BME Seminar Series | Photonic Crystal Biosensors: A Novel Platform for Sensitive Detection in Biomedical Research
by Allison Lyne | Mar 28, 2025 | SBHSE Events
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Date/Time
Date(s) - 03/28/2025
9:00 am - 9:50 am
Category(ies)

Jing Yong Ye, PhD
Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at San Antonio
Date: Friday, March 28, 2025
Time: 9:00 – 9:50 a.m., SCOB 228
Faculty Host: Shaopeng Wang
Abstract: The demand for highly sensitive biosensors capable of quantifying various biomolecules, cells, andprotein-protein interactions is growing rapidly, driven by the need for innovative solutions in biomedical research and diagnostics. In this talk, I will introduce a novel open-microcavity optical biosensor designed for sensitive, label-free bioassays. This sensor is based on a photonic crystal structure operating in a total internal reflection configuration. Unlike conventional closed optical microcavities—where the cavity layer is confined between two reflective surfaces— our sensor features an open microcavity, allowing the sensing layer to be easily functionalized and directly exposed to analytes such as molecules and cells. This open design enables label-free detection by monitoring shifts in the resonant conditions of the cavity. The versatility of this detection mechanism supports numerous applications. In this presentation, I will highlight two key applications of the photonic crystal biosensor: the quantification of endotoxins and the monitoring of drug-induced toxicity using an organ-on-a-chip model.
Biosketch: Dr. Jing Yong Ye is currently a Professor and Margie and Bill Klesse Endowed Fellow in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, at The University of Texas at San Antonio. He obtained his Ph.D. from University of Tsukuba in Japan in 1997, and subsequently worked in the JRCAT-ATP program of the National Institute for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research, Japan for three years. In 2000, Dr. Ye joined the University of Michigan, working in the Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, and the Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and the Biological Sciences for ten years before moving to UTSA. Dr. Ye’s research focuses on developing cutting-edge biophotonics and nanobiotechnologies to tackle critical challenges at the forefront of biomedical research and applications. He has led multipe exciting projects, including the development of label-free photonic crystal biosensors, innovative optical ultrasound sensors for photoacoustic imaging, and a new filtered backprojection algorithm for photoacoustic image reconstruction. Additionally, he has worked on fiber-optic in vivo biosensing, imaging of multifunctional nanodevices for targeted cancer therapy, in vivo two-photon flow cytometry, and investigating ultrafast laser interactions with nanoparticle-targeted cancer cells. Earlier in his research journey, he also contributed to adaptive optical aberration correction in multiphoton microscopy, and single-molecule fluorescence imaging and spectroscopy. Dr. Ye’s innovative research has resulted in 17 patents. He also serves on review panels for major federal agencies, including NIH, NSF, DoD, and FDA, as well as for state programs and private foundations. In addition, he co-founded a biotech startup, has served on the advisory board for another biotech company, and consulted for seven other companies.