EMBS:Nanophotonics for Biomedical Applications
Join IEEE EMBS Denver for an exploration of how nanophotonics is opening new possibilities in biomedicine. Professor Wounjhang (Won) Park will show how engineered nanostructures can manipulate and enhance light–matter interactions for applications ranging from biosensing and mechanical-force sensing to cancer detection and therapy.
Nanophotonics enables unprecedented control over the propagation, absorption, and emission of light at the nanoscale. In particular, surface plasmons—collective oscillations of electrons at metal surfaces—provide a powerful mechanism for concentrating light into extremely small regions and producing strong local electromagnetic-field enhancement. These properties are creating new opportunities for sensing, imaging, energy conversion, and biomedical technologies.
One emerging frontier in plasmonics is the enhancement of nonlinear optical processes, including luminescence upconversion. In upconversion, lower-energy photons are absorbed and converted into higher-energy emitted light. Unlike conventional nonlinear frequency-conversion processes, luminescence upconversion can operate efficiently under low-intensity, incoherent illumination. This characteristic makes it especially attractive for applications such as bioimaging, biosensing, and solar-energy conversion, where traditional nonlinear optical techniques may be difficult to employ.
This talk will begin with an introduction to surface plasmons, nanophotonics, and frequency-upconversion processes. Dr. Park will then describe the electrodynamic principles governing luminescence upconversion in nanophotonic environments and present spectroscopic studies of photonically enhanced upconversion. These studies help identify the mechanisms and factors responsible for enhancement throughout the various stages of the upconversion process.
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- University of Denver
- 2155 E Wesley Ave
- Denver, Colorado
- United States 80208
- Building: Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering & Computer Science
- Room Number: 510
- Contact Event Hosts
- Co-sponsored by CH04099 - Southeastern Michigan Chapter, EMB
- Starts 23 September 2026 06:00 AM UTC
- Ends 10 November 2026 07:00 AM UTC
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
Won Park of IEEE EMBS
Nanophotonics for Biomedical Applications
Nanophotonics enables unprecedented control on the light propagation, absorption and emission. Surface plasmons offer a highly effective mechanism for strong light localization and local field enhancement. One of the latest emerging frontiers in plasmonics is the study of plasmonic enhancement of nonlinear optical processes. Among them, luminescence upconversion has attracted much interest. In contrast to the nonlinear susceptibility based frequency conversion processes, luminescence upconversion is efficient even when excited by incoherent light with low intensity. This prompted much interest in potential applications in areas such as solar energy conversion and bioimaging where traditional nonlinear optics have not been used.
In this talk, I will start with an introduction to surface plasmon and frequency upconversion processes and then present the electrodynamic principles governing the luminescence upconversion process in nanophotonic environment. I will then present our spectroscopic studies on the photonically enhanced luminescence upconversion, which identified the enhancement mechanisms and factors for all processes involved in the luminescence upconversion. Finally, I will discuss biomedical applications of plasmon enhanced luminescence upconversion for biosensing and cancer therapeutics. Specifically, I will show how plasmon-upconversion complexes can be used for cancer detection and therapy, mechanical force sensing in biological systems and tactile sensing in robotics.
Biography:
Dr. Wounjhang (Won) Park is Sheppard Professor of Electrical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder. He received his B.S. from the Seoul National University, South Korea, and Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He then worked as a Post-Doctoral Fellow and Research Scientist II at the Georgia Tech Research Institute until he joined the faculty of University of Colorado Boulder in 2001. Dr. Park’s research interest is mainly in the light-matter interaction in nanostructures. Current research is focused on the nonlinear optical phenomena in nanostructures and their applications in communications, sensing, imaging and medicine. Dr. Park has published over 150 peer-reviewed technical articles and holds 9 U.S. and E.U. patents. He is a Fellow of SPIE, international society for optics and photonics, and is also the recipient of Trailblazer Award and Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Senior Fellowship in Cancer Nanotechnology, both from the National Institutes of Health, and the Provost’s Faculty Achievement Award from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Address:Boulder, Colorado, United States
Agenda
1) 5:00-5:30pm – Come to view the beautiful Ritchie Engineering Center at DU and enjoy meeting other engineers, faculty and guests. Beverages and snacks will be catered.
2) 5:30-6:30pm - Presentation at DU, Room 510; (5 - 7pm for Room): "Nanophotonics for Biomedical Applications" – in-person and on Webex. End the meeting with a short Q&A.
3) 6:30-7:00pm -- Adjourn meeting, clean-up and leave building.
Dr. Wounjhang (Won) Park is Professor of EE at CU Boulder and a Fellow of Materials Science and Engineering. He is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of researchers and engineers. IEEE members, students, professionals, and guests are warmly invited to attend.
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