JingYong Ye

The research in our lab covers a wide range of areas in biomedical optics and nanobiotechnology, with special emphasis on the development of cutting-edge ultrasensitive and ultrafast laser-based technologies to address critical issues at the frontier of biomedical research and applications. Dr. Ye has led a portfolio of innovative projects that integrate fundamental optics with real-world biomedical applications, resulting in 18 patents and several translational breakthroughs. His research team have invented a double-clad fiber–based optical biosensing and imaging system, uncovered the dynamics of cavitation bubbles induced by ultrafast laser pulses, and discovered a novel mechanism for trapping cavitation bubbles using femtosecond lasers. Dr. Ye has also pioneered photonic crystal–based label-free bioassays, optical ultrasound sensors for photoacoustic imaging, and novel image reconstruction algorithms. His research also includes in vivo biosensing of multifunctional nanodevices for targeted cancer therapy, ultrafast laser interactions with nanoparticle-labeled cancer cells, in vivo two-photon flow cytometry, adaptive optics for multiphoton microscopy, and single-molecule fluorescence imaging.

Our research is focused on the development of novel biophotonics technologies technologies to tackle critical challenges in biomedical engineering and clinical translation.

Laser Intravascular Lithotripsy for Coronary Artery Calcification

Coronary artery calcification significantly limits the effectiveness of percutaneous coronary interventions by reducing vessel compliance, hindering device delivery, and increasing the risk of restenosis and other adverse clinical outcomes. In collaboration with Dr. Marc Feldman, an internationally recognized interventional cardiologist, our lab is developing a novel laser-based intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) technique to more effectively treat calcified lesions. Promising results have been obtained. The new findings will be published soon.

Optical Biosensing

We have developed and patented a suite of innovative biosensing technologies for both in vivo and in vitro applications.

• Development of a Unique Photonic Crystal Label-free Biosensor

We have developed and patented a novel label-free biosensor based on a Photonic Crystal used in a Total Internal Reflection (PC-TIR) configuration. The PC-TIR biosensor features an open optical microcavity that facilitates direct molecular access to the sensing surface, enabling highly sensitive and real-time label-free detection. This unique sensor has been evaluated and validated through a wide range of applications, including drug toxicity screening, detection of cardiac biomarkers, differentiation of prostate cancer cells, and quantification of endotoxins.

A PC-TIR biosensor integrated with a 3D liver-on-a-chip platform for real-time, continuous, and multiplexed monitoring of liver-secreted biomarkers for drug toxicity screening. 

• Development of a Unique Double-Clad Fiber-Optic Probe

We have developed and patented a double-clad fiber-optic probe for enhanced in vivo two-photon fluorescence detection. The double-clad fiber probe significantly improves fluorescence signal collection efficiency from deep tissue, enabling real-time monitoring of biological processes. For example, it has been utilized for monitoring a multifunctional nanoparticle-based drug delivery system in a live mouse model.

Investigate laser-induced cavitation microbubbles and shockwaves

We investigated laser-induced cavitation microbubbles across various media, including water, tissue phantoms, and cells. Using ultrafast laser pulses and ultrasonic monitoring, we showed that bubble size, lifetime, and collapse dynamics can be independently tuned by controlling laser pulse fluence, total number of pulses delivered, and the period between pulses. We also discovered a novel phenomenon that laser-induced cavitation bubbles can be trapped in a self-focused femtosecond laser beam. Additionally, we developed a multimodal platform integrating optical, acoustic, and electrophysiological techniques for real-time imaging and measurement of single-bubble cavitation and cell membrane disruption. Currently, we focus on utilizing shockwaves generated from the cavitation bubbles for important cardiovascular applications.

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Photoacoustic Imaging

We developed and patented a cutting-edge optoacoustic sensor featuring an open optical microcavity for highly sensitive detection of high-frequency photoacoustic signals. Complementing this, we also created a patented filtered back-projection algorithm that incorporates a rigorously derived weighting function from the photoacoustic wave equation. This innovation enhances image contrast and resolution, pushing the boundaries of photoacoustic tomography for biomedical applications.

Targeted Drug Delivery

Personalized medicine provides a unique opportunity for patients to receive individually tailored, targeted therapy for optimized treatment efficacy. The ability to control the release of therapeutics in targeted tissues, with a desired spatial distribution, and at an adjustable rate according to the drug response of each individual is important for personalized medicine. We have been working synthesizing a unique hybrid material as a nano-carrier for targeted drug delivery for enhanced cancer treatments.

Optical Biosensor for Endotoxin Detection

Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) testing has been an important part of the pharmaceutical quality control toolkit. It allows for in vitro endotoxin testing, which has replaced tests using animals, such as using rabbits’ thermal response to judge pyrogenicity of test samples, thus leading to a less expensive and faster test of parenteral pharmaceuticals and medical devices that contact blood or cerebrospinal fluid. However, limited by the detection mechanisms of the LAL assays currently used in industry, further improvement in their performance is challenging. To address the growing demand on optimizing LAL assays for increased test sensitivity and reduced assay time, we have developed an LAL assay approach based on a detection mechanism that is different from those being used in industry, namely, gel-clot, turbidimetric, and chromogenic detection. Using a unique open-microcavity photonic-crystal biosensor to monitor the change in the refractive index due to the reaction between LAL regents and endotoxins, we have demonstrated that this approach has significantly improved the LAL assay sensitivity and reduced the assay time.

 

Neuroengineering based on Photoacoustic Imaging

Under development.

We are grateful for the following funding agencies for their grant support of our research projects.

 

National Institutes of Health (NIH), including NCI, NIBIB, and NIGMS	United States Department of Defense (DoD)
National Science Foundation (NSF)	Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT)
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)	San Antonio Area Foundation
San Antonio Life Sciences Institute	UTSA-SwRi Connect Grant
UTSA VPR Office	Harry S Moss Heart Trust

 

 

 

Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Felix Escobedo

 

 

 

 

Mark Deleon

Collaboration is crucial to success. We encourage collaborations and would be happy to share the following instruments for joint projects.

1) A state-of-the-art photoacoustic tomography system: MSOT (Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography) inVision 256-TF small animal in vivo imaging system from iThera Medical, Inc.

For general users (without collaboration), please contact us to arrange the time for your imaging experiments. The cost is $150 per hour for using the system.

For collaborative projects, please contact us for detailed arrangements.

Acknowledgement to the grant support from DoD W911NF-17-1-0488

 

2) An optoacoustic imaging system LOIS-2D from TomoWave Laboratories, Inc.

3) A supercontinuum generation system pumped with a picosecond fiber laser (SC400-PP, Fianium).

This is an ultra-broadband supercontinuum radiation source with a built in pulse-picker to control repetition rate.

 

 

4) A time-correlated single-photon counting system (SPC 130, Becker & Hickl).

This system has picosecond resolution, ultra-high sensitivity, high-speed on-board data acquisition, and multi-detector / multi-wavelength capability.

5) An OPO system pumped with a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (Surelite OPO Plus pumped with SLIII, Continuum).

Tunability from 410-2650nm is achieved with the THG (355nm) of a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. This system provides high pulse energy (up to 70mJ) and 3-5 ns pulse duration.

6) A 300-MHz ultrasound pulser/receiver (DPR500-H02-H02, JSR/Imaginant) and a 150 MHz ultrasound transducer.

This system has two complete high frequency ultrasound pulser/receivers integrated into one unit. The bandwidth of the receiver and the bandwidth of the pulser are both larger than 300 MHz.

7) A Swept laser source from Axsun for Optical Coherence Tomography.

 

High Speed (50kHz) Sweep Rate, High Output Power (20mW Average), Wide (>100nm) Tuning Range.

 

 

 

8) A surface plasmon resonance based label-free bioassay system (Biacore 2000)

9) A high precision spin coating system with a spin speed up to 10,000rpm.

 

10) Photon-counting photomultiplier tubes for sensitive fluorescence detection.