Optical probes, particularly the fluorescent varieties, enable researchers to observe cellular events in real time and with great spatial resolution. Optical Probes in Biology explores the diverse capabilities of these powerful and versatile tools and presents various approaches used to design, develop, and implement them. The book examines the use

This book presents the fundamental physics of optical interferometry as applied to biophysical, biological and medical research. Interference is at the core of many types of optical detection and is a powerful probe of cellular and tissue structure in interfererence microscopy and in optical coherence tomography. It is also the root cause of speckle and other imaging artefacts that limit range and resolution. For biosensor applications, the inherent sensitivity of interferometry enables ultrasensitive detection of molecules in biological samples for medical diagnostics. In this book, emphasis is placed on the physics of light scattering, beginning with the molecular origins of refraction as light propagates through matter, and then treating the stochastic nature of random fields that ultimately dominate optical imaging in cells and tissue. The physics of partial coherence plays a central role in the text, with a focus on coherence detection techniques that allow information to be selectively detected out of incoherent and heterogeneous backgrounds. Optical Interferometry for Biology and Medicine is divided into four sections. The first covers fundamental principles, and the next three move up successive scales, beginning with molecular interferometry (biosensors), moving to cellular interferometry (microscopy), and ending with tissue interferometry (biomedical). An outstanding feature of the book is the clear presentation of the physics, with easy derivations of the appropriate equations, while emphasizing "rules of thumb" that can be applied by experimental researchers to give semi-quantitative predictions.

This multi-author contributed volume gives a comprehensive overview of recent progress in various vibrational spectroscopic techniques and chemometric methods and their applications in chemistry, biology and medicine. In order to meet the needs of readers, the book focuses on recent advances in technical development and potential exploitations of the theory, as well as the new applications of vibrational methods to problems of recent general interest that were difficult or even impossible to achieve in the not so distant past. Integrating vibrational spectroscopy and computational approaches serves as a handbook for people performing vibrational spectroscopy followed by chemometric analysis hence both experimental methods as well as procedures of recommended analysis are described. This volume is written for individuals who develop new methodologies and extend these applications to new realms of chemical and medicinal interest.

Since the word microscopy was coined in 1656, the evolution of the instrument has had a long and convoluted history. Plagued with problems of chromatic aberration, spherical aberration, and challenges with illumination and resolution, the microscope's technical progression happened in a series of fits and starts until the late 19th century. After E

The introduction of innovative light sources, fibre laser sources and light emitting diodes, is opening unexpected perspectives into optical techniques and is promising new exciting applications in the field of biomedicine. Lasers and Current Optical Techniques in Biology aims to provide an overview of light sources, together with an extensive and authoritative description of the optical techniques in bio-medicine. This book is designed to give biomedical researchers a strong feel for the capability of physical approaches, promote new interdisciplinary interests and persuade more practitioners to take advantage of optical techniques. Current developments in a variety of optical techniques, including Near-Infra Red Spectroscopy, and traditional and advanced fluorescence techniques are covered, ranging from those that are becoming common practice to those that need much more experimentation before they can be accepted as real breakthroughs. Further topics include optical coherence tomography and its variations, polarised light imaging and, principle laser and lamp sources- a usually fragmentary topic, often dispersed among specialist publications. The wide range of topics covered make Lasers and Current Optical Techniques in Biology of interest to a diverse range of scientific communities.

Many universities now offer a course in biomedical optics, but lack a textbook specifically addressing the topic. Intended to fill this gap, An Introduction to Biomedical Optics is the first comprehensive, introductory text describing both diagnostic and therapeutic optical methods in medicine. It provides the fundamental background needed for graduate students in biomedical and electrical engineering, physics, biology, and medicine to learn about several biomedical optics issues. The textbook is divided into three main sections: general optics theory, therapeutic applications of light, and diagnostic optical methods. Each chapter has different levels of detail to build students' knowledge from one level to the next. The first section covers the history of optics theory and the basic science behind light-tissue interactions. It also introduces the relevant approaches and approximations used to describe light propagation in turbid biological media. In the second section, the authors look more closely at light-tissue interactions and their applications in different medical areas, such as wound healing and tissue welding. The final section examines the various diagnostic methods that are employed using optical techniques. Throughout the text, the authors employ numerical examples of clinical and research requirements. Fulfilling the need for a concise biomedical optics textbook, An Introduction to Biomedical Optics addresses the theory and applications of this growing field.

Optical Microscopy for Biology presents an up-to-date, comprehensive description of new methods in optical microscopy for observing cellular structure and function at the level of single intact cells or tissue. Contributors cover confocal microscopy and optional sectioning of cells, fluorophores and characterization of various fluorescent probes and detector characterization. They also discuss a number of applications to current biological problems. In addition, Optical Microscopy for Biology includes a preview of the latest advances and newest developments in the technology of optimal microscopy, including four-dimensional miscroscopy, multiparameter and multimode digitized video microscopy, digitized fluorescence polarization, and near field microscopy.