• Question: What are biophotonics ?

    Asked by Emily to Andrea on 4 Mar 2019.
    • Photo: Andrea Pacheco

      Andrea Pacheco answered on 4 Mar 2019:

      Biophotonics is the science that studies the effects of light on biological systems like cells, tissue and organs. In my research group we focus on developing devices to improve the patients healthcare, we are working on new devices to see cancer cells and help the doctors to make faster surgeries. On the other hand we are making ultra small cameras and probes to diagnose and sense inside the body (maybe in the future there would not be need to take blood samples and everything will be measured inside of you!)

      When you are in this field you can understand why UV light tans our skin, but if you stay too long under it you might get sunburn.

      Have you noticed that usually in the hospitals patients are using a blinking device in the finger? that is one of the most widespread inventions based on biophotonics is called the pulse oximeter which uses absorption measurements at two different shades of red light, to measure oxygen saturation in the blood.

Comments

  • Photo: Emily

    Emily commented on :

    But would there be any bad effects if there was no need to take blood ? If we took too much blood out of anyone on a scale of 1-10 would they die ?

  • Photo: Andrea

    Andrea commented on :

    The problem is not to take blood of our body, but how long it takes to make the different studies to know if people suffers a disease and how costly it is. We are working on a more efficient and less expensive way to diagnose and treat. 😉
    Regarding your question, an average adult has between 8 and 12 pints of blood in the body, if we take out few millilitres we will be fine. I donated blood some time ago, about half a pint is taken out and afterwards one feels a bit weak and needs to have good rest and eat properly, because the body has to work again to produce new blood… then I guess if you take out half a pint it is already bad.