Skip to main content

Do-kyung Kim

Kyung Hee University · Materials Science

About the Lab

Professor Do-kyung Kim's research lab specializes in the design and development of advanced fluorescent probes for biomedical imaging, with a strong focus on two-photon excitation technologies. The lab pioneers novel fluorophores and sensing systems that enable high-contrast, background-free imaging in live tissues and organisms, particularly for monitoring biologically relevant analytes such as fluoride, hydrazine, and enzyme activities like monoamine oxidases (MAOs). Their work integrates molecular design, photophysics, and in vivo imaging to address critical challenges in disease diagnostics, including Alzheimer’s disease pathology. The lab emphasizes the creation of responsive, selective, and ratiometric probes for real-time, non-invasive biological monitoring in complex environments.

two-photon probesfluorescent sensorsbioimagingenzyme detectionAlzheimer’s disease

Research Overview

Papers
254
Total Citations
6,564
Papers (5y)
94
Primary Field
Materials Science

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
94total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
892total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|200 citations·2015
Two-Photon Absorbing Dyes with Minimal Autofluorescence in Tissue Imaging: Application toin VivoImaging of Amyloid-β Plaques with a Negligible Background Signal
Dokyoung Kim, Hyunsoo Moon, Sung-Hoon Baik, Subhankar Singha, Yong Woong Jun, Taejun Wang, Ki Hean Kim, Byung Sun Park, Junyang Jung, Inhee Mook‐Jung, Kyo Han Ahn
SJR Q1Journal of the American Chemical Society

Fluorescence imaging of tissues offer an essential means for studying biological systems. Autofluorescence becomes a serious issue in tissue imaging under excitation at UV-vis wavelengths where biological molecules compete with the fluorophore. To address this critical issue, a novel class of fluorophores that can be excited at ∼900 nm under two-photon excitation conditions and emits in the red wavelength region (≥600 nm) has been disclosed. The new π-extended dipolar dye system shows several ad

BiophysicsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
2
Review|188 citations·2014
Recent development of two-photon fluorescent probes for bioimaging
Dokyoung Kim, Hye Gun Ryu, Kyo Han Ahn
SJR Q2Organic & Biomolecular ChemistryOA

Fluorescent probes are essential tools for studying biological systems. The last decade has witnessed particular interest in the development of two-photon excitable probes, owing to their advantageous features in tissue imaging compared to the corresponding one-photon probes. This review summarizes various types of two-photon probes that have been applied to bioimaging, categorized by the principles in the probe design and the target analytes, which would provide a basis for the future developme

SpectroscopyChemistry
3
Article|158 citations·2019
Hydrazine Exposé: The Next-Generation Fluorescent Probe
Yuna Jung, In Gyoung Ju, Young Ho Choe, Youngseo Kim, Sungnam Park, Young‐Min Hyun, Myung Sook Oh, Dokyoung Kim
SJR Q1ACS SensorsOA

Hydrazine (N<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub>) is one of the most important pnictogen hydride chemicals, and is utilized within a wide spectrum of industries. As a result of its extensive use, hydrazine's monitoring methods have constantly come under fire due to its potential health risk and the subsequent environmental pollution. Fluorometric molecular sensing systems generally report with a major emphasis on the merit of fluorescence analysis. What we are proposing within this report is a next-generat

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
4
Article|134 citations·2012
In vivo two-photon fluorescent imaging of fluoride with a desilylation-based reactive probe
Dokyoung Kim, Subhankar Singha, Taejun Wang, Eunseok Seo, Jun Ho Lee, Sang Joon Lee, Ki Hean Kim, Kyo Han Ahn
SJR Q1Chemical Communications

A two-photon excitable molecular probe for fluoride, developed based on a fluoride-specific desilylation reaction, is demonstrated to be useful for fluorescent imaging of fluoride ions in live zebrafish by one-photon as well as two-photon microscopy for the first time.

SpectroscopyChemistry
5
Article|106 citations·2016
Close Correlation of Monoamine Oxidase Activity with Progress of Alzheimer’s Disease in Mice, Observed by in Vivo Two-Photon Imaging
Dokyoung Kim, Sung-Hoon Baik, Seokjo Kang, Seo Won Cho, Juryang Bae, Moon-Yong Cha, Michael J. Sailor, Inhee Mook‐Jung, Kyo Han Ahn
SJR Q1ACS Central ScienceOA

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Monoamine oxidases (MAOs) play an important role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology. We report in vivo comonitoring of MAO activity and amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques dependent on the aging of live mice with AD, using a two-photon fluorescence probe. The probe under the catalytic action of MAO produces a dipolar fluorophore that senses Aβ plaques, a general AD biomarker, enabling us to comonitor the enzyme activity and the progress of AD indicated by

PhysiologyMedicine
6
Article|102 citations·2012
Reaction-based two-photon probes for in vitro analysis and cellular imaging of monoamine oxidase activity
Dokyoung Kim, Sunderraman Sambasivan, Hyoseok Nam, Ki Hean Kim, Jin Young Kim, Taiha Joo, Kyung‐Ha Lee, Kyong‐Tai Kim, Kyo Han Ahn
SJR Q1Chemical Communications

Reaction-based fluorescent probes for monoamine oxidases A and B are developed based on a new two-photon absorbing compound and its precursor. The probes show turn-on fluorescence response to the enzymes owing to the two-photon absorbing compound produced by the enzymatic activity, as monitored by one- as well as two-photon microscopy for the first time.

Polymers and PlasticsMaterials Science
7
Article|101 citations·2019
Harnessing Intramolecular Rotation To Enhance Two‐photon Imaging of Aβ Plaques through Minimizing Background Fluorescence
Jin Woo Shin, Peter Verwilst, Hayoung Choi, Sangrim Kang, Jiyou Han, Na Hee Kim, Jin Gyu Choi, Myung Sook Oh, Ji Sun Hwang, Dokyoung Kim, Inhee Mook‐Jung, Jong Seung Kim
SJR Q1Angewandte Chemie International Edition

The aggregation of amyloid beta (Aβ) proteins in senile plaques is a critical event during the development of Alzheimer's disease, and the postmortem detection of Aβ-rich proteinaceous deposits through fluorescent staining remains one of the most robust diagnostic tools. In animal models, fluorescence imaging can be employed to follow the progression of the disease, and among the different imaging methods, two-photon microscopy (TPM) has emerged as one of the most powerful. To date, several near

SpectroscopyChemistry
8
Review|98 citations·2019
Frontiers in Probing Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarkers with Fluorescent Small Molecules
Yong Woong Jun, Seo Won Cho, Junyang Jung, Youngbuhm Huh, Young Soo Kim, Dokyoung Kim, Kyo Han Ahn
SJR Q1ACS Central ScienceOA

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. The pathogenesis of the disease is associated with aggregated amyloid-β, hyperphosphorylated tau, a high level of metal ions, abnormal enzyme activities, and reactive astrocytes. This outlook gives an overview of fluorescent small molecules targeting AD biomarkers for ex vivo and in vivo imaging. These chemical imaging probes are categorized based on the potential biomarkers, and their pros and cons are discussed. Guidelines for desig

PhysiologyMedicine
9
Article|90 citations·2016
Facile Surface Modification of Hydroxylated Silicon Nanostructures Using Heterocyclic Silanes
Dokyoung Kim, Jonathan M. Zuidema, Jinyoung Kang, Youlin Pan, Lianbin Wu, David Warther, Barry Arkles, Michael J. Sailor
SJR Q1Journal of the American Chemical SocietyOA

Heterocyclic silanes containing Si-N or Si-S bonds in the ring undergo a ring opening reaction with -OH groups at the surface of porous Si nanostructures to generate -SH or -NH functional surfaces, grafted via O-Si bonds. The reaction is substantially faster (0.5-2 h at 25 °C) and more efficient than hydrolytic condensation of trialkoxysilanes on similar hydroxy-terminated surfaces, and the reaction retains the open pore structure and photoluminescence of the quantum-confined silicon nanostructu

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
10
Article|84 citations·2014
Synthesis of Benzocoumarins and Characterization of Their Photophysical Properties
Dokyoung Kim, Qui Pham Xuan, Hyunsoo Moon, Yong Woong Jun, Kyo Han Ahn
SJR Q2Asian Journal of Organic Chemistry

Abstract Benzocoumarins (benzochromenones) are π‐extended coumarins and constitute a promising family of photonic materials. Disclosed here are syntheses and characterization of the photophysical properties of a series of benzo[ g ]coumarins and benzo[ f ]coumarins that contain both an electron donor and an electron acceptor which are electronically conjugated through the benzocoumarin core. The maximum absorption and emission wavelengths of benzo[ g ]coumarins are at longer wavelengths than the

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
11
Review|81 citations·2018
A Mini Review: Recent Advances in Surface Modification of Porous Silicon
Seo Hyeon Lee, Jae Seung Kang, Dokyoung Kim
SJR Q2MaterialsOA

Porous silicon has been utilized within a wide spectrum of industries, as well as being used in basic research for engineering and biomedical fields. Recently, surface modification methods have been constantly coming under the spotlight, mostly in regard to maximizing its purpose of use. Within this review, we will introduce porous silicon, the experimentation preparatory methods, the properties of the surface of porous silicon, and both more conventional as well as newly developed surface modif

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
12
Article|78 citations·2017
Two‐Photon In Vivo Imaging with Porous Silicon Nanoparticles
Dokyoung Kim, Jinyoung Kang, Taejun Wang, Hye Gun Ryu, Jonathan M. Zuidema, Jinmyoung Joo, Muwoong Kim, Youngbuhm Huh, Junyang Jung, Kyo Han Ahn, Ki Hean Kim, Michael J. Sailor
SJR Q1Advanced MaterialsOA

A major obstacle in luminescence imaging is the limited penetration of visible light into tissues and interference associated with light scattering and autofluorescence. Near-infrared (NIR) emitters that can also be excited with NIR radiation via two-photon processes can mitigate these factors somewhat because they operate at wavelengths of 650-1000 nm where tissues are more transparent, light scattering is less efficient, and endogenous fluorophores are less likely to absorb. This study present

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
13
Review|75 citations·2021
Recent advances in single-benzene-based fluorophores: physicochemical properties and applications
Jaehoon Kim, Ji Hyeon Oh, Dokyoung Kim
SJR Q2Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry

Fluorescence-based materials and associated techniques (analytical, imaging, and sensing techniques) have been highlighted over the last century throughout various basic research fields and industries. Organic molecule-based fluorophores, in particular, have ushered in a new era in biology and materials science. To date, hundreds of organic fluorophores have been developed, and many studies have introduced new rationales for the fluorophore design and the analysis of the relationship between its

SpectroscopyChemistry
14
Article|73 citations·2020
A molecular approach to rationally constructing specific fluorogenic substrates for the detection of acetylcholinesterase activity in live cells, mice brains and tissues
Xiaofeng Wu, Jong Min An, Jizhen Shang, Eugene Huh, Sujie Qi, Eun Hye Lee, Haidong Li, Gyoungmi Kim, Huimin Ma, Myung Sook Oh, Dokyoung Kim, Juyoung Yoon
SJR Q1Chemical ScienceOA

can also be used to successfully map AChE activity in different regions of a normal mouse brain, which may provide important data for AChE evaluation in clinical studies. Such a rational and effective approach can also provide a solid basis for designing probes with different properties to study AChE in biosystems and another way to design specific substrates for other enzymes.

PharmacologyMedicine
15
Review|69 citations·2018
Benzo[g]coumarin-Based Fluorescent Probes for Bioimaging Applications
Yuna Jung, Junyang Jung, Youngbuhm Huh, Dokyoung Kim
SJR Q2Journal of Analytical Methods in ChemistryOA

Benzo[<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M2"><mml:mi>g</mml:mi></mml:math>]coumarins, which consist of coumarins fused with other aromatic units in the linear shape, have recently emerged as an interesting fluorophore in the bioimaging research. The pi-extended skeleton with the presence of electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents from the parent coumarins changes the basic photophysical parameters such as absorption and fluorescence emission significantl

SpectroscopyChemistry

Research Areas

Materials ChemistryBiomedical EngineeringSpectroscopyMolecular BiologyRenewable Energy, Sustainability and the EnvironmentBiochemistry

Dive deeper into Do-kyung Kim's research on Nubint

Open this lab's papers in the app to read with AI, summarize, and cite in your writing.