On October 17, 2024, researchers from the University of Southampton unveiled an innovation that could change how we detect Alzheimer’s: a five-minute laser scan that analyzes just a single drop of fluid.
Using a technique called Multi-excitation Raman spectroscopy (MX-Raman), the tool captures subtle molecular shifts that appear years before symptoms. No needles. No invasive procedures. Just light.
This is biophotonics in action.
What is biophotonics?
Biophotonics is the science of using light to study, diagnose, and treat living systems. It allows researchers to see inside the body, detect chemical changes in real time, and even intervene therapeutically without breaking the skin. From identifying viruses in saliva to mapping brain activity or guiding laser-based surgeries, biophotonics is quietly transforming medicine from the inside out.
Though the term may sound new, the science has been centuries in the making. The compound microscope in 1595, X-rays in 1895, and the discovery of DNA’s double helix in the 1950s were each made possible by light. But the invention of the laser in 1960 marked a turning point. It enabled new levels of precision in imaging, diagnostics, and therapy, laying the foundation for what we now call modern biophotonics.
Today, the field is advancing rapidly, and not just in the lab. U.S. patent activity shows a wave of innovation moving into the real world: COVID-19 diagnostics, wearable biosensors, smart wound monitors. As biophotonics continues to evolve, it is not only helping us understand biology, but also changing how we respond to it.
Biophotonics: Patenting Activity
Our data shows a general downward trend in patent filings within the last 10 years, save for a slight uptick in 2021. This increase may be linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, which might have fast-tracked the development of new light-based tools for diagnostics, monitoring, and sterilization.
The global health crisis became a proving ground for biophotonic innovation. Ultraviolet light systems with high-power LEDs were used to disinfect masks, surfaces, and medical tools. Infrared imaging (IRI) enabled rapid, contact-free fever screening in hospitals and airports. One study by researchers Carvalho and Nogueira explored the use of vibrational spectroscopy in detecting COVID-19 biomarkers from saliva or biofluids, without the need for labels or reagents. This technique makes it ideal for real-time public health screening.
Biophotonics: Top Technology Areas
Biophotonics delivers three core capabilities: bioimaging, biosensing, and light-based therapy. Each of these applications is powered by a range of enabling technologies that allow light to interact with living systems in precise and meaningful ways.
Bioimaging, for instance, draws on advanced optical systems such as novel lens architectures, waveguides, and spatial light modulators to capture high-resolution visuals of cells, tissues, and organs. Technologies classified under microscopy and fluorescence-based imaging play a central role here, with tools like expansion microscopy pushing the boundaries of what can be seen with ordinary light.
Biosensing relies heavily on optical spectrometry and material analysis techniques, including Raman and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). These systems can detect molecular fingerprints of diseases, often without the need for labels or reagents, and are capable of operating at incredibly high sensitivity, even down to single molecules.
Meanwhile, light-based therapy leverages the precision of laser systems and modulators to deliver targeted treatment at the cellular or tissue level. This area also overlaps with fields like optogenetics and genetic engineering, where light is used to activate or suppress biological functions encoded in DNA or RNA. These capabilities not only demonstrate biophotonics’ potential to intervene at the molecular level but also underscore where innovation is most concentrated behind the scenes.
Furthermore, our analysis shows a clear pattern: most biophotonics-related patents focus on the tools and techniques that enable these breakthroughs, particularly in areas like spectrometry, optical analysis, and light-based molecular manipulation. A significant portion of filings fall under the C12N classification, reinforcing the centrality of genetic engineering in biophotonics research. Within this space, optogenetics stands out as a particularly dynamic frontier, blending genetic precision with light-based control to noninvasively regulate biological processes with spatial and temporal accuracy.
Biophotonics: Top Assignees
The top holders of the biophotonics patents are U.S.-based universities and research institutes. The Broad Institute, the collaboration between MIT and Harvard, has the most patent filing in this space.
On October 11, 2024, MIT unveiled a new advancement in expansion microscopy (ExM) that allows ordinary light microscopes to capture nanoscale images with remarkable clarity. The technique, known as “20ExM,” works by physically expanding biological samples 20 times their original size before imaging. This breakthrough could offer new insights into the structure of tumor cells by revealing how proteins are arranged within them. Beyond cancer research, 20ExM also holds promise for improving other imaging technologies, including in situ RNA detection, sequencing, and genome imaging
Biophotonics: Top Jurisdictions
The United States continues to lead the global biophotonics landscape, not just in patent filings and academic research, but also in funding, startup activity, and commercial innovation. With an estimated USD 197 million in biophotonics-related funding, the U.S. hosts a dense concentration of high-growth startups alongside established industry leaders like Thermo Fisher Scientific, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), and PerkinElmer Inc. These companies hold a significant share of the global market, offering solutions that range from fluorescence-based diagnostics and flow cytometry to photonic surgical tools and molecular imaging platforms.
Biophotonics market outlook
The global biophotonics market is projected to reach USD 66.15 billion in 2025. By 2032, it could grow to USD 121.98 billion, with a CAGR of 9.1%, according to Fortune Business Insights. These figures reflect rising confidence in biophotonics as a core technology for diagnostics, therapy, and health monitoring. Much of this growth is driven by the increasing need for non-invasive, early-stage diagnostics amid rising rates of cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases. Biophotonic systems, often paired with machine learning, are also powering wearable monitors and point-of-care devices, bringing optical sensing into routine and remote care settings.
Following U.S. patent fillings are PCT applications (WO), indicating a strong international interest in various biophotonics applications. China has also gained ground in their biophotonics research, with The Chinese Biomedical Engineering Society establishing the Biomedical Photonics Committee as early as 2015.
In 2024, researchers at Kobe University in Japan developed a camera system capable of capturing 3D video using just a single pixel to see through biological tissue. This innovation paves the way for minimally invasive 3D microscopy, which would allow visualizing objects moving behind a scattering medium, such as a mouse skull.
Biophotonics: Top Law Firms
Notably, the top 10 law firms handling biophotonic patents are all representatives of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard across various jurisdictions. In the U.S., Johnson, Marcou, Isaacs & Nix, LLC, Foley & Lardner LLP, Duane Morris LLP, and King & Wood Mallesons manage the filings, while Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick and FPA Patent Attorneys Pty Ltd oversee patents in Australia. Koreana Patent Firm represents the institute in Korea, SIKs & Co. in Japan, Gowling WLG in Canada, and De Clercq & Partners in Germany.
Light-based diagnostics and the patents behind them
Embedded sensors enable non-invasive, label-free detection and analysis
Current health monitoring technologies are often limited by their invasiveness, lack of real-time data, and inability to continuously track internal physiological conditions without disrupting a patient’s daily life. There is a need for a minimally invasive, implantable solution that can monitor biological parameters inside the body with high precision, sensitivity, and wireless data transmission capabilities.
Embedded sensors in biophotonics, miniaturized optical components integrated into medical or biological systems, are designed to interact with both light and biological tissues to enable such advanced monitoring.
U.S. Patent No. 11,602,281, entitled “Injectable sensors and methods of use”, describes injectable biophotonic sensors that can monitor conditions inside the body with precision. These tiny devices include a light source, multiple sensing elements, and a receiver or induction coil, all connected to a compact printed circuit board (PCB) and enclosed in a protective casing. Designed for easy delivery into the body, these sensors allow for real-time, minimally invasive health monitoring and diagnostics.
U.S. Patent No. 11,602,281 was filed on November 2, 2016 and was granted on March 14, 2023. George Thomas, Todd, Deveau, Scott Horstemeyer et al. from Thomas | Horstemeyer LLP represented North Carolina State University for this patent. The listed inventor is Alper Bozkurt.
Early detection of cancer with light sensors embedded within a smart bra
While mammography remains the standard for breast cancer screening, it faces challenges such as discomfort, high costs, limited access, and the need for specialist health professionals.
Biophotonic imaging is emerging as a promising alternative, using near-infrared (NIR) light to analyze tumor margins and lymph nodes with micron-level precision. This technique can distinguish cancerous from healthy tissue based on their spectral fingerprints, offering real-time insights during surgery, offering a non-invasive, accurate tool for early detection.
U.S. Pat. App. No. 2025/0089818, entitled “Smart Bra with Optical Sensors for Breast Cancer Screening”, describes a smart bra technology that uses light-based sensors to help detect signs of breast cancer. The bra is equipped with optical modules that shine light through breast tissue and analyze how it passes through to identify and image any abnormalities. Each module typically includes two light emitters at different wavelengths and a receiver to collect the light signals. Some modules also feature a movable light guide that scans the tissue from multiple angles, improving accuracy and coverage in breast health monitoring.
U.S. Pat. App. No. 2025/0089818 was filed on July 28, 2019 and was granted on September 12, 2024. The patent is registered under Holovisions LLC with Robert A. Connor as the listed inventor.
Continual monitoring of blood glucose levels
With diabetes on the rise globally, managing its complications has become a major challenge for modern healthcare. The most common method of monitoring blood glucose still relies on finger-prick tests using glucometers and disposable test strips, an approach that can be uncomfortable and inconvenient for patients.
Biophotonic technologies offer an alternative method by using light to measure glucose levels non-invasively. These next-generation monitors aim to eliminate the need for routine blood sampling, offering a painless and more user-friendly solution for diabetes management.
U.S. Patent No. 11,452,469, entitled “Optical device for non-invasive continuous monitoring of blood glucose level and HbA1c concentration”, describes a sensor device designed to detect specific molecules both inside the body (in-vivo) and outside (in-vitro). It uses a special mid-infrared (MIR) light source to excite the target molecules and a probe beam with two differently polarized light waves.
As the concentration of the target molecules changes, or as they react to the MIR light, the probe beam experiences a small phase shift. This shift is measured using advanced interferometry and directly reflects changes in molecule concentration. The technology offers a highly sensitive way to track molecular changes in real time, especially just beneath the skin.
U.S. Patent No. 11,452,469 was filed on May 17, 2019 and was granted on September 7, 2022. Alan Young from Young Law Firm, P.C. represented the inventor, Aiyer Arun Ananth, for this patent.
A brighter future for healthcare
Biophotonics is no longer confined to academic labs or niche applications. Its expanding patent landscape and growing role in clinical settings point to a field that is steadily moving into mainstream healthcare.
From real-time disease monitoring and light-activated therapies to non-invasive diagnostics, biophotonics is reshaping how and where care is delivered. As the technology continues to mature, it will open new possibilities for precision medicine, remote health solutions, and a deeper understanding of biological systems, all through the power of light.
