Spectral imaging in biomedicine: a selective overview

Abstract

We present a survey of spectral imaging for biological and medical applications. Brief philosophical and historical considerations are followed by an overview of the reasons for the modalities of achieving the fertile confluence of spectroscopy and imaging. Methods of wavelength selection at both the excitation and detection ends of an imaging system are listed and critically evaluated. A number of biological and medical applications of spectral imaging are discussed, highlighting microscopy and including our own work. We emphasize that the outlook for this research area critically depends on the further development of all component technologies, from reagents and optics to electronics and software.