Preface to special topic: Applied biophysics

The Journal of Applied Physics edited a special topic section in the general area of applied biophysics in 2007 to encourage submission of manuscripts in the concerned field. The effort also focused on expanding the application of applied biophysics in new and significant area of applied physics, while increasing its international recognition. P. James Viccaro, editor of the journal and members of the American Institute of Physics supported the effort. It was decided to invite a small number of papers for the special topic section in an effort to publish selected research themes. These papers and review articles were grouped together in the section without considering the length of a manuscript. The aim was to seek out contributions in a number of important subfields of rapid growth and impact. The task of selecting topics representing key international research was performed by guest editors of the section.