(in Polish) Photonics and Optics in Life Sciences 0800-OG-PHOTOP

1. Photonics and optics. Why light in life sciences?
• Fundamental definitions
• Advantages of optical methods
• Non-invasiveness, sensitivity and spatial resolution
2. Fundamentals of light–matter interaction
• Absorption, scattering and fluorescence
• Biological chromophores (hemoglobin, melanin, water)
• Optical windows of biological tissues
3. Light sources in biomedical applications
• Lamps, LEDs and lasers
• Continuous-wave and pulsed lasers
• Criteria for choosing light sources
4. Optical microscopy: from classical to super-resolution
• Contrast in optical imaging
• Bright-field and fluorescence microscopy
• Confocal and multiphoton microscopy
• Super-resolution techniques (e.g. STED, PALM, STORM)
• Novel approaches to high-resolution structural imaging
5. Imaging transparent and weakly scattering samples
• Phase contrast and differential interference contrast
• Applications in cell biology and developmental biology
6. Spectroscopy in biology and chemistry
• UV–Vis, fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy
• Molecular identification and chemical analysis
• Applications in analytical chemistry and pharmacy
7. Functional optical imaging
• Blood flow and perfusion imaging
• Optical assessment of oxygenation and metabolism
• Biomechanical mapping
• Applications in neuroscience and organ studies
8. Photonics in medical diagnostics
• Early cancer detection
• Eye, skin and cardiovascular diagnostics
• Point-of-care optical technologies
9. Photonics in therapy
• Photodynamic therapy
• Laser-based treatments
• Precision laser surgery
10. Optical methods in pharmaceutical sciences
• Drug release and transport studies
• Imaging of drug penetration in tissues
• Quality control of pharmaceutical formulations
11. Optical biosensors
• Fluorescence- and plasmon-based sensors
• Molecular diagnostics and lab-on-a-chip systems
12. Integration of photonics with AI and data analysis
• Automated image analysis
• Machine learning in optical diagnostics
• Examples from research and clinical practice
13. Limitations and challenges of optical techniques
• Penetration depth and signal attenuation
• Artifacts and interpretation pitfalls
• Ethical and regulatory aspects
14. Future directions in photonics for life sciences
• Personalized medicine
• Wearable and home-based diagnostics
• Emerging interdisciplinary research trends

Total student workload

Contact hours with teacher: - participation in lectures - 30 hrs - consultations - 15 hrs Self-study hours: - preparation for lectures - 15 hrs - reading literature - 15 hrs - preparation for examination - 30 hrs Altogether: 105 hrs (3 ECTS)

Learning outcomes - knowledge

Student W01: understands fundamental mechanisms of light interaction with biological matter, W02: knows major optical and photonic techniques used in life sciences and medicine, incl. principles of operation, W03: is familiar with selected clinical, biological and pharmaceutical applications of photonics, W04: understands the capabilities and limitations of optical methods.

Learning outcomes - skills

Student U01: is able to select appropriate optical techniques for specific biological, medical or chemical problems, U02: has basic skills in interpretation of basic results from optical imaging and spectroscopy, U03: can analyze applications of photonic methods in research and clinical practice, U04: is able to efficiently communicate with specialists and non-specialists in the field of optics and photonics, U05: is able to find relevant information on selected photonic technology in specialized literature.

Learning outcomes - social competencies

Student K01: is able to perform a critique reception of the obtained knowledge; knows the limitations of own knowledge and skills; can accurately formulate questions, K02: understands the need to popularize the knowledge on optics and photonics, including the latest scientific and technological advances in their fields, K03: recognizes the need of interdisciplinary collaboration in contemporary research, K04: is aware of ethical, safety and regulatory aspects related to optical methods in medicine and biology.

Course coordinators

Ireneusz Grulkowski

Teaching methods

regular informative lecture

Expository teaching methods

- problem-based lecture
- informative (conventional) lecture

Prerequisites

Completed fundamental courses on physics / biology / chemistry are advantageous.

Assessment criteria

Assessment methods:
- oral examination

Assessment criteria:
The student will obtain a complete list of possible questions before the exam. The student will answer three questions during the exam: 2 questions selected by the examiner (40 pts each) and 1 question selected by the student (20 pts). The exam will have the form of a discussion. The examiner will assess the answers and will score each question.

fail- <50 pts (<50%)
satisfactory- 51-60 pts (51-60%)
satisfactory plus- 61-70 pts (61-70%)
good – 71-80 pts (71-80%)
good plus- 81-90 pts (81-90%)
very good- >90 pts (>90%)

Practical placement

N/A

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 0800-OG-PHOTOP in USOSweb