Program Results
Year-5 Report of Yushan Young Scholar Prof Wei-Peng Li
Yushan Young FellowIssued by：Kaohsiung Medical UniversityNumber of click-through：21
Year of approval：2020/
Introduction to the event
| Managing infectious symptoms is a daily challenge in hospitals. When dealing with unknown infections, a common approach is to administer a broad-spectrum antibiotic while conducting further analysis on the collected samples. These analyses include basic morphological examination, Gram staining, and PCR-based genetic sequencing. Although microscopic observation provides rapid results, it cannot accurately identify the pathogen, making precise antibiotic selection difficult. On the other hand, while PCR-based genetic sequencing offers precise microbial identification and antibiotic recommendations, the process is labor-intensive, requires specialized personnel, and takes approximately 3–5 days to complete. This delay may result in missing the golden treatment window, leading to the infection worsening. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop rapid screening methods that can detect infections efficiently and provide optimal antibiotic treatment strategies. Nanographene possesses unique aggregation-induced fluorescence properties. This technology is the first to utilize biodegradable nanovesicles to encapsulate nanographenes, causing them to form an aggregated state that exhibits enhanced fluorescence visible to the naked eye. Additionally, since live bacteria can rapidly degrade these nanovesicles, the encapsulated nanographene is released, transitioning from an aggregated to a non-aggregated state. This transition results in a fluorescence intensity reduction proportional to bacterial concentration, making it a promising candidate for detecting novel pathogens. This technology can be applied in pathogen rapid screening tests, precision medicine, and in vitro diagnostic platforms. For instance, in determining the appropriate antibiotic treatment for unknown infections, the nanographene nanovesicle probe can be integrated into a rapid screening assay (e.g., a 96-well plate). In designated wells, physiological saline and sample solutions can be added as negative and positive control groups, respectively. In the positive control group, the presence of bacteria leads to fluorescence reduction. In the test region, sample solutions can be combined with various antibiotics, and the wells where fluorescence reduction is prevented indicate the most effective antibiotic. Although this method does not identify the bacterial species, it enables the selection of the most suitable antibiotic within just one hour, allowing for timely and effective management of infections. Our team successfully showcased this technology at the 2025 Taiwan Medical Expo, where it received an enthusiastic response. Numerous domestic and international manufacturers expressed strong interest in exploring future collaborations. The exhibition also attracted medical professionals and the general public eager to learn more about this innovation. Currently, the technology has been granted a provisional patent, and clinical trials will soon be conducted at Luodong Holy Mother Hospital, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, and Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital. We anticipate the technology’s successful commercialization in the near future, significantly contributing to public health protection and the expansion of global medical diagnostic markets. |
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