Autofluorescence Spectroscopy and Imaging II

Dear Colleagues,

Autofluorescence defines the ability of biological substrates to give rise to fluorescence emission when excited with light at a suitable wavelength, in the absence of fixation or labelling with exogenous dyes. Various kinds of natural biomolecules may act as endogenous fluorophores and contribute to different extents to the overall autofluorescence signal of a biological substrate. The ubiquitous presence in living organisms of endogenous fluorophores and their possible changes, dependent on their close involvement in cell metabolic and catabolic pathways or participation to tissue architecture under normal or diseased conditions, is at the basis of unceasing and countless studies and of technological advances for label-free, real-time analytical and diagnostic applications. In biomedicine, autofluorescence-based diagnostic procedures rely on endogenous fluorophores typical of animal cells and tissues, such as collagen and elastin, relatable to tissue structure and its alteration, lipofuscins and porphyrins or glycation end products of lipids and proteins, relatable to oxidative stress and metabolic diseases, NAD(P)H and flavins, relatable to cell energy metabolism, and reductive biosynthesis. In the vegetable kingdom, chlorophylls and carotenoids involved in light harvesting and the consequent chemical energy production and in antioxidant protection are increasingly considered as biomarkers for applications ranging from the remote surveillance of plant pathologies and environment pollution, to the monitoring of biomass production. In addition to these common topics, many additional endogenous fluorophores can act as valuable biomarkers, for example, lignin, relevant to wood quality, or flavonoids, valuable for plant physiological activities or for their antioxidant role as food components or additives. 

In this context, the unceasing attention to the multiple aspects of autofluorescence is attested to by the various contributions already collected in the first edition of the Special Issue, in parallel with other works recently published in Molecules. Therefore, the second edition of the Special Issue on autofluorescence is expected to attract new contributions on the various aspects of autofluorescence and its related technological advances and to further promote knowledge and development of wide ranging in situ, label-free, and real-time analytical and diagnostic procedures.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Photochem.

Dr. Anna Cleta Croce
Guest Editor

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