
Im Lab
Read BioPhotonics, plasmonics and novel materials
Our lab develops novel devices and applications using state-of the art nanoplasmonic and photonic sensors. We also develop new materials to expand the utility of these sensors. Our vision is to bridge the fields of engineering and medicine for next-generation diagnostic technologies. Based on physics and basic in nature, our ultimate goal is clinical translation.
Recent Publications
Leming M, Das S, Im H Adversarial confound regression and uncertainty measurements to classify heterogeneous clinical MRI in Mass General Brigham. PLoS ONE. 2023;18(3):e0277572 - PMID: 36862751 - PMCID: PMC9980829 - DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277572
Kim K, Lee B, Park JH, Park JH, Lee KJ, Kwak TJ, Son T, Shin YB, Im H, Kim MG Rapid PCR kit: lateral flow paper strip with Joule heater for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Mater Horiz. 2023;:ePub - PMID: 36843375 - DOI: 10.1039/d2mh01267g
Ansah IB, Leming M, Lee SH, Yang JY, Mun C, Noh K, An T, Lee S, Kim DH, Kim M, Im H, Park SG Label-free detection and discrimination of respiratory pathogens based on electrochemical synthesis of biomaterials-mediated plasmonic composites and machine learning analysis. Biosens Bioelectron. 2023;227:115178 - PMID: 36867960 - DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115178
Song TH, Cao M, Min J, Im H, Lee H, Lee K Deep learning-based phenotyping of breast cancer cells using lens-free digital in-line holography. Biophys J. 2023;122(3S1):285a - PMID: 36783413 - DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.11.1619
Chin LK, Yang JY, Chousterman B, Jung S, Kim DG, Kim DH, Lee S, Castro CM, Weissleder R, Park SG, Im H Dual-Enhanced Plasmonic Biosensing for Point-of-Care Sepsis Detection. ACS Nano. 2023;17(4):3610-3619 - PMID: 36745820 - DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c10371
- More publications ...
Research projects

Nanoplasmonic sensing
- Multiplexed exosome analysis
- Single molecular detection

Microholography
- Advanced photonics diagnostics
- Integrated portable imaging system

Nanospectroscopy
- Chip-based nano-spectroscopy sensing
- Integrated with deep learning-based data analysis

Nanophotonics
- Next-generation optical sensing system
- High-throughput, low-cost chip fabrication

Nano-plasmonic sensors
In the past, we have developed nanoplasmonic sensing systems (nPLEX/NPS) for exosome analysis in cancer. Ongoing projects are in the fields of highly multiplexed exosome analysis as well as for single molecule analysis.
The nPLEX sensor was highlighted as one of the greatest hits among 20 years of Nature Biotechnology biomedical research.- Yang KS*, Im H*, Hong S*, Pergolini I, Del Castillo AF, Wang R, Clardy S, Huang CH, Pille C, Ferrone S, Yang R, Castro CM, Lee H, Del Castillo CF, Weissleder R. Multiparametric plasma EV profiling facilitates diagnosis of pancreatic malignancy. Sci Transl Med. 2017;9(391):eaal3226 – PMID: 28539469.
- Im H*, Shao H*, Park YI, Peterson VM, Castro CM, Weissleder R*, Lee H*. Label-free detection and molecular profiling of exosomes with a nano-plasmonic sensor. Nature Biotechnol. 2014;32(5):490-5 – PMID: 24752081