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Nano-Biophotonics Lab [Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences]
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A lab that uses nanotechnology and light to detect biomolecules with high sensitivity.
AboutAbout the lab
Integrated research in nanotechnology, biology, and photonics
The Inouye Lab is pioneering the research field of nano-biophotonics, which integrates nanotechnology, biology, and photonics.
Using nanomaterials such as metal nanoparticles, vibrational spectroscopy methods such as infrared and Raman spectroscopy that analyze and identify molecules, and nonlinear photonics based on ultrashort pulsed light, the lab researches and develops technologies for sensing cells and biomolecules with ultra-high sensitivity and high resolution.
Main current research topics include nanoscale measurement of biomolecules inside cells using nanoparticle probes, highly sensitive biomolecule sensing using localized plasmons, and in vivo observation of photosynthesis using near-infrared light.
The lab conducts joint research with a photonics center in Morocco and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST).
Key terms
- Surface plasmon resonance
- A phenomenon in which light striking a metal under specific conditions makes the free electrons in the metal oscillate collectively, creating a strong electric field at the surface
- Raman scattering spectroscopy
- A method for directly measuring and analyzing chemical substances
- Azo polymer
- A polymer with azobenzene groups in its side chains. When exposed to light, its molecules move and the polymer deforms
NewsLab news
A student received the Young Researcher Poster Award at the Annual Meeting of the Spectroscopical Society of Japan
A student received the Excellent Poster Award at the FY2025 (Reiwa 7) poster session
ResearchResearch themes
The Inouye Lab researches and develops technologies for sensing cells and biomolecules with ultra-high sensitivity and high resolution, using nanomaterials, vibrational spectroscopy, and nonlinear photonics. Its work includes enhancing Raman scattered light with surface plasmon resonance, microscopic imaging of ions, Raman measurement of neurotransmitters, and optical nanomeasurement and manipulation using azo polymers.
*Illustrative imageEnhancing Raman scattered light for imaging
Surface plasmon resonance is a phenomenon in which light striking a metal under specific conditions creates a strong electric field at its surface. Taking advantage of the fact that the field enhancement in the propagating type is spatially uniform, the lab is developing a system that enhances Raman scattered light and turns it into images.
*Illustrative imageMicroscopic imaging of metal ions
Imaging the exchange of ions by cells at high spatial resolution without labels leads to a detailed understanding of biological functions. The lab is developing a surface plasmon microscopic imaging system that uses ionophores capable of capturing specific metal ions.
*Illustrative imageRaman measurement of neurotransmitters
The lab aims to establish a method for observing the movement of neurotransmitters such as glutamate, which carry signals between neurons, using Raman scattering spectroscopy, and to achieve live imaging of synaptic activity.
Optical nanomeasurement and manipulation using azo polymers
Polymers with azobenzene groups in their side chains deform as their molecules move when exposed to light. Because the deformation depends on the intensity distribution and polarization state of the incident light, the lab uses it to observe the state of light around nanomaterials that cannot be seen with an optical microscope.
MembersFaculty
Members of the Inouye Lab include faculty, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, and secretaries.As of 2026
- ProfessorYasushi Inouye
- Associate ProfessorHidekazu Ishitobi
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Gold Nanoparticles” Tae Joon Cho Sherrie Elzey Vincent A. Hackley Stephen (San-Min) Lee Robert I. MacCuspie Julian Taurozzi De-Hao Tsai / Public domain (cropped)
- Enhancing Raman scattered light for imaging: “Surface plasmon resonance device” Laundry / Public domain (cropped)
- Microscopic imaging of metal ions: “Mitotic LLC-PK1 cells, fluorescence microscopy ( )” ZEISS Microscopy from Germany / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Raman measurement of neurotransmitters: “Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy samples” Cedric Noordam / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Nanophotonics Lab): “InVia Raman microscope - March 2008” theterrifictc / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Nanospectroscopy Lab): “Optical cell rotator” Katzeimsack72 / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Structural Organic Chemistry Lab): “Chemistry Experiment 3D” TeWeBs / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Organic Electronic Materials Chemistry Lab): “LG gram Pro Z90SPG OLED DISPLAY RGB DOT MATRIX, OLED PANEL MADE BY SAMSUNG DISPLAY” Dinkun Chen / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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