Potential and Current Uses of Luminescence in Medical Diagnosis

L. Avramaov; E. Borisova; P.D. Townsend; L.A. Valberg

doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.480-481.411

Paper Titles

Structure of Ti_1-XTa_xN Thin Films Prepared by DC-Magnetron Sputtering
p.387

XRD and Photoluminescence Studies of Pure and In₂O₃ Doped ZnO Nanophases
p.393

Negative Capacitance Phenomena in CZT Room Temperature Radiation Detectors
p.399

Martensitic α↔γ Phase Transition and Ionic Conductivity in "Pure" and Doped LiIO₃ Single Crystals
p.405

Potential and Current Uses of Luminescence in Medical Diagnosis
p.411

Modification of Faceplates by Selective Chemical Etchings
p.417

Dependence of the Refractive Indices in LiNbO₃:Cr Crystals Doped with HfO₂
p.423

Fabrication and Characterisation of Reverse Proton Exchange Optical Waveguides in Neodymium Doped Lithium Niobate Crystals
p.429

Analysis of Dielectric Relaxation Parameters in the Range of Glass Transition
p.437

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Potential and Current Uses of Luminescence in Medical Diagnosis

Abstract:

Biological luminescence stimulated by optical excitation results in signals which are characteristic of the host tissue. The spectrum of the emitted light, the intensity, and the excited state lifetimes are modified as the result of disease or by activation through addition of cell selective phosphors. There is an opportunity to identify diseased tissue both by the spectral signals from activators or, in some cases, by the differences of the natural luminescence responses. For practical reasons, defined by the sensitivity range of standard luminescence detectors, much of the current work has focussed on the short wavelength emissions driven by laser activation. However, the techniques are poised to undergo a dramatic expansion in scope with the advent of higher sensitivity photocathodes with high efficiency responses at long wavelengths. It is now possible to utilise a greater range of emission features with improved discrimination. Further, movement to longer wavelength excitation, and emission, open the way to probe deeper beneath the surface of tissue. The current overview will focus on recent examples from detection of cancer to tooth caries and indicate how the non-destructive luminescence probes can distinguish between tissue changes at an early stage of development.