nanomedicine Delivery Platform"—demonstrating NUK's robust research and development capabilities in biomedical materials, smart healthcare, and medical technology.

NUK's Industry-Academia Incubator Center under the Office of Research and Development coordinated the exhibition, bringing the two university research teams to present their flagship R&D achievements at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 1 from July 16 to 19.

Chin-Fu Kuo, Director of NUK's Industry-Academia Incubator Center, stated that NUK has long been deeply involved in biomedical materials, biotechnology, and healthcare. Through industry-academia collaboration, technology transfer, and incubation mechanisms, NUK actively helps turn campus research achievements into marketable applications. He expressed hope that participating in this exhibition will help build more technical partnerships and commercialization opportunities with domestic and international enterprises, promoting the practical application of scientific research.

Distinguished Professor Wen-Fu Ho's team exhibited "Metastable β-type Titanium-Rich Medium-Entropy Alloy and Its Preparation Method," successfully developing a next-generation biomedical implant material featuring high strength, low elastic modulus, high resilience, and exceptional corrosion resistance. Compared to traditional medical implant materials such as 316L stainless steel, Co-Cr-Mo, and Ti-6Al-4V, this technology effectively minimizes the stress shielding effect and the risk of metal ion release after implantation, significantly enhancing the stability and lifespan of implants. The material achieves a yield strength exceeding 1,100 MPa and an elastic modulus below 110 GPa in its as-cast state without requiring additional heat treatment, delivering superior mechanical properties and biocompatibility while reducing manufacturing costs.

The medium-entropy alloy developed by Ho's team outperforms many existing biomedical alloys in terms of resilience while maintaining a lower elastic modulus closer to the mechanical properties of human bone. This reduces mechanical mismatch between implants and bone, offering broad future application potential in high-end medical devices such as artificial joints, femoral stems, and various orthopedic implants, thereby extending implant lifespan and improving patients' post-operative quality of life.

Distinguished Professor Yi-Chang Chung's team presented their independently developed "Low-Temperature Self-Assembled Nano-Encapsulation Platform and Applications." Overcoming the limitations of traditional nanocarriers that rely on organic solvents, high-pressure homogenization, or high-temperature processes, this platform utilizes NUK's proprietary green phase-transition technology. Nano-encapsulation can be completed at room temperature, dramatically reducing process energy consumption while preserving the stability of active ingredients. The platform can encapsulate hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and biomolecular active ingredients, with layer-by-layer surface modification to substantially improve stability, even allowing for customized and adjustable nano-concentrates. Designed with a particle size of approximately 100 nanometers, these nanocarriers can be formulated into sustained-release transdermal components, improving skin absorption efficiency and promoting cellular penetration with distinct application advantages in localized delivery, sustained release, and precision medicine.

Currently, this technology has been successfully applied to the development of products including nano-astaxanthin, nano-curcumin, nano-plant extracts, nano-vitamins, and nano-herbal ointments. It can be formulated into various dosage forms such as serums, lotions, and ointments according to different needs. Looking ahead, it is expected to find broad application across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, health supplements, medical cosmetics, and the high-value processing of natural plant extracts, providing safer and more efficient delivery solutions for drugs and active ingredients.

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#SDG3 #SDG9 #SDG12 #SDG17 @Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering @Industry-Academia Incubator Center, Office of Research and Development &Events