Im Lab

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Phone: 617-643-5679

Photonics, 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