Terahertz scanning near-field optical microscopy for biomedical detection: Recent advances, challenges, and future perspectives

Shihan Yan; Guanyin Cheng; Zhongbo Yang; Yuansen Guo; Ligang Chen; Ying Fu; Fucheng Qiu; Jonathan J Wilksch; Tianwu Wang; Yiwen Sun; Junchao Fan; Xunbin Wei; Jiaguang Han; Fei Sun; Shixiang Xu; Huabin Wang

doi:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108507

Terahertz scanning near-field optical microscopy for biomedical detection: Recent advances, challenges, and future perspectives

Biotechnol Adv. 2024 Dec 19:108507. doi: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108507. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Shihan Yan¹, Guanyin Cheng¹, Zhongbo Yang¹, Yuansen Guo¹, Ligang Chen¹, Ying Fu¹, Fucheng Qiu¹, Jonathan J Wilksch², Tianwu Wang³, Yiwen Sun⁴, Junchao Fan⁵, Xunbin Wei⁶, Jiaguang Han⁷, Fei Sun⁸, Shixiang Xu⁹, Huabin Wang¹⁰

Affiliations

¹ Center of Super-Resolution Optics and Chongqing Engineering Research Center of High-Resolution and Three-Dimensional Dynamic Imaging Technology, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China; Chongqing School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China.
² Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia.
³ Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, China.
⁴ Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
⁵ Chongqing Key Laboratory of Image Cognition, College of Computer Science and Technology, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing 400065, China.
⁶ Biomedical Engineering Department, Peking University, Beijing 100081, China.
⁷ Center for Terahertz Waves, Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information Technology (Ministry of Education), College of Precision Instrument and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
⁸ Center for Biological Imaging, Core Facilities for Protein Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
⁹ Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Photonic Information Technology, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
¹⁰ Center of Super-Resolution Optics and Chongqing Engineering Research Center of High-Resolution and Three-Dimensional Dynamic Imaging Technology, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China; Chongqing School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China. Electronic address: wanghuabin@cigit.ac.cn.

PMID: 39708988
DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108507

Abstract

Terahertz (THz) radiation is widely recognized as a non-destructive, label-free, and highly- sensitive tool for biomedical detections. Nevertheless, its application in precision biomedical fields faces challenges due to poor spatial resolution caused by intrinsically long wavelength characteristics. THz scanning near-field optical microscopy (THz-SNOM), which surpasses the Rayleigh criterion, offers micrometer and nanometer-scale spatial resolution, making it possible to perform precise bioinspection with THz imaging. THz-SNOM is attracting considerable attention for its potential in advanced biomedical research and diagnosis. Currently, its family typically includes four members based on distinct principles, which are suitable for different biological applications. This review provides an overview of the principles of these THz-SNOM modalities, outlines their various applications, identifies the obstacles hindering their performance, and envisions their future development.

Keywords: Biomedical detection; Imaging; Scanning near-field optical microscopy; Super resolution; Terahertz.

Publication types

Review