Real-time multispectral fluorescence lifetime imaging using Single Photon Avalanche Diode arrays

Year: 2020

Authors: Lagarto JL., Villa F., Tisa S., Zappa F., Shcheslavskiy V., Pavone FS., Cicchi R.

Autors Affiliation: Natl Res Council CNR INO, Natl Inst Opt, Largo Enrico Fermi 6, I-50125 Florence, Italy; European Lab Nonlinear Spect LENS, Via Nello Carrara 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Politecn Milan, DEIB, I-20133 Milan, Italy; Micro Photon Device SRL, Via Waltraud Gebert Deeg 3g, I-39100 Bolzano, Italy; Becker & Hickl GmbH, Nunsdorfer Ring 7-9, D-12277 Berlin, Germany; Univ Florence, Dept Phys, Via G Sansone 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Privolzhskiy Med Res Univ, Nizhnii Novgorod 603005, Russia.

Abstract: Autofluorescence spectroscopy has emerged in recent years as a powerful tool to report label-free contrast between normal and diseased tissues, both in vivo and ex vivo. We report the development of an instrument employing Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) arrays to realize real-time multispectral autofluorescence lifetime imaging at a macroscopic scale using handheld single-point fibre optic probes, under bright background conditions. At the detection end, the fluorescence signal is passed through a transmission grating and both spectral and temporal information are encoded in the SPAD array. This configuration allows interrogation in the spectral range of interest in real time. Spatial information is provided by an external camera together with a guiding beam that provides a visual reference that is tracked in real-time. Through fast image processing and data analysis, fluorescence lifetime maps are augmented on white light images to provide feedback of the measurements in realtime. We validate and demonstrate the practicality of this technique in the reference fluorophores and in articular cartilage samples mimicking the degradation that occurs in osteoarthritis. Our results demonstrate that SPADs together with fibre probes can offer means to report autofluorescence spectral and lifetime contrast in real-time and thus are suitable candidates for in situ tissue diagnostics.

Journal/Review: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS

Volume: 10 (1)      Pages from: 8116-1  to: 8116-10

More Information: This work was supported by Tuscany Region (program POR FSE 2014-2020 Giovanisi www.giovanisi.it -program PAR FAS 2007-2013 -Bando FAS Salute 2014) and EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant H2020-ICT-2016-1 732111 PICCOLO and grant 654148 Laserlab-Europe). We would like to thank Caterina Credi, Giada Magni, Alberto Montalbano and Annunziatina Laurino for their help with the preparation of cartilage digestion experiments.
KeyWords: lifetime spectroscopy, multispectral imaging, SPAD array
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65218-3

ImpactFactor: 4.379
Citations: 29
data from “WEB OF SCIENCE” (of Thomson Reuters) are update at: 2024-11-24
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