Hyeokki Kwon, MS student in the Research Team of Prof. Chul-hwan Park (Department of Chemical Engineering),

"Selected for the 2024 Research Grant Program of National Research Foundation of Korea"

- Enzymatic synthesis of non-irritating capsinoid analogs and improvement of their bioactivity -

The project aims to support the growth of master's students as researchers by providing them with research opportunities according to the growth stage of the next generation of academics. The program will allow Kwon to pursue independent, creative, and challenging research in his field of interest.

Hyeokki Kwon's proposed project, "Enzymatic synthesis of non-stimulatory capsin The research team of Prof. Chul-hwan Park (Department of Chemical Engineering) at Kwangwoon University announced that Hyeokki Kwon, a student in the master program (advisor: Chul-hwan Park, Department of Chemical Engineering) has been selected as a recipient of the 2024 Research Grant Program of National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF).

  oid analogs and enhancement of their bioactive efficiency," was selected for the program based on the appropriateness and relevance of the research plan, as well as the applicant's potential for advancement and expected effects.

The compounds contained in chili pepper extract have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and analgesic properties, which have attracted attention in various industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, but the main component, capsaicin, is highly irritating and can cause side effects such as pain in the digestive system and diarrhea. In addition, capsinoids contained in chili pepper extract, along with capsaicin, have similar bioactivity to capsaicin, but their low content makes it difficult to extract them from natural products. Based on these effects side effects, and limitations, Hyukki Kwon plans to efficiently synthesize vanillyl ester, a capsinoid analog, using vanillyl alcohol, a natural antioxidant, and verify its bioactive efficacy, suggesting its potential use as a low-content capsinoid substitute.

 In 2023, when he was a senior undergraduate student, Hyukki Kwon won an excellence award at the 17th Engineering College Academic Festival (Chemical Engineering Field) hosted by Kwangwoon University, and he also won an excellence award at the 2023 "Know Bio!" from the online journalism team hosted by the Korean Society of Biological Engineering.

Kwon plans to continue his research under the guidance of Prof. Chul-hwan Park in the Biochemical Engineering Laboratory of the Graduate School of Chemical Engineering at Kwangwoon University, and said, "I will grow into an expert in bioprocess technology and new material development by improving the limitations of existing functional materials and presenting efficient production methods."

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