Applications of Spectroscopy in Biology and Medicine

Spectroscopy has transformed the diagnosis and comprehension of biological and medical disorders by providing detailed insights into the chemical composition, structure, and dynamics of biological molecules. Various spectroscopy techniques, including X-ray fluorescence, MRI spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, reflectance spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, photoacoustic spectroscopy, and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), are used to study biological macromolecules. This chapter focuses on important spectroscopic methods and their applications in assessing breast cancer. Infrared (IR) and FT-IR spectroscopy offer molecular fingerprinting capabilities, while Raman spectroscopy provides insights into molecular vibrations. Fluorescence and photoacoustic spectroscopy enable non-invasive imaging and tumor margin assessment. Reflectance spectroscopy and LIBS offer surface-level and elemental analysis, respectively. This chapter also highlights commercially available devices for breast cancer diagnosis such as the Canon Photoacoustic mammography, Twente PAM, OptoSonics PAM, LOUISA-3D, SBH-PACT, Seno Medical Imagio system, and Dual Scan Mammoscope (DSM). These advanced techniques and devices demonstrate the potential of spectroscopic methods in improving diagnostic precision and treatment outcomes in breast cancer management.