Nanoscale Imaging, Sensing, and Actuation for Biomedical Applications XX

Novel applications and/or solutions to technological problems involving i) the use of nanostructures, nanoparticles, metamaterials and nanostructured materials for biological applications; ii) photonic studies of nanoscale interactions in biology and medicine; and iii) the use of biological materials/templates for the development of nanostructured nanophotonic imaging and sensing devices are significant foci of both industrial and academic research. These applications and solutions are inherently interdisciplinary by nature and thus require a seamless transfer of knowledge between physics, chemistry, biology, medicine and engineering.

Recent integrative research efforts have included, for example, (a) nanotechnology (fabrication and application) as a tool in developing new, and improving existing, optical imaging techniques for real-time sub-wavelength imaging of cellular processes, (b) developing the next generation of nano-biosensors for improving biological / chemical sensing applications, (c) using nanoparticles / nanostructures for optical engineering of methodologies for targeting and treatment of disease, (d) applying computer and information technologies in the development of new models and data analysis for understanding cellular mechanisms, (e) developing new photonic devices and systems that are hybrids of traditional polymeric and semiconductor materials with biological materials; (f) very large scale and/or very sensitive detection down to single molecule level for drug discovery and diagnostics applications, such as nanoarrays; and (g) quantum computing and machine learning to biomedical applications.

The objective of this conference is to bring together scientists and researchers interested in the latest advances in the advancement of materials and methods that combine nanophotonics with biology. More specifically, this conference is to discuss the development of processing, characterization, and simulation of bioinspired and bioderived nanophotonic structures, metamaterials for sub-wavelength imaging, nanoscale interactions in biological systems, functionalized nanoparticles for biological applications and the use of nanostructures / nanoparticles for high throughput analysis (nanoarrays).

The conference will focus on four streams of contributions:

• nanoparticle use in imaging and sensing;
• nanostructures used for nanoscale / sub-wavelength imaging;
• nanospectroscopy and nano-scale sensing for biomedical applications;
• label-free super-high resolution nanoscale imaging.

Papers from industry, government, academia, and other research organizations are solicited on the following and related topics:

Fundamentals (materials and tools)
• studies of cellular and membrane biophysics using nanophotonics (nanoparticles and nano-optics);
• characterization of nanoscale interactions in biological systems, e.g., near-field microscopy, scanning;
• force microscopy;
• development of sub-wavelength imaging (e.g., hyperlenses from metamaterials);
• nanocomposites of inorganic/organic hybrids for biophotonics;
• biological templates for fabrication of nanophotonic devices;
• bio-inspired and bio-derived nanstructured materials;
• localized fluorescence spectroscopy using nanostructures and nanoparticles;
• modeling and simulations of bio/nanophotonics;
• manipulation of biomolecules and cells at the nano-level;
• label-free imaging below the diffraction limit;
• new concepts in Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) microscopy;
• femtosecond Stimulated Raman Spectroscopy (FSRS);
• quantum computing improves imaging, diagnosis, treatment.

Technology (devices)
• nanoscale device design and processing for biological applications;
• biological sensors based on nanophotonic structures (e.g., photonic bandgap materials, porous silicon, metamaterials);
• multifunctional nanoparticles (targeting, imaging, and treatment);
• hybrid bionanodevices, e.g., molecular motors and nanofluidics;
• special light sources and detectors for biomedical applications;
• machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence to deliver real time results.

Applications
• optical imaging using nanophotonics principles (nanostructures, nanoparticles, etc.);
• in vitro and in vivo applications of nanophotonics (functionalized nanoparticles, surfaces, etc.);
• biomedical instrumentation development (nanosensors or nanoscale imagers).