Joseph Beechem

Spectral imaging in preclinical research and clinical pathology

Spectral imaging methods are attracting increased interest from researchers and practitioners in basic science, pre-clinical and clinical arenas. A combination of better labeling reagents and better optics creates opportunities to detect and measure multiple parameters at the molecular and cellular level. These tools can provide valuable insights into the basic mechanisms of life, and yield diagnostic and prognostic information for clinical applications. There are many multispectral technologies available, each with its own advantages and limitations. This chapter will present an overview of the rationale for spectral imaging, and discuss the hardware, software and sample labeling strategies that can optimize its usefulness in clinical settings.

Controlled detection in composite nanoresonant array for surface plasmon resonance sensing

A composite nanoresonant structure is developed for sensitivity enhancement in biorecognition reactions by coupling between the localized resonance and the propagating surface plasmon polariton waves. The resonant structure was accomplished by combining holographic lithography with an oblique metallic deposition for cost-effective, large-area, and reconfigurable fabrication. The metallodielectric nanostructure was assembled with microfluidic channels and examined for biorecognition reactions, which showed pronounced improvement in the limit of detection compared to conventional nanohole array sensing configurations. The temperature influence on the binding affinity and the effectiveness of the control channel were also investigated to demonstrate the capability of the proposed composite nanoresonant surface plasmon resonance array sensor.