Hanyang University

A Breakthrough in Underarm Odor Control and Axillary Bromhidrosis Treatment SEOUL, South Korea, June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CodeSteri Inc., a tech-driven startup based at the Hanyang University College of Medicine in Seoul, today announced the launch of PlaDeo, the world's first electronic deodorant device powered by bio-plasma. Designed to eliminate underarm odor safely and effectively, PlaDeo offers a revolutionary approach to managing axillary bromhidrosis—a medical condition characterized by chronic underarm odor—without the use of chemicals, pore-blocking agents, or aluminum salts. Continue Reading In 2020, PlaDeo—then branded Pragrant—was awarded the CES Innovation Award in the Health & Wellness category, recognizing its disruptive potential in personal care technology. Unlike conventional deodorants that mask odor using synthetic fragrances or suppress sweat glands, PlaDeo employs reactive oxygen species (ROS)—including hydroxyl radicals (OH⁻) and superoxide ions (O₂⁻)—to directly neutralize odor-causing bacteria and molecular residues on the skin. This plasma-powered mechanism ensures a non-toxic, non-residue, and skin-safe experience for daily users. Scientifically Validated Performance PlaDeo's efficacy has been scientifically proven. A peer-reviewed study published in Scientific Reports (2024), along with a clinical trial conducted at Hanyang University Hospital, demonstrated that 94% of participants experienced significant odor reduction after using the device regularly. These results validate PlaDeo as not only a hygiene product, but also a clinically relevant solution for those suffering from persistent body odor. The launch of PlaDeo comes at a time when global consumers are actively seeking chemical-free, science-supported alternatives for personal hygiene. With increasing awareness of the long-term risks posed by ingredients such as triclosan and aluminum compounds, PlaDeo addresses a growing demand for effective, health-conscious innovation in the deodorant market. Its compact, travel-friendly form factor also makes it ideal for use in gyms, offices, eldercare environments, and hospitals—anywhere discretion and hygiene intersect. Key Features: CES Award-Winning Plasma Technology: Kills bacteria and neutralizes odor at the source. Clinically Proven: Scientifically validated by peer-reviewed studies and human trials. Chemical-Free and Skin-Friendly: No residue, no irritation—just clean you. Portable and Easy to Use: Compact design for daily personal or medical use. PlaDeo is now available for pre-order on Indiegogo. For more details or to back the campaign, visit the official project page at: SOURCE Codesteri WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

Amid doctors' strikes, the Ministry of Health and Welfare in South Korea has announced a new project that will harness artificial intelligence in the development of a clinical decision support system for emergency departments. It is investing 22.8 billion won ($16.7 million) over the next five years in the project, which aims to meet the following objectives: Establish an ER database Develop technology for optimising the treatment process in the ER Develop an AI model for experiencing the ER Develop a CDSS for predicting conditions such as cardiac arrest, cardiovascular diseases, and sepsis The project has involved five major hospitals, including Samsung Medical Center, Seoul Asan Medical Center, Korea University Medical Center, Gangnam Severance Hospital and Hanyang University Hospital. Korea's National Emergency Medical Center will also join the project to provide data and support AI demonstration, while the MOHW's Korea Health Industry Promotion Agency will also lend support through task management and evaluation and consultation. WHY IT MATTERS In a statement, the MOHW said it initiated the project to explore national-level solutions to pressing hospital issues, particularly the lack of emergency medical resources and poor emergency medical capabilities of health facilities outside metropolitan cities. The government has also noted the demand among members of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine and the Korean Society Of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine for emergency room AI that supports the early detection of patient deterioration and reduction of patient wait times. THE LARGER TREND Since February, around 10,000 junior doctors across the nation have been on strike, filing mass resignations and going on mass walkouts to protest the government's plan to increase admission in medical schools – a measure thought to raise healthcare staffing to meet the growing healthcare demand in one of Asia's fast ageing societies. Their collective action has led to strains on emergency departments, with many forced to cut hours and cancel life-saving procedures. Since then, the government has tapped into military forces and retired doctors to keep the public health system running.

An international team have developed a new material that moves like skin while preserving signal strength in electronics. The technology could enable the development of next-generation wearable devices with continuous, consistent wireless and battery-free functionality. A new material that moves like skin while preserving signal strength in electronics could enable the development of next-generation wearable devices with continuous, consistent wireless and battery-free functionality. According to a study published in Nature, an international team of researchers from Rice University and Hanyang University developed the material by embedding clusters of highly dielectric ceramic nanoparticles into an elastic polymer. The material was reverse-engineered to not only mimic skin elasticity and motion types, but also to adjust its dielectric properties to counter the disruptive effects of motion on interfacing electronics, minimize energy loss and dissipate heat. "Our team was able to combine simulations and experiments to understand how to design a material that can seamlessly deform like skin and change the way electrical charges distribute inside it when it is stretched so as to stabilize radio-frequency communication," said Raudel Avila, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Rice and a lead author on the study. "In a way, we are carefully engineering an electrical response to a mechanical event." Avila, who was responsible for conducting simulations to help identify the right choice of materials and design, explained that electronic devices use radio frequency (RF) elements like antennas to send and receive electromagnetic waves. "If you have ever been in a place with poor cellular reception or a very spotty Wi-Fi signal, you probably understand the frustration of weak signals," Avila said. "When we're trying to communicate information, we work at specific frequencies: Two antennas communicating with each other do so at a given frequency. So we need to ensure that that frequency does not change so that communication remains stable. The challenge of achieving this in systems designed to be mobile and flexible is that any change or transformation in the shape of those RF components causes a frequency shift, which means you'll experience signal disruption." The nanoparticles embedded in the substrate served to counteract these disruptions, with a key design element being the intentional pattern of their distribution. Both the distance between the particles and the shape of their clusters played a critical role in stabilizing the electrical properties and resonant frequency of the RF components. "The clustering strategy is very important, and it would take a lot longer to figure out how to go about it through experimental observations alone," Avila said. Sun Hong Kim, a former research associate from Hanyang and now a postdoctoral researcher at Northwestern University, pointed out that the research team took a creative approach to solving the problem of RF signal stability in stretchable electronics. "Unlike previous studies that focused on electrode materials or design, we focused on the design of a high-dielectric nanocomposite for the substrate where the wireless device is located," Kim said, highlighting the importance of collaboration across three different fields of expertise for developing "such a multidimensional solution to a complex problem." "We believe that our technology can be applied to various fields such as wearable medical devices, soft robotics and thin and light high-performance antennas," said Abdul Basir, a former research associate from Hanyang and now a postdoctoral researcher at Tampere University in Finland. Wearable technologies are having a profound impact on health care, enabling new forms of individual monitoring, diagnosis and care. Smart wear market predictions reflect the transformative potential of these technologies with health and fitness owning the largest share in terms of end use. "Wireless skin-integrated stretchable electronics play a key role in health emergencies, e-health care and assistive technologies," Basir added. To test whether the material could support the development of effective wearable technologies, the researchers built several stretchable wireless devices, including an antenna, a coil and a transmission line, and evaluated their performance both on the substrate they developed and on a standard elastomer without the added ceramic nanoparticles. "When we put the electronics on the substrate and then we stretch or bend it, we see that the resonant frequency of our system remains stable," Avila said. "We showed that our system supports stable wireless communication at a distance of up to 30 meters (~98 feet) even under strain. With a standard substrate, the system completely loses connectivity." The wireless working distance of the far-field communication system exceeds that of any other similar skin-interfaced system. Moreover, the new material could be used to enhance wireless connectivity performance in a variety of wearable platforms designed to fit various body parts in a wide range of sizes. For instance, the researchers developed wearable bionic bands to be worn on the head, knee, arm or wrist to monitor health data across the body, including electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) activity, knee motion and body temperature. The headband, which was shown could stretch up to 30% when worn on the head of a toddler and up to 50% on the head of an adult, successfully transmitted real-time EEG measurements at a wireless distance of 30 meters. "Skin-interfaced stretchable RF devices that can seamlessly conform to skin morphology and monitor key physiological signals require critical design of the individual material layouts and the electronic components to yield mechanical and electrical properties and performance that do not disrupt a user's experience," Avila said. "As wearables continue to evolve and influence the way society interacts with technology, particularly in the context of medical technology, the design and development of highly efficient stretchable electronics become critical for stable wireless connectivity."