Tuan Vo-Dinh, R. Eugene and Susie E. Goodson Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Please note: Tuan has left the "Computational Media, Arts & Cultures" group at Duke University; some info here might not be up to date.

Dr. Tuan Vo-Dinh is R. Eugene and Susie E. Goodson Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Professor of Chemistry, and Director of The Fitzpatrick Institute for Photonics.

Dr. Vo-Dinh’s research activities and interests involve biophotonics, nanophotonics, plasmonics, laser-excited luminescence spectroscopy, room temperature phosphorimetry, synchronous luminescence spectroscopy, and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for multi-modality bioimaging, and theranostics (diagnostics and therapy) of diseases such as cancer and infectious diseases.

We have pioneered the development of a new generation of gene biosensing probes using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection with “Molecular Sentinels” and Plasmonic Coupling Interference (PCI) molecular probes for multiplex and label-free detection of nucleic acid biomarkers (DNA, mRNA, microRNA) in early detection of a wide variety of diseases.

In genomic and precision medicine, nucleic acid-based molecular diagnosis is of paramount importance with many advantages such as high specificity, high sensitivity, serotyping capability, and mutation detection. Using SERS-based plasmonic nanobiosensors and nanochips, we are developing novel nucleic acid detection methods that can be integrated into lab-on-a-chip systems for point-of-care diagnosis  (e.g., breast, GI cancer) and global health applications (e.g., detection of malaria and dengue).

In bioimaging, we are developing a novel multifunctional gold nanostar (GNS) probe for use in multi-modality bioimaging in pre-operative scans with PET, MRI and CT, intraoperative margin delineation with optical imaging, SERS and two-photon luminescence (TPL). The GNS can be used also for cancer treatment with plasmonics enhanced photothermal therapy (PTT), thus providing an excellent platform for seamless diagnostics and therapy (i.e., theranostics). Preclinical studies have shown its great potential for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics for future clinical translation.

For fundamental studies, various nanobiosensors are being developed for monitoring intracellular parameters (e.g., pH) and biomolecular processes (e.g., apoptosis, caspases), opening the possibility for fundamental molecular biological research as well as biomedical applications (e.g., drug discovery) at the single cell level in a systems biology approach. For point of care diagnostics, nanoprobes and nanochips with highly multiplex SERS detection and imaging use artificial intelligence and machine learning for data analysis.

Our research activities in immunotherapy involve unique plasmonics-active gold “nanostars.” These star-shaped nanobodies made of gold work like “lightning rods,” concentrating the electromagnetic energy at their tips and allowing them to capture photon energy more efficiently when irradiated by laser light. Teaming with medical collaborators, we have developed a novel cancer treatment modality, called synergistic immuno photothermal nanotherapy (SYMPHONY), which combines immune-checkpoint inhibition and gold nanostar–mediated photothermal immunotherapy that can unleash the immunotherapeutic efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors. This combination treatment can eradicate the primary tumors as well as distant “untreated” tumors, and induce immunologic memory like a “anti-cancer vaccine” effect in murine model.

Contact Info:

Office Location:
Email Address:
Web Pages:	https://duke.app.box.com/s/4d14h88sh7p71hyfarge0l8946gtffg4 http://vodinh.pratt.duke.edu/

Teaching (Spring 2024):

• BME 555.01, ADVANCES IN PHOTONICS Synopsis

  Hudson 115A, TuTh 03:05 PM-04:20 PM

  (also cross-listed as CHEM 630.01)

• BME 567.01, BIOSENSORS Synopsis

  130, TuTh 03:05 PM-04:20 PM

• CHEM 601.01, BIOSENSORS Synopsis

  130, TuTh 03:05 PM-04:20 PM

Education:

Ph.D.	Swiss Federal Institute of Technology-ETH Zurich (Switzerland)	1975
PhD, Biophysical Chemistry	ETH (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), Zurich, Switzerland	1975
B.S.	Swiss Federal Institute of Technology-EPFL Lausanne (Switzerland)	1971
BS, Physics	EPFL (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), Lausanne, Switzerland	1970

Specialties:

Physical
Photonics
Nanoscience and Materials
Biophotonics
Nanoscience
Nanomaterial manufacturing and characterization
Sensing and Sensor Systems
Plasmonics

Research Interests:

Dr. Tuan Vo-Dinh’s research activities and interests involve biophotonics, laser-excited luminescence spectroscopy, room temperature phosphorimetry, synchronous luminescence spectroscopy, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, field environmental instrumentation, fiberoptics sensors, nanosensors, biosensors and biochips for the protection of the environment and the improvement of human health. For further information please click here.

Keywords:

Absorption • Acid Anhydride Hydrolases • Acoustics • Adsorption • Adult • Aerosols • Aged • Aged, 80 and over • Air Pollutants • Algorithms • Aluminum Oxide • Aminolevulinic Acid • Ammonia • Amyloid • Amyloid beta-Peptides • Animals • Anthracenes • Antibodies • Antigen-Antibody Complex • Antigen-Antibody Reactions • Antigens • Antigens, Bacterial • Bacterial Proteins • Barrett Esophagus • Base Sequence • Benzo(a)pyrene • Benzoates • Benzoxazines • Binding, Competitive • Biocompatibility • Biocompatible Materials • Biological Assay • Biological Markers • Biology • Biopolymers • Biopsy • Biosensing Techniques • Biosensors • Biotechnology • Blood-Brain Barrier • Brain • Brain Neoplasms • BRCA1 Protein • Breast • Breast Neoplasms • Calcium • Calibration • Catechols • Cattle • Cell Culture Techniques • Cell Division • Cell Line • Cell Line, Tumor • Cell Membrane • Cell Physiological Phenomena • Cell Survival • Cell-Penetrating Peptides • Cells • Chickens • CHO Cells • Clinical Laboratory Techniques • Coal • Coated Materials, Biocompatible • Colloids • Coloring Agents • Computer Simulation • Contrast Media • Cost effectiveness • Crystallization • Cytoskeletal Proteins • Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted • Diagnosis, Differential • Diagnostic Imaging • Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures • DNA • DNA Damage • DNA Primers • DNA Probes • DNA, Neoplasm • DNA, Single-Stranded • DNA, Viral • Drug Carriers • Drug Delivery Systems • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor • Drugs, Chinese Herbal • Elasticity Imaging Techniques • Electrochemistry • Electromagnetic Phenomena • Elementary Particles • Endoscopes • Endoscopy, Digestive System • Environmental engineering • Environmental Health • Environmental Monitoring • Environmental Pollutants • Enzyme Activation • Enzymes • Epidemiologic Methods • Epithelial Cells • Epithelium • Equipment and Supplies • Equipment Design • Equipment Failure Analysis • Esophageal Neoplasms • Esophagoscopy • Esophagus • Evaluation Studies as Topic • False Positive Reactions • Feasibility Studies • Female • Fiber Optic Technology • Fluorescent Antibody Technique • Fluorescent Dyes • Forecasting • Fractals • Fura-2 • Gases • Gene Expression Profiling • Gene Products, tat • Genes, gag • Genetic Markers • Genetic Predisposition to Disease • Genetic Testing • Glass • Gold • Graphite • Health Physics • Hemoglobins • Hexanols • Histological Techniques • HIV • Horseradish Peroxidase • Humans • Hybridization, Genetic • Hydrogen Peroxide • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration • Hydrolysis • Hydroquinones • Hyperthermia, Induced • Image Enhancement • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted • Imaging • Immune System • Immunoassay • Immunoglobulin G • Immunohistochemistry • Immunology • Indoles • Inflammation • Integrated circuit layout • Intracellular Space • Iodides • Keratosis • Ki-67 Antigen • Kinetics • Lasers • Light • Liposomes • Liquids • Liver • Luminescence • Luminescent Measurements • Luminescent Proteins • Macromolecular Substances • Magnetics • Male • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental • Mass Spectrometry • Materials Testing • Membrane Potentials • Membrane Proteins • Membranes, Artificial • Metal Nanoparticles • Metals • Methylene Blue • Mice • Mice, Nude • Microarray Analysis • Microchemistry • Microchip Analytical Procedures • Microscopy • Microscopy, Confocal • Microscopy, Electron • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission • Microscopy, Fluorescence • Microscopy, Scanning Probe • Middle Aged • Miniaturization • Models, Biological • Models, Chemical • Models, Molecular • Models, Statistical • Models, Theoretical • Molecular Conformation • Molecular Probe Techniques • Molecular Probes • Molecular Sequence Data • Molecular Structure • Molecules • Monitoring • Monitoring, Physiologic • Mouth Neoplasms • Mucous Membrane • Nanoparticles • Nanospheres • Nanostructures • Nanotechnology • Nanowires • Neoplasm Proteins • Neoplasm Transplantation • Neoplasms • Neoplasms, Experimental • Nonlinear Dynamics • Nucleic Acid Hybridization • Nucleic Acids • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis • Oligopeptides • Optical Fibers • Optical Imaging • Optical Phenomena • Optical Processes • Optical resonance • Optics and Photonics • Organic compounds • Organophosphorus Compounds • Oxazines • Oxidation-Reduction • Oxides • Oxygen • Particle Size • Peptide Fragments • Permeability • Phantoms, Imaging • Phosphorescence • Photochemotherapy • Photography • Photometry • Photosensitivity Disorders • Photosensitizing Agents • Phototherapy • Placenta • Pollution • Polycyclic Compounds • Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic • Polymerase Chain Reaction • Polymers • Porphyrins • Precancerous Conditions • Prions • Prognosis • Protective Clothing • Protein Array Analysis • Protein Binding • Protein Denaturation • Proteins • Protoporphyrins • Pyrenes • Radiation Dosage • Radiometry • Raman spectroscopy • Rats • Rats, Nude • Receptor, erbB-2 • Receptors, Cell Surface • Reference Values • Refractometry • Reproducibility of Results • Respiratory Tract Infections • Reviews • Rhodamines • Risk • RNA • Scattering, Radiation • Semiconductors • Sensitivity and Specificity • Serum Albumin, Bovine • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted • Signal Transduction • Signal-To-Noise Ratio • Silicon Dioxide • Silver • Silver Nitrate • Single-Cell Analysis • Singlet Oxygen • Skin • Skin Neoplasms • Smoke • Software • Spectrometry, Fluorescence • Spectrum Analysis • Spectrum Analysis, Raman • Spores • Spores, Bacterial • Sulfhydryl Compounds • Surface Plasmon Resonance • Surface Properties • Surgery • Systems Integration • Television camera tubes • Temperature • Time Factors • Tissue Distribution • Tobacco • Tomography, Optical • Trace Elements • Tracheal Neoplasms • Transfection • Transplantation, Heterologous • Tumor Cells, Cultured • Tumor Markers, Biological • Ultrasonography • Ultraviolet Rays • Viruses • Water • Wheat Germ Agglutinins • Xanthenes

Representative Publications   (More Publications)

1. T. Vo-Dinh, Editor, Nanotechnology in Biology and Medicine (2007), Taylor and Francis Publishers, New York
2. T. Vo-Dinh, Editor, Protein Nanotechnology, Humana Press, New York (2005)
3. T. Vo-Dinh, Editor-in-Chief, Biomedical Photonics Handbook, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida (2003)
4. G. Gauglitz and T. Vo-Dinh, Editors-in-Chief, Handbook of Spectroscopy, Volumes I & II, Wiley-VCH, New York (2003)
5. T. Vo-Dinh and D. Eastwood, Editors, Laser-Based Approaches in Luminescence Analysis, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), STP 1066, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1990)
6. T. Vo-Dinh, Editor, Chemical Analysis of Polycyclic Compounds, Wiley, New York, New York (1989)
7. T. Vo-Dinh, Room Temperature Phosphorimetry for Chemical Analysis, J. Wiley, New York, New York (1984)

Selected Patents

• Dosimeter for Monitoring Vapors and Aerosols, 4,680,165 (1987) of Organic Compounds.      
• "Practical Substrate and Apparatus for Static and Continuous Monitoring by Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy," U.S. Patent No. (1987)., 4674878.      
• "Surface-Enhanced Raman Optical Data Storage," U.S. Patent No. 4,999,810 (1991)..      
• "Fiber Optic-Based Regenerable Biosensor," U.S. Patent No. 5,176,881 (1993)..      
• "Enhanced Photo Activated Luminescence for Screening Polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) and Other Related Compounds," U.S. Patent 5,272,089 (1993)..