Emerging opportunities at the interface of photonics, nanotechnology and biotechnology

Today major breakthroughs are more likely to occur in interdisciplinary areas. This paper discusses opportunities created by interfacing photonics with nanotechnology and biotechnology. Examples are provided from our work at the Institute for Lasers, Photonics and Biophotonics. Specifically discussed are applications of nanophotonics to nanomedicine, which is an emerging field utilizing nanostructures for bioimaging, biosensing and targeted therapy. Applications of quantum dots for bioimaging and of fluorescence labeled magnetic nanoparticles for multimodal imaging are presented. Use of nanoparticles for light-activated therapy, the photodynamic therapy, is discussed. Examples of nanophotonics to optically track and monitor nanoparticle delivery genes of and subsequent transfection is given. Finally, some examples of future opportunities are presented.