About

Yeongseon Jang is the Principal Investigator at JANG SMARTBIO LAB. The page provides contact information including an email address (y.jang@ufl.edu) and a phone number ((352) 294-1289), but does not include specific details about their research focus, background, or key contributions. Therefore, no additional biographical information is available from the provided content.

Research topics

• Nanotechnology
• Materials science
• Biology
• Biochemistry
• Composite material
• Optoelectronics
• Chemistry
• Botany
• Ecology
• Chemical engineering
• Computational biology

Selected publications

• Protein Vesicles as Emerging Platforms for Drug Delivery, Vaccines, and Immunotherapy

  Annual Review of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering · 2026-03-06 · 1 citations

  articleSenior author

  Protein vesicles are spherical, hollow structures made entirely of folded proteins, fusion proteins, or polypeptides. Their intrinsic biocompatibility, nontoxicity, structural tunability, and cargo-loading capacity make them promising candidates for diverse biomedical applications. Although diverse forms of protein-based carriers have long been employed in drug, gene, and vaccine delivery, as well as in artificial antigen-presenting cells, vesicle architectures provide distinct advantages over free proteins, including enhanced stability, targeted delivery, and controlled release. We summarize recent advances in engineering protein vesicles and assess their current status within the broader landscape of synthetic vesicles in biomedicine. By comparing protein vesicles with liposomes, polymersomes, and virus-like particles, we highlight the limitations of conventional systems and underscore the unique benefits of protein-based assemblies. We further examine the emerging applications of protein vesicles in therapeutic delivery, diagnostics, and immunotherapy and discuss future directions needed to advance protein vesicle technologies toward clinical translation.

  PublisherDOI

• Rational Development of Recombinant Elastin‐Like Peptide Bolaamphiphiles for the Controlled Construction of Multifunctionalized Globular Protein Vesicles

  ChemSystemsChem · 2026-01-01

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  ABSTRACT Synthetic biology has enabled the development of new strategies for creating artificial cells that can sense and respond to external stimuli. This study introduces the bottom‐up construction of globular protein vesicles (GPVs) that incorporate elastin‐like peptide (ELP) bolaamphiphiles as transmembrane components. To enable this strategy, we devised a Golden Gate‐based cloning strategy to streamline the design, expression, and purification of ELP bolaamphiphiles. Three ELP bolamphiphiles with varying structural complexity were developed, incorporating fluorescent proteins to facilitate visualization and characterization. The self‐assembly of these bolaamphiphiles into GPVs was optimized by varying the molar ratios of recombinant building blocks. Structural characterization confirmed vesicle formation, dynamic light scattering analysis revealed size distributions dependent on modular complexity, and atomic force microscopy demonstrated that the vesicles exhibited MPa‐range Young's moduli, indicative of high mechanical robustness. Our findings demonstrate that multifunctional ELP bolaamphiphiles can be incorporated into GPVs, enabling modular vesicle engineering. This work provides a foundation for designing synthetic cells with customizable bi‐functionalities and modularity, advancing compartmentalized systems.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Reconstitution of metabolic reactions within self-assembled, multi-compartment protein vesicles

  Soft Matter · 2026-01-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  electrostatic interactions, driving vesicle assembly. Because these interactions are sensitive to ionic strength and stoichiometry, we investigate the effects of salt concentration and molar ratio on self-assembly behavior and vesicle morphology. Enzymatic assays show that ODH displayed on GPVs exhibits enhanced stability and sustained catalytic activity compared to the free enzyme. To recapitulate a two-step enzyme cascade representing the terminal steps of glycolysis and anaerobic fermentation observed in marine invertebrates, we created a hierarchical multicompartment architecture consisting of nanoscale ODH-displaying vesicles (∼500 nm in diameter) encapsulated within giant GPVs (tens of micrometers). We further engineered co-encapsulation and nested configurations to control pyruvate generation and transport across compartments. Fluorescence-based monitoring of NADH consumption reveals that these architectures produce distinct reaction kinetics, underscoring the role of spatial organization in modulating enzymatic behavior. Together, these results highlight the potential of GPVs as customizable platforms for rebuilding metabolic processes within artificial cell-like compartments.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Rational Development of Recombinant ELP Bolaamphiphiles for the Controlled Construction of Multifunctionalized Globular Protein Vesicles

  bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2025-06-23

  preprintOpen access

  Abstract Synthetic biology has enabled the development of new strategies for creating artificial cells that can sense and respond to external stimuli. This study introduces the bottom-up construction of globular protein vesicles (GPVs) that incorporate elastin-like peptide (ELP) bolaamphiphiles as transmembrane components. To enable this strategy, we devised a Golden Gate-based cloning strategy to streamline the design, expression, and purification of ELP bolaamphiphiles. Three ELP bolamphiphiles with varying structural complexity were developed, incorporating fluorescent proteins to facilitate visualization and characterization. The self-assembly of these bolaamphiphiles into GPVs was optimized by varying the molar ratios of recombinant building blocks. Structural characterization confirmed vesicle formation, dynamic light scattering analysis revealed size distributions dependent on modular complexity, and atomic force microscopy demonstrated that the vesicles exhibited MPa-range Young’s moduli, indicative of high mechanical robustness. Our findings demonstrate that multifunctional ELP bolaamphiphiles can be incorporated into GPVs, enabling modular vesicle engineering. This work provides a foundation for designing synthetic cells with customizable bi-functionalities and modularity, advancing compartmentalized systems.

  PublisherDOI

• Cell-Free Protein Synthesis of Fusion-Protein Building Blocks Enables Autonomous Growth in Globular Protein Vesicle Protocells

  Biomacromolecules · 2025-05-20 · 5 citations

  articleSenior authorCorresponding

  The capacity for autonomous synthesis of building blocks and functional molecules is a fundamental feature of living cells. Encapsulating complex synthesis systems, such as cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS), within vesicular platforms has propelled the field toward more intricate biomimicry in artificial cell development, yet synthesizing functional proteins as membrane components remains challenging. In this study, we report the successful integration of a CFPS system with globular protein vesicles (GPVs), a functionally folded protein-assembled vesicular platform. We demonstrate that in vitro transcription and translation of modular fusion proteins, which serve as GPV building blocks, facilitate the direct incorporation of newly synthesized fusion proteins into the vesicle membrane. This system supports the expression of membrane components, enabling GPVs to exhibit autonomous growth. Our approach marks substantial progress in the development of synthetic cells, providing a versatile and robust strategy to expand the available repertoire of biomimetic functions achievable through de novo protein production.

  PublisherDOI

• Leak‐Free and Chemically Resistant Epoxy‐Sealed Ultramicroelectrodes from Diverse Conductor Materials

  Advanced Materials Technologies · 2025-12-12

  article

  ABSTRACT Ultramicroelectrodes (UMEs) are powerful electrochemical tools due to their high sensitivity, fast steady‐state response, minimal ohmic losses, and compatibility with in situ/operando measurements. To enable broader utilization of UMEs in electroanalysis, a reliable and broadly applicable fabrication method is needed, one that ensures chemical stability across various environments and supports diverse conductor materials. Here, we report a simple epoxy‐sealing method for fabricating leak‐free and chemically robust UMEs under mild curing conditions (60°C). A systematic investigation of resin‐to‐hardener ratios reveals that a 2:1 ratio optimizes seal integrity and electrochemical performance by eliminating interference from residual unreacted hardener species. The resulting UMEs maintain stable electrochemical responses in both highly acidic (1 M H 2 SO 4 ) and alkaline (1 M KOH) environments. Importantly, this low‐temperature process enables the successful fabrication of UMEs from heat‐sensitive materials (e.g., C, Cu, Mo, W) that are unsuitable for conventional high‐temperature glass sealing. The practical applicability of the epoxy‐sealed UMEs is demonstrated through chloride ion sensing using Ag UMEs (limit of detection: 0.02 m m , achieved without supporting electrolyte) and high‐resolution scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) using beveled epoxy‐sealed UMEs. These results underscore the broad utility of the epoxy‐sealing approach for diverse electroanalytical applications.

  PublisherDOI

• Cloning and Expression Analysis of Bioluminescence Genes in <i>Omphalotus guepiniiformis</i> Reveal Stress-Dependent Regulation of Bioluminescence

  Mycobiology · 2024-01-02 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  could be a potential model species.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Phase transition of recombinant fusion protein assemblies in macromolecularly crowded conditions

  Materials Advances · 2024-01-01 · 3 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  This study investigates the phase transition of globular protein vesicles – a model for protein-constructed artificial cells and organelles – under macromolecular crowding conditions in biomimetic environments.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Architecting Multicompartmentalized, Giant Vesicles with Recombinant Fusion Proteins

  Biomacromolecules · 2024-08-06 · 2 citations

  articleSenior authorCorresponding

  We present a straightforward strategy for constructing giant, multicompartmentalized vesicles using recombinant fusion proteins. Our method leverages the self-assembly of globule-zipper-elastin-like polypeptide fusion protein complexes in aqueous conditions, eliminating the need for organic solvents and chemical conjugation. By employing the thin-film rehydration method, we have successfully encapsulated a diverse range of bioactive macromolecules and engineered organelle-like compartments─ranging from soluble proteins and coacervate droplets to vesicles─within these protein-assembled giant vesicles. This approach also facilitates the integration of water-soluble block copolymers, enhancing the structural stability and functional versatility of the vesicles. Our results suggest that these multicompartment giant protein vesicles not only mimic the complex architecture of living cells but also support biochemically distinct reactions regulated by functionally folded proteins, providing a robust model for studying cellular processes and designing microreactor systems. This work highlights the transformative potential of self-assembling recombinant fusion proteins in artificial cell design.

  PublisherDOI

• Novel <i>Sarcoscypha</i> Species from National Parks in Korea: <i>Sarcoscypha humida</i> sp. nov.

  Mycobiology · 2024-01-02

  articleOpen access

  species.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• Collaborative Research: Designing Minimal Synthetic Cells Capable of Sensing and Self-Manipulation via Tunable Self-Assembly

  NSF · $696k · 2021–2025

• CAREER: Engineering Self-Assembly of Recombinant Fusion Proteins for Bottom-Up Construction of Protein-Powered Synthetic Protocells

  NSF · $540k · 2021–2026

Frequent coauthors

• Jae‐Jin Kim

  Pukyong National University

  30 shared

• Kang-Hyeon Ka

  Korea Forest Service

  24 shared

• Rhim Ryoo

  Korea Forest Service

  23 shared

• Young Woon Lim

  19 shared

• Kookheon Char

  Seoul National University

  19 shared

• Seokyoon Jang

  19 shared

• Hanbyul Lee

  Korea Polar Research Institute

  11 shared

• Changmu Kim

  National Institute of Biological Resources

  10 shared

Labs

• JANG SMARTBIO LABPI

Awards & honors

• Pramod P. Khargonekar Junior Faculty Award for Excellence, 2…
• Alex Moreno Rising Star Professorship, 2024-2027
• Outstanding Support for Women in Engineering Award, UF Socie…
• KIChE President Young Investigator Award, 2021
• National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 2021