Biophotonics is the use of light (photons) to manipulate and / or obtain information from biological materials with applications
in the life sciences, medicine, agriculture, environmental science, biometric identification, forensics and homeland security.
Optical measurement techniques including the use of lasers and optical tweezers are being used in nucleic acid, protein, cell
and tissue studies. Imaging techniques range from 3d observation of tissue, blood flow visualisation and non-invasive spectroscopy
to iris shape recognition. Bioanalytical and diagnostic measurements are utilising emission, absorbtion, reflection, interferometry,
surface plasmons, photophysical and chemical dynamics to increasingly lower concentration levels. Medical applications span
ophthalmology from diagnostics to corrective surgery to photodynamic therapies from dermatology to targeted drug release. Polymer
micro-optics technology provides stand alone optical components or is integrated within microfluidic systems or with biomarker
microarrays.
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