The leapfrog advancement in the realm of biophotonics in the past one to two decades has successfully permeated it not only in biochemistry and cell/molecular biology but also in numerous preclinical applications. On the one hand, researchers around the world are searching ways to tap different biophotonics technologies into real clinical practices, particularly cellular and molecular optical imaging. On the other hand, emerging technologies, such as laser nanosurgery and nanoplasmonics, have created new insights for understanding, monitoring, and even curing diseases on the molecular basis — possibly setting up the next high tide. This book particularly presents the essential basics of optics and biophotonics to the new comers (senior undergraduates or postgraduate researchers) who are interested in this multidisciplinary research field. With contributions from leading experts, the book also highlights the major current advancements in preclinical diagnostics using optical microscopy and spectroscopy, including multiphoton microscopy, nanoscopy, and endomicroscopy. The book also introduces a number of emerging techniques and toolsets for biophotonics applications, such as nanoplasmonics, microresonators for molecular detection, and subcellular optical nanosurgery.
About the Editor:
Kevin K. Tsia received the B.E. and M.Phil. degrees in Electronic & Computer Engineering from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, in 2003 and 2005, respectively. He received his Ph.D. degree at the Electrical Engineering Department, at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in 2009. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and the Medical Engineering Program, at the University of Hong Kong. His research interests covers ultra-fast real-time spectroscopy and microscopy for biomedical applications such as flow cytometry; and endoscopic laser microsurgery. His previous researches, such as energy harvesting in silicon photonics and the World’s fastest barcode reader and optical imaging system, have attracted worldwide press coverage and featured in a number of science and technology review magazines such as MIT Technology Review, EE Times and Science News. He also received the 2009 Harry M. Showman Prize from Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science at UCLA. He is author or coauthor of over 50 journal, conference papers and book chapters. He also holds 2 issued US patents related to the high-speed optical microscopy technology.