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The Korean Society of Phycology (한국조류학회(藻類))
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Bioactive nanovesicles derived from the red alga Pyropia yezoensis for wound healing

  • Ji Won Yu (Department of Biological Sciences, Kongju National University) ;
  • Woo Yong Sung (Biomaterials Research Center, CELLINBIO Co., Ltd.) ;
  • Jin-Su Kim (Biomaterials Research Center, CELLINBIO Co., Ltd.) ;
  • Gwang Hoon Kim (Department of Biological Sciences, Kongju National University)
  • Received : 2025.06.05
  • Accepted : 2025.08.06
  • Published : 2025.09.15
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Abstract

Nanovesicles (NVs) derived from Pyropia yezoensis, a red alga extensively cultivated in East Asian coastal regions, are emerging as a promising therapeutic tool for promoting wound healing. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological properties and wound healing efficacy of Pyropia yezoensis-derived nanovesicles (PyNVs). Using various cell culture models, we analyzed the effects of PyNVs on skin cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. Nanoparticle tracking analysis revealed that PyNVs are stable NVs with an average diameter of approximately 140 nm. At a high concentration (7.5 × 109 particles mL-1), PyNVs significantly enhanced angiogenesis, promoted the migration and proliferation of skin cells, and accelerated the wound healing process. Furthermore, PyNVs modulated the expression of extracellular matrix-related genes, increasing collagen synthesis while suppressing excessive matrix metalloproteinase-1 activity. These findings suggest that PyNVs possess the necessary characteristics to serve as a natural, cost-effective, and scalable therapeutic agent for wound healing. The study highlights the potential of PyNVs as a sustainable source of bioactive substances that could transform wound care and tissue regeneration applications.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (RS-2023-KH135936). It was also supported by the Korea Institute of Marine Science & Technology Promotion (KIMST), funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Republic of Korea (RS-2025-02303933), and by a research grant from Kongju National University in 2022.

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