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Mid‐infrared (IR) – A hot topic: The potential for using mid‐IR light for non‐invasive early detection of skin cancer in vivo
Author(s) -
Seddon Angela B.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
physica status solidi (b)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.51
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1521-3951
pISSN - 0370-1972
DOI - 10.1002/pssb.201248524
Subject(s) - raman spectroscopy , spectroscopy , chalcogenide glass , materials science , chalcogenide , optoelectronics , in vivo , optics , cancer detection , cancer , infrared , nanotechnology , medicine , physics , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , quantum mechanics
After an introduction to the mid‐infrared (IR) spectral region, the tremendous significance of mid‐IR spectroscopic sensing is highlighted. The remarkable progress made towards mid‐IR spectral in vitro mapping of tissue and cancer detection is reviewed, with emphasis on diagnosis of skin cancer. The status quo of chalcogenide glass mid‐IR fibre optics and photonics for meeting opportunities for remote mid‐IR sensing in general, and in in vivo cancer detection in particular, is assessed. Raman spectroscopy is a sister technique to mid‐IR spectroscopy. The current success of Raman spectroscopy in medical diagnosis is appraised, with particular emphasis on Raman spectral imaging of tissue towards skin cancer diagnosis in vivo , based on a silica‐glass fibreoptic sensor‐head. The challenges to be met in chalcogenide glass science and technology towards facilitating analogous fibreoptic diagnostics based on mid‐IR spectroscopy are addressed.