Biophotonic (nano)structures: from fundamentals to emerging applications

 Biophotonics is a dynamic interdisciplinary field that merges biology, photonics, and optics to explore and manipulate biological systems through light. Its applications are particularly prominent in medical diagnostics, imaging, and therapy. Key uses of biophotonic (nano)structures include enhancing medical imaging and enabling biosensing to detect disease markers. In therapeutic contexts, these nanostructures show significant promise in photothermal and photodynamic therapies, improving imaging contrast and allowing for real-time monitoring of cellular processes. However, the field faces challenges such as fabrication complexities, scalability, biocompatibility, and integration with existing technologies.

For instance, limited biocompatibility can lead to adverse immune responses or toxicity, hindering their safe use in vivo, while scalability issues restrict the mass production of nanostructures with consistent quality, both of which are critical for clinical translation. Moreover, integrating these materials with existing medical devices or workflows often requires redesigning current platforms, slowing down adoption. Despite these obstacles, the future of biophotonics appears promising, especially with advancements in nanotechnology, including 3D printing and self-assembly, which could streamline production.

The potential integration of biophotonic nanostructures with emerging technologies like wearable devices and point-of-care diagnostics could revolutionize healthcare by facilitating continuous health monitoring and rapid disease detection. This review aims to provide a thorough examination of biophotonic nanostructures and their emerging applications in disease diagnosis, imaging, and therapy. Additionally, it will address the challenges and future directions of biophotonic research, enhancing our understanding of how these innovative technologies can tackle critical issues in modern medicine and deepen our knowledge of complex biological systems.

The purpose of this review is to explore the fundamentals, challenges, and future perspectives of biophotonic (nano)structures, highlighting their emerging applications and potential advancements.

Despite these advancements, several limitations remain in the development and application of biophotonic nanostructures. One major challenge is the scalability and cost-effectiveness of nanomaterial synthesis, particularly for clinical translation. Ensuring long-term biocompatibility and stability of biophotonic devices in complex biological environments is another critical issue. Indeed, the limited biocompatibility and biodegradability of these materials pose challenges for in vivo applications. Moreover, the integration of these devices into existing medical workflows requires standardized protocols and rigorous validation.35 Recent innovations in material science and device fabrication have addressed some of these challenges. For instance, researchers have explored naturally derived biomaterials, such as DNA, proteins, silk, and polysaccharides, which exhibit remarkable optical properties, biological compatibility, and degradability.

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) and riboflavin have been employed as gain media in biological lasers, while silk-based photonic structures have demonstrated potential for creating biocompatible optical devices.

The integration of biophotonic nanostructures with biological entities, such as cells, viruses, and tissues, has opened new avenues for designing hybrid systems.

These bio-inspired and biologically derived materials enable the construction of photonic devices that seamlessly interface with living systems, enhancing their functionality and adaptability for biomedical applications.

The development of self-assembled nanostructures and 3D-printed biocompatible materials has paved the way for scalable and customizable biophotonic devices. Hybrid systems that combine plasmonic NPs with responsive polymers offer tunable optical properties, enhancing their functionality for targeted diagnostics and therapy.

The aim of this review is to provide an overview about the recent advancements and emerging applications of biophotonic nanostructures via focusing on their applications in disease diagnosis, imaging, and therapy.

To this aim, the integration of biophotonic nanostructures in optoelectronics has been explored via highlighting their contributions to light-emitting diodes (LEDs), photodetectors, and other photonic devices. Furthermore, the challenges associated with their design, synthesis, and clinical translation have been discussed, offering insights into potential future directions for this rapidly evolving field. By bridging the gap between photonics, biology, and materials science, biophotonic nanostructures hold immense potential for developing healthcare and advancing our understanding of complex biological systems. Through this review, we aim to highlight the transformative impact of these nanostructures on science and technology, emphasizing their role in addressing some of the most pressing challenges in modern medicine.


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