■ Researchers involved

Junyoung Lee (xdrcftv@snu.ac.kr)

SeokJin Kim (kimsj5522@snu.ac.kr)

Hwijoon Jeong (wjdgnlwns@snu.ac.kr)

■ Description
Raman spectroscopy is a label-free, non-ionizing vibrational spectroscopic technique that enables non-destructive molecular profiling of biological samples through the inelastic scattering of light. In our laboratory, Raman research is focused not only on cancer characterization but also on decoding radiation-induced biochemical responses at the subcellular level and clarifying the mechanisms of metal nanoparticle-mediated radiosensitization. By combining subcellular Raman mapping of the nucleus and cytoplasm with Monte Carlo-based microscopic dose modeling, cellular assays, and protein-expression analysis, we investigate how clinically relevant irradiation conditions reshape lipid, protein, and nucleic-acid signatures in cancer cells. Our recent work suggests that high-frequency Raman markers associated with lipid–protein metabolism are especially informative for tracking gold nanoparticle effects and ferroptosis-related responses, helping bridge physical dose enhancement with biological sensitization. Going forward, we aim to expand this platform toward radiosensitivity stratification across cancer models, machine-learning-assisted spectral classification, and ex vivo in vivo Raman approaches for treatment monitoring and mechanistic radiobiology.