Fluorescence lifetime imaging in drug delivery research

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Optical Imaging
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIm) has evolved from a niche microscopy add-on to a powerful quantification tool.
• Its self-calibration nature provides superior accuracy compared to conventional steady-state fluorescence imaging.
• FLIm is increasingly utilized in life science research for its quantitative capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the state-of-the-art implementation of FLIm in drug formulation, release, dosage, and mechanism of action.
• To highlight FLIm's role in innovative diagnostics and therapy.
• To discuss advances in lifetime-engineered nanomaterials and instrumentation for preclinical and clinical translation.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on FLIm applications in drug development and diagnostics.
• Focus on quantitative measurements for drug delivery systems, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics.
• Examination of recent advancements in nanomaterials and instrumentation for FLIm.

Main Results:

• FLIm is instrumental in designing encapsulated drug delivery systems.
• Quantitative FLIm measurements aid in understanding pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pathological investigations.
• FLIm facilitates early disease diagnosis and evaluation of therapeutic efficacy.
• Emerging lifetime-engineered nanomaterials and instrumentation show potential for in vitro and in vivo applications.

Conclusions:

• FLIm is a critical technique for quantitative analysis in drug development, diagnostics, and therapy.
• Advancements in nanomaterials and instrumentation are expanding FLIm's translational potential.
• Overcoming current challenges will further enhance FLIm's future applications in medicine.