Оptical methods in biomedicine

Course annotation

Оptical methods in biomedicine (6 European Credits)

Taught by: Prof. Viktor Cherepanov, Assoc. Prof. Dmitriy Petrov.

The course focuses on modern optical equipment principles for solving medical issues and developing applications of optics and spectroscopy skills for the analysis of the state parameters of biosystems.

At the end of this module, students will have basic knowledge of how to use a spectroscopic technique and methods for clinical or research diagnostic questions.

The module covers the following topics:

·   Introduction.

·   Classification methods of optical control and diagnostics in biomedical research: methods of emission-atomic absorption spectroscopy, high resolution absorption molecular spectroscopy methods, luminescence spectroscopy methods, methods of Raman spectroscopy.

·   Interference methods. Fundamentals of the interferometers theory.

·   Polarization methods. Interference of polarized rays. Birefringence and dichronism phenomenon. Dielectric polarization beams in reflection. Phase plates and compensators.

·   The rotation of the polarization plane.

·   Artificial anisotropy.

·   Kerr cell.

·   Cotton-Mouton effect.

·   Testing devices of biological materials and coatings. Polarimeter and polariscope.

·   Laboratory practical class on biomedical optical diagnostics.

Learning objectives

The course objective: familiarity with the modern state of recording devices and generating optical radiation, focused on application in biomedicine, the formation of notions about the principles of optical methods’ impact on biological objects, the development of practical skills in using optical methods and optical equipment for the needs of medical diagnostics.

As a result of the course, a student must:

·   know: the physics processes that enable the detection of optical radiation, methods and devices of optical control of Biosystems state, guidelines for implementing these methods in medical practice, optical and other essential characteristics of biological tissues and their behavior under the influence of optical radiation;

·   be able to: compare the characteristics of optical effects sources on biological systems and predict the results of the optical radiation impact on biological objects in different modes, use optical diagnostic methods for the assessment of biological systems; to navigate within the scientific literature on the use of optical methods in biology and medicine;

·   master: the skills to use optical systems to evaluate the characteristics of biosystems state; methods of synthesis of multidisciplinary knowledge for the analysis obtained by optical methods of evaluating the biosystems state.

Content of the module

Optical and spectroscopic techniques have been widely used in research and clinical applications. Thus for a complete picture of the state of biosystems a wide range of spectral-optical methods must be applied. Emission spectroscopy methods and atomic absorption are effective for determining elemental composition. Methods of molecular absorption and fluorescent spectroscopy can determine the molecular structure and physicochemical properties that can be used for diagnostic aims, for example, the use of fluorescent probes, the determination of the spectral bands of radiation to which the biosystems are sensitive, in photodynamic therapy, for instance. Raman spectroscopy methods, in its turn, provide additional information about the biological systems’ features, inaccessible for infra-red spectroscopy methods. This module will attempt to give an overview of current applications and future developments of optical methods in biomedicine.

Overview of tasks and lectures

The course is scheduled in the second and third semesters (2 semester – 4 сredits / 144 hours, including 36 hours in the classroom; 3 semester – 2 сredits / 72 hours, including 24 hours in the classroom).

There will be 11 lectures and 8 laboratory wokrs.

Part 1. Methods of emission-atomic absorption spectroscopy.

·   Lecture 1. Introduction to atomic spectroscopy.

·   Lecture 2. Basic elements of spectroscopy equipment: light sources and receivers, optical elements, basic principles of the work of spectroscopic instruments.

·   Laboratory work 1. Qualitative analysis of elemental composition of substance.

Part 2. Application of vibrational-rotational spectroscopy of molecules in medicine.

·   Lecture 3. Basic concepts of absorptive rotational-vibrational spectroscopy.

·   Lecture 4. High resolution molecular spectroscopy equipment (diffraction spectrometers, Fourier spectroscopy. Analytical capabilities of spectral equipment).

·   Lecture 5. Structure and the absorption spectra of water.

·   Lecture 6. Dynamic registration of the degree of clustering of water in nanopores and biological objects.

·   Laboratory work 2. Spectroscopic databases. Modeling analyzer CH4 in exhaled air.

·   Laboratory work 3. Research on the absorption spectra of water in nanopores.

Part 3. Electron spectroscopy methods in biomedicine.

·   Lecture 7. General scheme of photophysical processes.

·   Lecture 8. Spectral-luminescent properties of molecules and intermolecular interactions.

·   Lecture 9. Solvation of molecules and its spectral manifestations.

·   Laboratory work 4. Characterization of electronic absorption bands and electronic states using amino acid residues contained in the protein (phenylalanine, tryptophan, tyrosine).

·   Laboratory work 5. Solvatofluorochromism of fluorescent probes used in biophysics and medicine.

·   Laboratory work 6. Application of UV and visible regions in the analysis of vitamins.

Part 4. Raman spectroscopy for analyse diagnostics.

·   Lecture 10. General notion of Raman spectroscopy.

·   Lecture 11. Raman instrumentation.

·   Laboratory work 7. General principles of qualitative analysis using Raman spectroscopy.

·   Laboratory work 8. General principles of qualitative analysis using Raman spectroscopy.

Position within the programme

This is a unique course of the programme that concerns the study of optical methods in biomedicine. The acquired knowledge and practical skills are important for research and diagnostics of biosystems. This module provides a framework for the courses that use knowledge of the physic-chemical features of atoms and molecules in biological systems for specific clinical and basic research purposes.

Teaching format

Structure

The course is scheduled in the second and third semesters (2 semester – 4 сredits / 144 hours, including 36 hours in the classroom; 3 semester – 2 сredits / 72 hours, including 24 hours in the classroom). The sections of the second semester are given 9 weeks (9 two-hours lectures and 3 six-hours laboratory works). The sections of the third semester are given 8 weeks (2 two-hour lectures and 5 four-hour laboratory works). Lectures is conducted in a multimedia auditorium, equipped with technical means for videoconferencing. Lectures in the third semesters are given in a videoconference auditorium and e-learning technology is used for individual work. Biomedical laboratory classes on optical diagnostics include experimental work on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of atomic and molecular structure of the biomaterial. The course also involves familiarization with the experimental and theoretical methods of structural molecules analysis with the use of modern optical systems of recording spectra of atomic and molecular components of biosystems.

Grading

The form of final assessment is an exam (second semester) and credit  test (third semester) which requires the performance of laboratory work.