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Development of Time-Resolved Luminescence Measurement Instruments for Biosensing and Bioimaging - An Overview
Benjamin Sreenan1, Vala Kafil1, Donovan Wells1
1Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV, 89577, USA.
Measurement : Journal of the International Measurement Confederation
|July 21, 2025
Summary
Time-resolved luminescence measurement (TRLM) uses long-lived probes for high-contrast biosensing. This review covers TRLM instruments, their development, and trends toward portable applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Analytical Chemistry
- Optical Physics
Background:
- Time-resolved luminescence measurement (TRLM) utilizes probes with decay times >100 nanoseconds for enhanced biosensing and bioimaging.
- The pulse-delay-detect method in TRLM significantly improves signal-to-background ratios by minimizing light scattering and autofluorescence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the recent development and applications of TRLM instruments for long-lived luminescence probes.
- To explore instrument development trends towards point-of-care (POC) and in-field applications.
- To analyze the impact of probe optical properties on TRLM instrument complexity, cost, compactness, and performance.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on TRLM instruments and long-lived luminescence probes.
- Analysis of instrument design factors influenced by probe characteristics (e.g., decay time, emission spectrum).
- Discussion of technological advancements in light sources, detectors, and electronics for TRLM.
Main Results:
- A wide range of long-lived probes (organic dyes, lanthanide complexes, quantum dots, nanoparticles) are available for TRLM.
- Various TRLM instruments have been developed, with emerging trends towards miniaturization and portability.
- Probe properties critically influence instrument design, cost, and performance.
Conclusions:
- TRLM offers a powerful approach for high-contrast bio-applications.
- Further advancements in TRLM instrumentation are needed for low-cost, compact, and high-performance systems.
- This review aims to foster a deeper understanding of TRLM instruments for broader adoption in biosensing and bioimaging.
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