Editor’s Note
This article highlights two biomedical innovations from National University of Kaohsiung, presented at the 2026 BIO Asia–Taiwan Exhibition by Distinguished Professors He Wenfu and Zhong Yizhang.
2026-07-18
[Visual Media Reporter Ji Xiongshi / Kaohsiung Report] Two research teams led by Distinguished Professor He Wenfu and Distinguished Professor Zhong Yizhang from the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering (CME) at National University of Kaohsiung (NUK) were recently invited to exhibit at the “2026 BIO Asia–Taiwan Exhibition.” They showcased two innovative technologies: “High-Performance Medical Implant Materials” and “Nanodrug Delivery Platform,” highlighting NUK’s R&D strength in biomedical materials, smart health, and medical technology.
The Innovation and Incubation Center under NUK’s Office of Research and Development coordinated the participation, leading the two research teams to present their representative achievements at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 1 from July 16 to 19.
Distinguished Professor He Wenfu’s team presented “Metastable β-Rich Titanium Medium-Entropy Alloy and Its Preparation Technology,” successfully developing a next-generation biomedical implant material with high strength, low elastic modulus, high resilience, and excellent corrosion resistance. Compared to traditional medical implant materials such as 316L stainless steel, Co-Cr-Mo, and Ti-6Al-4V, this technology can effectively reduce stress shielding effects and the risk of metal ion release after implantation, enhancing implant stability and lifespan.
The material can achieve a yield strength exceeding 1,100 MPa and an elastic modulus below 110 GPa in its as-cast state, without requiring additional heat treatment, combining excellent mechanical properties with biocompatibility while effectively reducing manufacturing costs. The medium-entropy alloy developed by He’s team exhibits superior resilience compared to many existing biomedical alloys while maintaining a lower elastic modulus, more closely matching the mechanical properties of human bone. This reduces mechanical differences between implants and bone, with potential applications in high-end medical devices such as artificial joints, femoral stems, and various orthopedic implants. It holds significant potential for extending the lifespan of artificial implants and improving patients’ postoperative quality of life.
Distinguished Professor Zhong Yizhang’s team showcased the independently developed “Low-Temperature Self-Assembly Nanoencapsulation Platform and Its Applications.” This platform overcomes limitations of traditional nanocarriers that rely on organic solvents, high-pressure homogenization, or high-temperature processes. Using a self-developed green phase transition technology, nanoencapsulation can be completed at room temperature, significantly reducing energy consumption while effectively preserving the stability of active ingredients.
The platform can encapsulate hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and biomolecular active ingredients, and can layer-assemble and modify particle surfaces to greatly enhance stability, even enabling customizable adjustable nano-concentrates. The nanocarriers, designed with a particle size of approximately 100 nanometers, can be formulated into transdermal sustained-release ingredients, improving skin absorption efficiency and promoting cell penetration. They offer advantages for localized drug delivery, sustained release, and precision medicine.
This technology has already been successfully applied to the development of products such as nano-astaxanthin, nano-curcumin, nano-plant extracts, nano-vitamins, and nano-Chinese medicine ointments. It can be formulated into various dosage forms including serums, lotions, and ointments based on different needs. In the future, it is expected to be widely applied in industries such as biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, medical devices, health foods, medical aesthetics, and high-value natural plant extracts, providing safer and more efficient solutions for drug and active ingredient delivery.
Images 1-2: NUK CME Distinguished Professor He Wenfu (right) presenting R&D achievements.
Images 3-4: NUK CME Distinguished Professor Zhong Yizhang (center) presenting R&D achievements.