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Unit of study_
BMET5959: Introduction to Biophotonics
2026 unit information
Biophotonics is rapidly evolving multidisciplinary field using optics and photonics to reveal biological mechanisms and develop new light-based technologies for medical diagnosis and therapeutic treatment of diseases, including sensors. The intrinsic sensitivity of biological tissues to light because of elastic and inelastic interactions, combined with the development of the laser, optical components and sophisticated detector have accelerated the development of the field of biophotonics. Understanding the interaction of light with biological molecules, cells and tissues has the potential to develop next-generation novel diagnosis and non-invasive therapies for a range of diseases. The objective of this unit is to provide students with knowledge to understand and learn the fundamentals of light interaction with biological species, the preclinical and clinical applications of biomedical optical diagnosis, therapies and sensing and the instrumentation.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Engineering
| Study level | Postgraduate |
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| Academic unit | Biomedical Engineering |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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[BMET2903 or BMET9903] and [ELEC1103 or ELEC2100 or BMET2902] |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Analyze the current state and recent developments in biophotonics and integrate relevant engineering principles to understand, evaluate, and advance biophotonic systems and applications.
- LO2. Critically evaluate current challenges and limitations in biophotonics and develop innovative, biophotonics-based solutions to address unmet clinical or research needs.
- LO3. Design novel nano- and micro-scale biomedical devices by formulating technically and financially feasible solutions that account for engineering constraints, clinical requirements, and real-world implementation.
- LO4. Demonstrate an understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of biophotonics by integrating concepts from materials science, physics, chemistry, engineering, and human biology in problem analysis and solution development.
- LO5. Effectively communicate biophotonics concepts and engineering applications through oral and written formats, while independently identifying, obtaining, and critically analyzing current literature and technological advances in the field.
- LO6. Apply professional and ethical practices in engineering contexts by managing time and tasks effectively, meeting deadlines, collaborating responsibly with colleagues, and communicating in a professional manner.
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