DNA-inspired nanomaterials · RNA therapeutics

Engineering nanomaterials
for RNA therapeutics

Jinhyung Lee, biomedical engineer and RNA delivery researcher
Research interests:
  • Gene therapy
  • Nanomedicine
  • DNA nanotechnology
  • Drug delivery
  • Biomaterials
Meet Jinhyung

Jinhyung Lee, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Research Associate
Biomedical Engineering · University of Connecticut

I engineer DNA-inspired nanomaterials for RNA therapeutics and gene editing, with applications in osteoarthritis, kidney disease, and solid tumors.

Explore my research Download CV
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Published work

7 peer-reviewed publications

Including PNAS and Journal of Controlled Release
Research training

7 graduate & undergraduate mentees

Nanomaterial synthesis, characterization & RNA delivery
Awarded funding

ORS/Bethel Fellowship

Principal investigator · Award begins October 2026

About me

Connecting nanomaterial design
with biological function.

I am a biomedical engineer developing delivery technologies around the needs of patients with joint disease, kidney disease, and cancer.

At UConn, I work with Professor Yupeng Chen on Janus base nanoparticles (JBNps): DNA-inspired carriers designed to help therapeutic cargo reach tissues and function inside cells. My research connects molecular assembly, tissue transport, and biological evaluation, building on published RNA-delivery and cancer studies to advance disease-focused applications and current work on CRISPR–Cas9 delivery.

I earned a master’s degree in Bioengineering at UC San Diego and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at UConn. My training has shaped a central question in my work: how can we design nanomaterials around the biological barriers a therapy must cross?

Education, experience & recognition
3D view of endosomal escape Confocal z-stacks show nanopiece (NP)-delivered AF488-siRNA (green) escaping late endosomes (red), with cell nuclei stained blue. Lee et al., PNAS (2021), Movie S1. CC BY 4.0 · Unchanged.

The research question

A therapy is only as effective
as the journey it can make.

Reaching a tissue, entering a cell, and releasing cargo are distinct challenges. My research brings nanomaterial engineering to each step, with published studies in RNA delivery and preclinical cancer models.

  1. 01

    Reach the tissue

    Study how carrier assembly and geometry influence transport through dense biological environments.

  2. 02

    Release the cargo

    Investigate endosomal escape so RNA can reach its intracellular site of action.

  3. 03

    Measure the function

    Connect delivery with gene silencing and therapeutic response in relevant experimental models.

Explore the research program

Therapeutic applications

One platform.
Three therapeutic directions.

Explore the applications

I am applying JBNp technology to three disease settings, adapting delivery to the tissue, the therapeutic cargo, and the biological response that matters.

Joint health

Osteoarthritis

Developing local RNA delivery to cartilage and joint tissues, with the goal of reducing inflammation and preserving joint function.

Current preclinical research

Renal medicine

Kidney disease

Investigating delivery to kidney tissues as a foundation for RNA therapeutics and gene editing directed at disease-relevant cells.

Current research direction

Cancer therapy

Solid tumors

Engineering carriers to penetrate dense tumor tissue and combine drug delivery with RNA-mediated suppression of drug resistance.

Published preclinical studies

Current research · Gene editing

Extending JBNp delivery to CRISPR–Cas9.

I am investigating how JBNps can deliver gene-editing components to cells, connecting tissue access and intracellular release with functional editing.

Explore the platform

Selected published work

Three studies. One connected purpose.

All publications

Looking ahead

From delivery mechanisms
to therapeutic impact.

My long-term vision is an adaptable nanomedicine platform for RNA therapy and gene editing. Across osteoarthritis, kidney disease, and solid tumors, I aim to connect delivery with disease-relevant function, tolerability, and reproducible formulation—the evidence needed to advance toward translation.

Future research directions

Teaching & mentoring

Helping students become
independent researchers.

I have mentored seven graduate and undergraduate researchers and taught discussion sections for graduate biomechanics at UC San Diego. My approach centers on connecting the scientific question, the experimental choices, and the interpretation of evidence.

My approach to research training

News & recognition

Selected highlights.

2026–2027 BMRC/ORS Bethel Fellow

I am pleased to share my selection as a BMRC/ORS Bethel Fellow. Announced by the Bethel Musculoskeletal Research Center, the fellowship supports early-career investigators advancing musculoskeletal research. My award begins in October 2026.

Read the fellowship announcement

Co-corresponding author of our study on drug and siRNA co-delivery in Materials Today Advances.

Therapeutic nanomaterials patent featured by UConn

UConn Technology Commercialization Services highlighted our therapeutic nanomaterials patent and its licensing to Eascra Biotech to advance targeted drug delivery.

Read the UConn patent announcement

Endosomal escape research in UConn Today and Phys.org

UConn Today highlighted our PNAS study on DNA-inspired nanomaterials that help RNA escape endosomes and function inside cells. The story was also shared by Phys.org.

Read the UConn Today feature Read the Phys.org coverage

Connect

Let’s talk about nanomaterials,
RNA delivery, and what comes next.

Get in touch