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Youngwook Won

Associate Professor

University of North Texas

Department of Biomedical Engineering

Email: Youngwook.Won@unt.edu

Education

  • PhD, Hanyang University - South Korea, 2011
    Major: Bioengineering

Professional Memberships

  • American Association for Cancer Research. (January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2025).

Teaching

Teaching Experience

    University of North Texas

  • BMEN 4326 - Principles of Biomolecular Engineering, 4 courses.
  • BMEN 5326 - Biomolecular Engineering, 7 courses.
  • BMEN 5327 - Immuno engineering, 3 courses.
  • BMEN 5810 - Topics in Biomedical Engineering, 1 course.
  • BMEN 5900 - Special Problems in Biomedical Engineering, 10 courses.
  • BMEN 6910 - Individual Research, 6 courses.
  • BMEN 6950 - Biomedical Engineering Doctoral Dissertation, 1 course.

Directed Student Learning

  • Doctoral Advisory Committee Chair, "To be determined," Biomedical Engineering. (September 1, 2025).
  • Doctoral Advisory Committee Chair, "To be determined," Biomedical Engineering. (September 1, 2024).
  • Doctoral Advisory Committee Member, "Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF) Modeling in Metabolically and Mechanically Mature Vascularized Cardiac Organoids (VCOs)," Biomedical Engineering. (September 1, 2024).
  • Doctoral Advisory Committee Chair, "To be determined," Biomedical Engineering. (September 1, 2023).
  • Supervised Research, Biomedical Engineering. (January 1, 2023).
  • Dissertation Committee Member, Biomedical Engineering. (December 8, 2023).
  • Master's Thesis Committee Member, Biomedical Engineering. (October 31, 2023).

Awards and Honors

  • Brainpool Fellow, National Research Foundation of Korea. (November 1, 2025).

Research

Published Intellectual Contributions

    Journal Article

  • , , Han, S., , , , , , Won, Y. (2025). CliCAR: A non-genetic CAR engineering strategy to empower NK cells for targeted cancer immunotherapy.
  • Lim, S.Y., Kim, Y., Han, S., Kim, H., Ha, S., Park, J., Yun, J., Chae, S., Won, Y., Lim, K.S. (2025). CliCAR: A non-genetic CAR engineering strategy to empower NK cells for targeted cancer immunotherapy. Other. 193 118691. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2025.118691
  • Kim, Y., Kwak, J., Lim, M., Lim, S.Y., Chae, S., Ha, S., Won, Y., Kim, H., Lim, K.S. (2025). Advances in PCL, PLA, and PLGA-Based Technologies for Anticancer Drug Delivery. Other. 17 (10) 1354. MDPI AG. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17101354
  • , , , , , , Won, Y. (2025). Advances in PCL, PLA, and PLGA-Based Technologies for Anticancer Drug Delivery. Pharmaceutics.
  • Lim, S.Y., Kim, Y., Kim, H., Han, S., Yun, J., Kim, H., Ha, S., Chae, S., Won, Y., Lim, K.S. (2025). Surface Engineering of Natural Killer Cells with Lipid-Based Antibody Capture Platform for Targeted Chemoimmunotherapy. Other. 17 (10) 1285. MDPI AG. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17101285
  • , , , , , , , , Won, Y. (2025). Surface Engineering of Natural Killer Cells with Lipid-Based Antibody Capture Platform for Targeted Chemoimmunotherapy.
  • , , , , , , , , Won, Y. (2025). Advanced breast cancer immunotherapy: Surface modification of NK cells for embedding antibody-drug conjugates.
  • Lim, S.Y., Han, S., Kim, Y., Kim, H., Kim, Y., Park, J., Yun, J., Yong, S., Won, Y., Lim, K.S. (2025). Advanced breast cancer immunotherapy: Surface modification of NK cells for embedding antibody-drug conjugates. Other. 189 118245. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2025.118245
  • Kim, Y., Lim, S.Y., Kim, H., Ha, S., Park, J., Won, Y., Chae, S., Lim, K.S. (2025). Combination Strategies with HSP90 Inhibitors in Cancer Therapy: Mechanisms, Challenges, and Future Perspectives. Other. 18 (8) 1083. MDPI AG. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18081083
  • Choi, S.H., Mani, M., Kim, J., Cho, W.J., Martin, T.F., Kim, J.H., Chu, H.S., Jeong, W.J., Won, Y., Lee, B.J., Ahn, B., Kim, J., Jeon, D.Y., Park, J.W. (2024). DRG2 is required for surface localization of PD-L1 and the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy. Other. 10 (1) Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-024-02027-x
  • , , , , Won, Y. (2024). Hedgehog signalling is involved in acquired resistance to KRASG12C inhibitors in lung cancer cells.
  • Lee, C., Yi, J., Park, J., Ahn, B., Won, Y., Jeon, J., Lee, B.J., Cho, W.J., Park, J.W. (2024). Hedgehog signalling is involved in acquired resistance to KRASG12C inhibitors in lung cancer cells. Other. 15 (1) Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-024-06436-9
  • , , , , , , , , Won, Y. (2023). DRG2 in macrophages is crucial for initial inflammatory response and protection against Listeria monocytogenes infection.
  • Lee, U.H., Park, S.J., Ju, S.A., Lee, S.C., Kim, B.S., Ahn, B., Yi, J., Park, J., Won, Y., Han, I.S., Lee, B.J., Cho, W.J., Park, J.W. (2023). DRG2 in macrophages is crucial for initial inflammatory response and protection against Listeria monocytogenes infection. Other. 257 109819. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clim.2023.109819
  • Han, S., Lim, K.S., Blackburn, B.J., Yun, J., Putnam, C.W., Bull, D.A., Won, Y. (2022). The Potential of Topoisomerase Inhibitor-Based Antibody–Drug Conjugates. Other. 14 (8) 1707. MDPI AG. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14081707
  • Zenhausern, R., Day, A.S., Safavinia, B., Han, S., Rudy, P.E., Won, Y., Yoon, J. (2022). Natural killer cell detection, quantification, and subpopulation identification on paper microfluidic cell chromatography using smartphone-based machine learning classification. Other. 200 113916. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2021.113916
  • Khandelwal Gilman, K.A., Han, S., Won, Y., Putnam, C.W. (2021). Complex interactions of lovastatin with 10 chemotherapeutic drugs: a rigorous evaluation of synergism and antagonism. BMC Cancer. 21 (1) Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-021-07963-w
  • Lim, K.S., Lee, D.Y., Han, S., Bull, D.A., Won, Y. (2021). Targeted delivery of heat shock protein 90 inhibitors prevents growth of HER2-positive tumor. Biomaterials. 273 120817. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.120817
  • , , , , Won, Y. (2021). Targeted delivery of heat shock protein 90 inhibitors prevents growth of HER2-positive tumor.
  • Won, Y., Ankoné, M., Engbersen, J.F., Feijen, J., Kim, S.W. (2016). Poly(Amido Amine)s Containing Agmatine and Butanol Side Chains as Efficient Gene Carriers. Other. 16 (4) 619-626. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/mabi.201500369
  • Won, Y., Bull, D.A., Kim, S.W. (2014). Functional polymers of gene delivery for treatment of myocardial infarct. Other. 195 110-119. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2014.07.041
  • Won, Y., Adhikary, P.P., Lim, K.S., Kim, H.J., Kim, J.K., Kim, Y. (2014). Oligopeptide complex for targeted non-viral gene delivery to adipocytes. Nature Materials. 13 (12) 1157-1164. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat4092
  • Won, Y., Patel, A.N., Bull, D.A. (2014). Cell surface engineering to enhance mesenchymal stem cell migration toward an SDF-1 gradient. Biomaterials. 35 (21) 5627-5635. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2014.03.070
  • Won, Y., Yoon, S., Lim, K.S., Kim, Y. (2012). Self‐Assembled Nanoparticles with Dual Effects of Passive Tumor Targeting and Cancer‐Selective Anticancer Effects. Advanced Functional Materials. 22 (6) 1199-1208. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201101979
  • Won, Y., Kim, K., An, S.S., Lee, M., Ha, Y., Kim, Y. (2011). Suicide gene therapy using reducible poly (oligo-d-arginine) for the treatment of spinal cord tumors. Biomaterials. 32 (36) 9766-9775. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.08.089
  • Won, Y., Kim, Y. (2008). Recombinant human gelatin nanoparticles as a protein drug carrier. Other. 127 (2) 154-161. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2008.01.010

Media Contributions

    Internet

  • "Texas Life Science Forum," (November 7, 2023).

    • Newspaper

  • "Hwasoon International Immunotherapy and Vaccine Forum," (November 17, 2023).

Contracts, Grants, Sponsored Research

    Grant - Research

  • Won, Y. (Principal), "Feasibility test of an injectable form of immune modulator," sponsored by Thunder Bay Therapeutics, Private, $250000 Funded. (2024 - 2026).
  • Won, Y. (Principal), "Feasibility test of an injectable form of immune modulator," sponsored by Thunder Bay Therapeutics, Private, $200000 Funded. (2023 - 2024).
  • Won, Y. (Principal), "Targeted Systemic Delivery of SDF-1 DNA for the Treatment of Chronic Heart Disease," sponsored by NIH, Federal, $41831 Funded. (2023 - 2024).
  • Won, Y. (Principal), "Feasibility test of an injectable form of immune modulator," sponsored by Thunder Bay Therapeutics, Private, $100000 Funded. (2022 - 2023).

Service

University Service

  • Committee Member, Conflict of Interest. (August 1, 2023 - Present).

Professional Service

  • Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, NIH. Washington DC, Washington DC. (October 6, 2022 - October 7, 2022).

Consulting

  • For Profit Organization, Bielle Cosmetics, Pasadena, CA, United States of America. (January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2025).