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

  • Choi JH, Chin LK, Woo BM, Song Y, Seol MJ, Hong Y, Liu AQ, Jang S, Ploegh H, Im H, Lee D Hydrogel-Based Stamping Technology for Solution-Free Blood Cell Staining. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2021;13(19):22124-22130 - PMID: 33870697 - DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c22521

  • Yang Z*, Francisco J*, Reese AS, Spriggs DR, Im H, Castro CM Addressing cervical cancer screening disparities through advances in artificial intelligence and nanotechnologies for cellular profiling. Biophysics Review. 2021;2:011303 - PMID: 33842926 - PMCID: PMC8015256 - DOI: 10.1063/5.0043089

  • Kim H, Choia SK, Ahn J, Yu H, Kyoungha Min K, Hong C, Shin IS, Lee S, Lee H, Im H, Ko JG, Kim E Kaleidoscopic fluorescent arrays for machine-learning-based point-of-care chemical sensing. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical. 2020;329:129248 - DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2020.129248

  • Chin LK*, Son T*, Hong JS, Liu AQ, Skog J, Castro CM, Weissleder R, Lee H*, Im H* Plasmonic Sensors for Extracellular Vesicle Analysis: From Scientific Development to Translational Research. ACS Nano. 2020;14(11):14528-14548 - PMID: 33119256 - PMCID: PMC8423498 - DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c07581

  • Min J, Son T, Hong JS, Cheah PS Wegemann A, Murlidharan K, Weissleder R, Lee H, Im H Plasmon-Enhanced Biosensing for Multiplexed Profiling of Extracellular Vesicles. Adv Biosyst. 2020;2020:2000003 - PMID: 32815321 - PMCID: PMC7718316 - DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202000003 - Cover

  • 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