Kookmin University

Forward osmosis (FO) offers a promising, energy-efficient alternative for water production due to its low energy requirements.However, its performance is significantly hindered by internal concentration polarization (ICP), particularly within the porous support layers of membranes.This study investigates the enhancement of water flux in FO desalination systems through the application of hydraulic feed pressure and ultrasound.A modified solution-diffusion model incorporating film theory was developed to analyze their effects on ICP.Experiments were conducted using a lab-scale FO device with a plate-and-frame module, assessing water flux and reverse solute flux under varying draw solution concentrationsHydraulic feed pressure was found to enhance water flux by increasing the driving force and modifying the membrane′s permeability, leading to reduced reverse solute flux.Ultrasound alleviated ICP by inducing acoustic streaming and cavitation, improving water flux albeit with a slight increase in reverse solute flux.Notably, the simultaneous application of hydraulic feed pressure and ultrasound exhibited a synergistic effect, achieving the highest water flux while maintaining a balanced performance.The modified model demonstrated strong agreement with exptl. results, offering deeper insights into the mechanisms underlying flux behavior.These findings highlight the potential of combining hydraulic feed pressure and ultrasound to overcome ICP and significantly improve FO desalination efficiency, paving the way for more effective water treatment technologies.

The rapid detection of bacterial contamination in fresh-cut salad is crucial for preventing foodborne outbreaks and ensuring public health safety.Foodborne bacteria are widely present in food and may exist at low concentrations, making bacterial separation and concentration essential for accurate and rapid detection.Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) coated with glycans such as chitosan are used to isolate and concentrate bacteria from the food matrix.This study aims to develop glycan-coated MNPs for the efficient capture and detection of foodborne bacteria in fresh-cut salad.Two types of MNPs were developed: chitosan-coated MNPs (CS@Fe₃O₄) and arginine-modified chitosan-coated MNPs (Arg-CS@Fe₃O₄).These MNPs were individually characterized and subsequently used to capture multiple bacteria, including Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella Typhimurium.Reaction parameters were optimized, while the capture efficiency (CE, %) was evaluated in both individual and mixed bacterial cultures.The detection efficiency was further assessed through real-time PCR anal. in the buffer and salad.Arg-CS@Fe₃O₄ has shown higher CE and lower detection limits than CS@Fe₃O₄.Specifically, Arg-CS@Fe₃O₄ has achieved over 99% CE for L. monocytogenes and S. aureus and approx. 83% CE for S.Typhimurium. In salads, the detection limits for L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, and S.Typhimurium were 10², 10³, and 10¹ CFU/g, resp., successfully lowering the detection limits.These findings suggest the potential of Arg-CS@Fe₃O₄ MNPs as a preconcentration tool for the rapid detection of foodborne bacteria, providing a promising approach to food safety applications.

Glucose-regulated protein 94 (GRP94) overexpression plays a critical role in tumor cell survival across various cancers. Previously, we developed K101.1, a fully human antibody targeting cell surface GRP94, which effectively inhibits tumor angiogenesis in colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aims to identify K101.1's interaction site and further elucidate GRP94's role in tumor angiogenesis. In an HT29 CRC xenograft mouse model, K101.1 reduced tumor growth and angiogenesis by 30 % and 69 %, respectively, without inducing severe toxicity. Using hydrogen‑deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, we identified the binding site of K101.1 on GRP94, analyzing 225 peptides with 94.5 % sequence coverage and a redundancy score of 4.20. This revealed a linear epitope (Glu26-Ala34) as the specific binding site. The binding was further validated via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and human umbilical vein endothelial cell tube formation assays using a synthetic epitope peptide corresponding to the identified epitope. Our findings suggest that this epitope is functionally involved in GRP94-mediated angiogenesis and is integral to its proangiogenic activity. By integrating epitope profiling with complementary experimental approaches, this study advances the understanding of GRP94's role in CRC angiogenesis and provides new insights for developing targeted cancer therapies and vaccines, offering promising avenues for CRC prevention and treatment.