Biomedical optics has emerged from the ongoing and deepening integration of engineering technologies in optics and electronics with biology, medicine, and chemistry. In recent years, rapid advances in lasers, spectroscopy, microscopy, and fiber optics have propelled the field forward. Compared with traditional techniques, photonic methods offer multi-parameter sensing, high specificity, and superior spatiotemporal resolution, spanning applications from basic biological research to medical diagnosis, therapy, and prevention. Advanced biomedical optic technologies promise entirely new approaches for biomedical research, clinical diagnosis, and treatment. To meet the demands of academic and industrial development, cultivating highly qualified talent with interdisciplinary expertise has become imperative. The online courses for this discipline have not been updated for years, resulting in a significant lack of learning resources. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop relevant MOOC-based teaching materials to serve interested students worldwide.
Starting from the interaction of photons with biological matter, this course progressively trains students to master the physical principles, instrumentation and data-analysis pipelines that underpin modern biomedical optics. After surveying classical contrast (phase, differential interference contrast, polarization) microscopy, we explore super-resolution, multiphoton excitation, coherent Raman scattering and photoacoustic tomography, emphasizing resolution, penetration depth and label-free chemical specificity. Hands-on knowledge of laser–tissue effects is linked to clinical laser therapy, photodynamic therapy and emerging photothermal therapy/immuno-photonics. Optical-tweezer force calibration and volumetric high-speed imaging complete the toolkit. Throughout safety, standardization and regulatory aspects are stressed. Students will be able to critically compare optical imaging/spectroscopy systems, preparing them for research or industry roles in developing next-generation biomedical photonic devices and lead the frontiers of biomedicine.
Guided by the ten-chapter lecture series, the course is designed to spiral from fundamental physics to cutting-edge applications, ensuring each new modality is anchored in light–matter interactions, resolution limits and safety. Theory, live demonstrations and quantitative problem sets are interleaved so students immediately connect equations to images/forces/spectra. Instrument modules—microscopes, spectrometers, lasers, detectors—are taught with open-hardware examples to cultivate prototyping skills. Clinical translation sessions stress regulatory pathways, contrast-agent toxicity and ethical use. Continuous assessment via design projects requires building a working optical subsystem, writing a risk analysis and benchmarking against literature, fostering innovation-ready graduates.
