bioptics

Bioptics is an interdisciplinary field at the intersection of biology and optics. It studies how light interacts with living systems and how biological materials and processes can be harnessed to create optical technologies, as well as how optical methods can advance biological research. In practice the term is variably defined and is sometimes used as a broader alternative to biophotonics.

Core areas include imaging and spectroscopy techniques such as fluorescence, confocal and two-photon microscopy, fluorescence lifetime imaging, optical coherence tomography, and Raman spectroscopy; optical tools for manipulating biological systems, including optogenetics and photodynamic therapy; and the development of optical sensors and devices that rely on biological components or bioinspired materials. Bioptics also covers bioinspired photonics and the use of biological materials in optics, such as structural color in natural templates and biocompatible polymers for medical devices.

Applications span biomedical imaging, diagnostics, image-guided surgery, targeted light therapies, environmental sensing, and agricultural monitoring. The field emphasizes translating optical techniques to biology and medicine, while also exploring how biological structures and processes can inspire new photonic technologies.

Relation to biophotonics: the terminology overlaps, and many sources treat bioptics as synonymous with biophotonics or as a broader umbrella term. The exact scope can vary by author or institution. Future directions commonly highlighted include higher-resolution in vivo imaging, nanoscale photonics, bio-integrated devices, and increasingly AI-assisted analysis for biological optical data.