Fluorescence lifetime techniques in medical applications

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Diagnostics
• Optical Imaging
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Time-resolved fluorescence techniques measure the decay of fluorescence emission over time.
• These techniques provide insights into the molecular environment and tissue properties.
• Intrinsic fluorescence from biomolecules offers a label-free contrast mechanism.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of time-resolved fluorescence techniques for biomedical diagnostics.
• To review the development of time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy (TRFS) and fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) instrumentation.
• To evaluate the translational potential of these techniques for in vivo disease diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• Review of time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy (TRFS) instrumentation and methodologies.
• Review of fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) instrumentation and methodologies.
• Analysis of intrinsic fluorescence signals for in vivo tissue characterization.

Main Results:

• TRFS and FLIM instrumentation have advanced significantly, enabling in vivo measurements.
• Intrinsic fluorescence signals show potential for differentiating diseased from healthy tissues.
• These techniques have demonstrated utility in diagnosing various cancers, skin/eye diseases, and cardiovascular conditions.

Conclusions:

• Time-resolved fluorescence techniques are valuable tools for non-invasive biomedical diagnostics.
• Further translational research is warranted to fully integrate TRFS and FLIM into clinical practice.
• Intrinsic fluorescence analysis holds significant promise for early and accurate disease detection.