Biomedical optics is a branch of optics that studies the interaction of photons and biological tissues for the purpose of sensing, imaging, and treatment. Since light is fundamentally an electromagnetic wave with an ultra-short wavelength, optical-based sensing, imaging, and treatment technologies have advantages in resolution, contrast, sensitivity, and precision, and, therefore, have found unique applications in a range of biomedical fields. However, these applications are limited to superficial tissues due to the strong scattering of photons. Ultrasound, a mechanical wave with a longer wavelength, has a much greater penetration capability in soft tissues and can reach deep-seated biological targets. As a result, ultrasound-based technologies are widely used and intensively researched in many biomedical applications, ranging from diagnosis to intervention to therapy. Essentially, biomedical optics and ultrasound both leverage the nature of waves and study their interactions with biological tissues. Their synergy, such as emerging photoacoustics and photon-medicated ultrasound therapy, opens new possibilities for revolutionary applications in biology and medicine.
In this Research Topic, we aim to gather and review the research community’s accomplishments to date on optical- and ultrasound-based sensing, imaging, and therapeutic technologies and novel applications in medicine and biology. This Research Topic encompasses fundamental theory, technology developments, biomedical studies and clinical translations of optics and ultrasound in biomedicine. The Research Topic focuses on, but is not limited to, the following fields:
- Photoacoustic imaging and applications
- Optical coherence tomography
- Super-resolution imaging
- Multi-modality imaging
- Molecular imaging and therapy
- Phototherapy
- Novel microscopy
- Translational biomedical optics
- Optical biosensors
- Diagnostic ultrasound
- Interventional ultrasound
- Therapeutic ultrasound
- Contrast-enhanced optical and ultrasound imaging
We welcome both reviews and original articles relevant to this Research Topic.
Biomedical optics is a branch of optics that studies the interaction of photons and biological tissues for the purpose of sensing, imaging, and treatment. Since light is fundamentally an electromagnetic wave with an ultra-short wavelength, optical-based sensing, imaging, and treatment technologies have advantages in resolution, contrast, sensitivity, and precision, and, therefore, have found unique applications in a range of biomedical fields. However, these applications are limited to superficial tissues due to the strong scattering of photons. Ultrasound, a mechanical wave with a longer wavelength, has a much greater penetration capability in soft tissues and can reach deep-seated biological targets. As a result, ultrasound-based technologies are widely used and intensively researched in many biomedical applications, ranging from diagnosis to intervention to therapy. Essentially, biomedical optics and ultrasound both leverage the nature of waves and study their interactions with biological tissues. Their synergy, such as emerging photoacoustics and photon-medicated ultrasound therapy, opens new possibilities for revolutionary applications in biology and medicine.
In this Research Topic, we aim to gather and review the research community’s accomplishments to date on optical- and ultrasound-based sensing, imaging, and therapeutic technologies and novel applications in medicine and biology. This Research Topic encompasses fundamental theory, technology developments, biomedical studies and clinical translations of optics and ultrasound in biomedicine. The Research Topic focuses on, but is not limited to, the following fields:
- Photoacoustic imaging and applications
- Optical coherence tomography
- Super-resolution imaging
- Multi-modality imaging
- Molecular imaging and therapy
- Phototherapy
- Novel microscopy
- Translational biomedical optics
- Optical biosensors
- Diagnostic ultrasound
- Interventional ultrasound
- Therapeutic ultrasound
- Contrast-enhanced optical and ultrasound imaging
We welcome both reviews and original articles relevant to this Research Topic.