Potential for using mid-infrared light for non-invasive, early-detection of skin cancers in vivo

摘要

The remarkable progress made towards mid-IR spectral in vitro mapping of tissue and cancer detection is reviewed, with emphasis on diagnosis of skin cancer. The status quo of chalcogenide glass mid-IR fiberoptics and photonics for meeting opportunities for remote mid-IR sensing in general, and in in vivo cancer detection in particular, is assessed. Raman spectroscopy is a sister technique to mid-IR spectroscopy. The current success of Raman spectroscopy in medical diagnosis is appraised, with particular emphasis on Raman spectral imaging of tissue towards skin cancer diagnosis in vivo, based on a silica-glass fiberoptic sensor-head. The challenges to be met in chalcogenide glass science and technology towards facilitating analogous fiberoptic diagnostics based on mid-IR spectroscopy are addressed. The Author gratefully acknowledges UK Fellowships awarded from The Royal Academy of Engineering/Leverhulme Trust, 2007-2008, and Medical Research Council (G0701869), 2008-2009, including a short sabbatical stay at the Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Arizona, USA, kindly hosted by Prof. Joe Simmons and Dr Cate Simmons and visits to Prof. Max Diem at Northeastern University, Boston, USA and Prof H. H. Mantsch at Ottawa, Canada. Also acknowledged is funding from: NEA T (New and Emerging Applications of Technology1; FSG028), 2008-09; the STFC (SM2751), 2010, the Royal Society (JP100296), 2010-2012) and the European Commission (MINERVA, 2012-2016).