COMMENTARY Nanobiophotonics: example of scientific convergence Anderson S. L. Gomes Department of Physics, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, 50670-901, PE, Brazil anderson@df.ufpe.br In a world where convergence is becoming the new wave, nanobiophotonics sets the frame as an outstanding example, as it is at the focal point of three well-established fields: nanotechnology, photonics, and biomedical sciences. The fast development of nanotechnology, from the 1980’s, supported by tools that can observe and manipulate in the nanoworld has found in photonics––defined as the technology of generating, harnessing and transmitting photons––a special companion for applications. Nanophotonics is already a discipline in its own right [1]. Recent developments in nanotechnology and photonics related to biomedical sciences, both basic and applied, have led to the newly born field of nanobiophotonics. Figure 1 depicts this convergence. Notice in this figure the side roads that exist, leading to other cross-disciplinary and fertile fields, such as nanophotonics, nanomedicine and biophotonics. Fig.1. Pictorial description of the scientific convergence leading to Nanobiophotonics. Advances in nanobiophotonics are striking. Leading experts worldwide have put together multidisciplinary teams to address challenges that range from noninvasive imaging to therapies and treatment, all using photons and nanoparticles of different shapes and functionalities. This commentary focuses on two of these advances. Far-field Optical Nanoscopy. This emerging field has pushed optical microscopy to the nanoscale, providing the ability to optically observe well beyond the diffraction limit. Its main advantage for nanobiophotonics, as opposed to near-field microscopy, is the ability to see inside biological media, such as cells [2]. Several approaches have been developed to break the diffraction limit, such as optical confocal microscopy, multiphoton microscopy, and 4Pi microscopy (mainly two-photon excited). Perhaps the most exciting advances have arisen from the pioneering work of Hell and co-workers who introduced the stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy, providing Nanobiophotonics Nanotechnology Photonics Biomedical Sciences Nanobiophotonics Nanotechnology Photonics Biomedical Sciences Journal of Nanophotonics, Vol. 3, 030304 (28 April 2009) ©2009 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers [DOI: 10.1117/1.3138769] Received 8 Apr 2009; accepted 23 Apr 2009; published 28 Apr 2009 [CCC: 19342608/2009/$25.00] Journal of Nanophotonics, Vol. 3, 030304 (2009) Page 1 Downloaded From: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/Journal-of-Nanophotonics on 11 Jun 2020 Terms of Use: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/terms-of-use