Autofluorescence Spectroscopy and Imaging

Dear Colleagues,

Light induced emission from organic compounds was initially observed in the early 1800s, and was called “dispersive reflexion”, until George Stokes coined the new word, “fluorescence”, in 1852. Finally, it was named “autofluorescence” when it was detected using the newly developed fluorescence microscope early in 1900s. Since then, the ubiquitously presence in the whole life kingdom of the numerous fluorescing biomolecules and their relationship with normal or diseased conditions, in parallel to the technological advances, inspired so many unceasing studies, that it is impossible to describe them all. Within the various fields of studies for label free, in situ, real time analytical applications, biomedicine played an important role. This relied on quite a few endogenous fluorophores. For example, the loss or accumulation of collagen may account for the detection of cancer in multilayered epithelia or in disorders such as fibrosis, respectively; NADH and flavins reveal changes in the cell energy metabolism and redox state; lipofuscins reflect retinopathy, or more generally the gathering of hazardous oxidative events in metabolic disorders; and advanced glycation products in the skin reflect pathologies such as diabetes, cardiac or renal failure. In any case, their applications are far from being able to fully exploit the huge potential of autofluorescence, considering the advances in the analytical devices and methods, including time-resolved and multispectral imaging, microendoscopy, and procedures for label-free, even slide-free, timely, and cost effective automated diagnosis. Various, additional fluorescing biomolecules also suggest that beyond the progress in biomedicine, we cannot overlook the potential of autofluorescence applications in fields ranging from the surveillance of alimentary goods, to plant pathology and environment pollution.

Therefore, this Special Issue is aimed at attracting contributions on autofluorescence in its various aspects, not excluding technological development, to further promote the application of wide ranging label-free analytical procedures.

Dr. Anna Cleta Croce
Guest Editor

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