Perspective Chapter: Applications of biological microlenses and nanofibers

Abstract

In recent years, with the rapid development of micro/nano optics, biophotonics, and biomedicine, micro/nano optical devices have been widely used in biosensing, medical imaging, molecular diagnosis, and other fields due to their advantages of miniaturization and integration. However, micro/nano optical devices composed of semiconductor and precious metal materials are prone to irreversible physical damage to biological cells and tissues and require chemical synthesis, which cannot be naturally degraded in vivo. In addition, due to the limitation of solid materials, micro/nano optical devices are difficult to deform and move in practical applications such as optical imaging and signal detection. Therefore, it is necessary to find a natural, biocompatible, biodegradable, and controllable micro/nano optical device. During the evolution of nature, some organisms have formed bio-optical devices that can manipulate light beams. For example, algal cells have the ability to concentrate light, which can improve the efficiency of photosynthesis. Visual nerve cells have the ability to direct light and transmit images to the retina with low loss and distortion. These natural materials capable of light regulation bring new opportunities for biological micro/nano optical devices, which have potential applications in the assembly of biological cells, detection of biological signals, imaging in vivo, and single-cell diagnosis.