Skip to main content

Kang-Tae Lee

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology · Materials Science

About the Lab

Professor Kang-Tae Lee's research lab specializes in the development and application of lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) for advanced biomedical technologies. The lab focuses on leveraging the unique photostability and deep-tissue penetration of near-infrared excitation to enable long-term, real-time imaging and tracking in living cells. Key research directions include the design of multifunctional nanoprobes for bioimaging, oncotherapy, and optogenetics, as well as fundamental studies on molecular conformations and excited-state dynamics in aromatic amino acids using advanced spectroscopic techniques.

upconverting nanoparticlesbioimagingnanomedicinephotostabilityenergy transfer

Research Overview

Papers
92
Total Citations
5,020
Papers (5y)
35
Primary Field
Materials Science

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
35total
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Citations per year (5y)
442total
20212022202320242025

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|270 citations·2011
Long‐Term Real‐Time Tracking of Lanthanide Ion Doped Upconverting Nanoparticles in Living Cells
Sang Hwan Nam, Yun Mi Bae, Yong Il Park, Jeong Hyun Kim, Hyung Min Kim, Joon Sig Choi, Kang Taek Lee, Taeghwan Hyeon, Yung Doug Suh
SJR Q1Angewandte Chemie International Edition

A track record: Upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) were tracked in living HeLa cells and their active transport by motor proteins was visualized in real time. The remarkable photostability of the UCNPs and the noninvasiveness of near-infrared excitation allowed continuous observation of living cells for as long as 6 h. Detailed facts of importance to specialist readers are published as ”Supporting Information”. Such documents are peer-reviewed, but not copy-edited or typeset. They are made avail

Cellular and Molecular NeuroscienceNeuroscience
2
Article|122 citations·2012
Endocytosis, intracellular transport, and exocytosis of lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticles in single living cells
Yun Mi Bae, Yong Il Park, Sang Hwan Nam, Jeong Hyun Kim, Kyunghee Lee, Hyung Min Kim, Byeongjun Yoo, Joon Sig Choi, Kang Taek Lee, Taeghwan Hyeon, Yung Doug Suh
SJR Q1Biomaterials
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
3
Article|88 citations·2002
Resonant two-photon ionization study of jet-cooled amino acid: L-phenylalanine and its monohydrated complex
Kang Taek Lee, Jiha Sung, Kwang Jun Lee, Seong Keun Kim, Young Dong Park
SJR Q1The Journal of Chemical Physics

L-phenylalanine (Phe), one of the aromatic amino acids, and its hydrated clusters were generated in supersonic expansion and investigated by resonant two-photon ionization. Excitation spectra of Phe and Phe–(H2O)1 were obtained near their S0–S1 origins. We found that, by comparing the experimental results with the density functional theory and ab initio calculations, the water in Phe–(H2O)1 tends to form a cyclic hydrogen bond at the carboxyl group while inducing little change in the correspondi

Atomic and Molecular Physics, and OpticsPhysics and Astronomy
4
Review|85 citations·2021
Near-Infrared-Triggered Upconverting Nanoparticles for Biomedicine Applications
Manoj Kumar Mahata, Ranjit De, Kang Taek Lee
SJR Q1BiomedicinesOA

Due to the unique properties of lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNP) under near-infrared (NIR) light, the last decade has shown a sharp progress in their biomedicine applications. Advances in the techniques for polymer, dye, and bio-molecule conjugation on the surface of the nanoparticles has further expanded their dynamic opportunities for optogenetics, oncotherapy and bioimaging. In this account, considering the primary benefits such as the absence of photobleaching, photoblinkin

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
5
Article|67 citations·2002
Conformation-Dependent Ionization Energies of L-Phenylalanine
Kang Taek Lee, Jiha Sung, Kwang Jun Lee, Young Dong Park, Seong Keun Kim
SJR Q1Angewandte Chemie International Edition

As much as 8 kcal mol−1 separates the ionization energies of the lowest energy conformers of L-phenylalanine. This conformation-dependent energy difference, by far the largest reported to date for any molecule, is associated with the drastic change in hydrogen bonding upon ionization (see picture).

SpectroscopyChemistry
6
Article|65 citations·2015
The preferred upconversion pathway for the red emission of lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticles, NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+
Tae‐Young Jung, Hong Li Jo, Sang Hwan Nam, Byeongjun Yoo, Young-Ho Cho, Jong-Woo Kim, Hyung Min Kim, Taeghwan Hyeon, Yung Doug Suh, Hohjai Lee, Kang Taek Lee
SJR Q2Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics

Lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs, NaYF4:Yb(3+),Er(3+)) are well known for emitting visible photons upon absorption of two or more near-infrared (NIR) photons through energy transfer from the sensitizer (Yb(3+)) to the activator (Er(3+)). Of the visible emission bands (two green and one red band), it has been suggested that the red emission results from two competing upconversion pathways where the non-radiative relaxation occurs after the second energy transfer (pathway A, (4)I

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
7
Review|61 citations·2023
Emerging strategies to fabricate polymeric nanocarriers for enhanced drug delivery across blood-brain barrier: An overview
Yo Han Song, Ranjit De, Kang Taek Lee
SJR Q1Advances in Colloid and Interface Science
BiomaterialsMaterials Science
8
Article|59 citations·2011
Long‐Term Real‐Time Tracking of Lanthanide Ion Doped Upconverting Nanoparticles in Living Cells
Sang Hwan Nam, Yun Mi Bae, Yong Il Park, Jeong Hyun Kim, Hyung Min Kim, Joon Sig Choi, Kang Taek Lee, Taeghwan Hyeon, Yung Doug Suh
Angewandte Chemie

Hinterher! Aufwärtskonvertierende Nanopartikel (UCNPs) wurden in lebenden HeLa-Zellen verfolgt, und ihr aktiver Transport durch Motorproteine wurde in Echtzeit abgebildet. Die beachtliche Photostabilität der UCNPs und die unschädliche Anregung im nahen Infrarot ermöglichten die kontinuierliche Beobachtung lebender Zellen über einen Zeitraum von bis zu sechs Stunden.

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
9
Article|56 citations·2002
Conformation-dependent ionization of l-phenylalanine: structures and energetics of cationic conformers
Kang Taek Lee, Jiha Sung, Kwang Jun Lee, Seong Keun Kim, Young Dong Park
SJR Q2Chemical Physics Letters
Atomic and Molecular Physics, and OpticsPhysics and Astronomy
10
Article|50 citations·2013
Comparative Study of Upconverting Nanoparticles with Various Crystal Structures, Core/Shell Structures, and Surface Characteristics
Yong Il Park, Sang Hwan Nam, Jeong Hyun Kim, Yun Mi Bae, Byeongjun Yoo, Hyung Min Kim, Ki‐Seok Jeon, Hyo Sun Park, Joon Sig Choi, Kang Taek Lee, Yung Doug Suh, Taeghwan Hyeon
SJR Q1The Journal of Physical Chemistry C

Upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) have been studied as novel bioimaging probes owing to the absence of autofluorescence and excellent photostability. For practical applications, biocompatible UCNPs with high upconversion efficiency, bright luminescence, and good colloidal stability are desirable. Herein, we report a quantitative and systematic study on the upconversion luminescence from a set of NaYF 4:Yb 3+,Er 3+ -based nanoparticles by varying crystal structures, core/shell structures, and su

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
11
Article|44 citations·2022
Highly active and stable catalyst with exsolved PtRu alloy nanoparticles for hydrogen production via commercial diesel reforming
Jaemyung Lee, Changho Yeon, Jiwoo Oh, Gwangwoo Han, Jeong Do Yoo, Hyung Joong Yun, Chan‐Woo Lee, Kang Taek Lee, Joongmyeon Bae
SJR Q1Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
12
Article|40 citations·2022
Exsolution of phase-separated nanoparticles via trigger effect toward reversible solid oxide cell
Seungyeon Jo, Yo Han Kim, Hyeongwon Jeong, Chan‐ho Park, Bo‐Ram Won, Hyejin Jeon, Kang Taek Lee, Jae‐ha Myung
SJR Q1Applied Energy
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the EnvironmentEnergy
13
Article|40 citations·2017
Distinct mechanisms for the upconversion of NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+ nanoparticles revealed by stimulated emission depletion
Kyujin Shin, Tae‐Young Jung, Eunsang Lee, Gibok Lee, Yeongchang Goh, Junseok Heo, Minhyuk Jung, Eun‐Jung Jo, Hohjai Lee, Min‐Gon Kim, Kang Taek Lee
SJR Q2Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics

could be modulated by emission depletion (ED) of the intermediate state that interacts resonantly with an infrared beam (1540 nm). In contrast, the green emission bands (525 and 545 nm) of the UCNPs were less affected by irradiation with the infrared beam. The origin of such distinct behaviors between the green and red emissions was attributed to their different photophysical pathways.

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
14
Article|39 citations·2019
Development of near-infrared sensitized core–shell–shell upconverting nanoparticles as pH-responsive probes
Manoj Kumar Mahata, Kang Taek Lee
SJR Q1Nanoscale AdvancesOA

FITC-conjugated core–shell–shell upconverting nanoparticles as pH-responsive nanoprobes.

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
15
Article|34 citations·2015
Fast and background-free three-dimensional (3D) live-cell imaging with lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticles
Hong Li Jo, Yo Han Song, Jinho Park, Eun‐Jung Jo, Yeongchang Goh, Kyujin Shin, Min‐Gon Kim, Kang Taek Lee
SJR Q1Nanoscale

We report on the development of a three-dimensional (3D) live-cell imaging technique with high spatiotemporal resolution using lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs). It employs the sectioning capability of confocal microscopy except that the two-dimensional (2D) section images are acquired by wide-field epi-fluorescence microscopy. Although epi-fluorescence images are contaminated with the out-of-focus background in general, the near-infrared (NIR) excitation used for the excitatio

BiophysicsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Research Areas

Materials ChemistryElectrical and Electronic EngineeringMolecular BiologyBiomedical EngineeringAtomic and Molecular Physics, and OpticsBiophysics

Dive deeper into Kang-Tae Lee's research on Nubint

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