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Bucci A, Tortarolo G, Held MO, Bega L, Perego E, Castagnetti F, Bozzoni I, Slenders E, Vicidomini G. 4D Single-particle tracking with asynchronous read-out single-photon avalanche diode array detector. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6188. [PMID: 39043637 PMCID: PMC11266502 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50512-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Single-particle tracking techniques enable investigation of the complex functions and interactions of individual particles in biological environments. Many such techniques exist, each demonstrating trade-offs between spatiotemporal resolution, spatial and temporal range, technical complexity, and information content. To mitigate these trade-offs, we enhanced a confocal laser scanning microscope with an asynchronous read-out single-photon avalanche diode array detector. This detector provides an image of the particle's emission, precisely reflecting its position within the excitation volume. This localization is utilized in a real-time feedback system to drive the microscope scanning mechanism and ensure the particle remains centered inside the excitation volume. As each pixel is an independent single-photon detector, single-particle tracking is combined with fluorescence lifetime measurement. Our system achieves 40 nm lateral and 60 nm axial localization precision with 100 photons and sub-millisecond temporal sampling for real-time tracking. Offline tracking can refine this precision to the microsecond scale. We validated the system's spatiotemporal resolution by tracking fluorescent beads with diffusion coefficients up to 10 μm2/s. Additionally, we investigated the movement of lysosomes in living SK-N-BE cells and measured the fluorescence lifetime of the marker expressed on a membrane protein. We expect that this implementation will open other correlative imaging and tracking studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Bucci
- Molecular Microscopy and Spectroscopy, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
- Dipartimento di Informatica, Bioingegneria, Robotica e Ingegneria dei Sistemi, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giorgio Tortarolo
- Molecular Microscopy and Spectroscopy, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Experimental Biophysics, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marcus Oliver Held
- Molecular Microscopy and Spectroscopy, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Luca Bega
- Molecular Microscopy and Spectroscopy, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Eleonora Perego
- Molecular Microscopy and Spectroscopy, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
- Centre for Integrative Genomics, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Francesco Castagnetti
- Non coding RNAs in Physiology and Pathology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Irene Bozzoni
- Non coding RNAs in Physiology and Pathology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology Charles Darwin, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Eli Slenders
- Molecular Microscopy and Spectroscopy, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Vicidomini
- Molecular Microscopy and Spectroscopy, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy.
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2
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Herrando AI, Castillo-Martin M, Galzerano A, Fernández L, Vieira P, Azevedo J, Parvaiz A, Cicchi R, Shcheslavskiy VI, Silva PG, Lagarto JL. Dual excitation spectral autofluorescence lifetime and reflectance imaging for fast macroscopic characterization of tissues. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2024; 15:3507-3522. [PMID: 38867800 PMCID: PMC11166421 DOI: 10.1364/boe.505220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Advancements in optical imaging techniques have revolutionized the field of biomedical research, allowing for the comprehensive characterization of tissues and their underlying biological processes. Yet, there is still a lack of tools to provide quantitative and objective characterization of tissues that can aid clinical assessment in vivo to enhance diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Here, we present a clinically viable fiber-based imaging system combining time-resolved spectrofluorimetry and reflectance spectroscopy to achieve fast multiparametric macroscopic characterization of tissues. An essential feature of the setup is its ability to perform dual wavelength excitation in combination with recording time-resolved fluorescence data in several spectral intervals. Initial validation of this bimodal system was carried out in freshly resected human colorectal cancer specimens, where we demonstrated the ability of the system to differentiate normal from malignant tissues based on their autofluorescence and reflectance properties. To further highlight the complementarity of autofluorescence and reflectance measurements and demonstrate viability in a clinically relevant scenario, we also collected in vivo data from the skin of a volunteer. Altogether, integration of these modalities in a single platform can offer multidimensional characterization of tissues, thus facilitating a deeper understanding of biological processes and potentially advancing diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in various medical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto I. Herrando
- Biophotonics Platform, Champalimaud Foundation, Avenida Brasilia, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
- Digestive Unit, Champalimaud Foundation, Avenida Brasilia, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Antonio Galzerano
- Digestive Unit, Champalimaud Foundation, Avenida Brasilia, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Laura Fernández
- Digestive Unit, Champalimaud Foundation, Avenida Brasilia, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Pedro Vieira
- Digestive Unit, Champalimaud Foundation, Avenida Brasilia, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - José Azevedo
- Digestive Unit, Champalimaud Foundation, Avenida Brasilia, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Amjad Parvaiz
- Digestive Unit, Champalimaud Foundation, Avenida Brasilia, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Riccardo Cicchi
- National Institute of Optics (CNR-INO), Largo Enrico Fermi 6, 50125 Florence, Italy
| | - Vladislav I. Shcheslavskiy
- Becker and Hickl GmbH, Nunsdorfer Ring 7-9, 12277 Berlin, Germany
- Privolzhsky Research Medical University, Minina and Pozharskogo Sq, 10/1, 603005 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Pedro G. Silva
- Biophotonics Platform, Champalimaud Foundation, Avenida Brasilia, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João L. Lagarto
- Biophotonics Platform, Champalimaud Foundation, Avenida Brasilia, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
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3
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Lagarto JL, Villa F, Tisa S, Zappa F, Shcheslavskiy V, Pavone FS, Cicchi R. Real-time multispectral fluorescence lifetime imaging using Single Photon Avalanche Diode arrays. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8116. [PMID: 32415224 PMCID: PMC7229199 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65218-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
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 real-time. 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.
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Affiliation(s)
- João L Lagarto
- National Institute of Optics National Research Council (INO-CNR), Largo Enrico Fermi 6, 50125, Florence, Italy.
- European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy (LENS), Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
| | - Federica Villa
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria (DEIB), Politecnico di Milano, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Simone Tisa
- Micro Photon Device SRL, Via Waltraud Gebert Deeg 3g, I-39100, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Franco Zappa
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria (DEIB), Politecnico di Milano, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Vladislav Shcheslavskiy
- Becker & Hickl GmbH, Nunsdorfer Ring 7-9, 12277, Berlin, Germany
- Privolzhskiy Medical Research University, 603005, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Francesco S Pavone
- National Institute of Optics National Research Council (INO-CNR), Largo Enrico Fermi 6, 50125, Florence, Italy
- European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy (LENS), Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Department of Physics, University of Florence, Via G. Sansone 1, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Riccardo Cicchi
- National Institute of Optics National Research Council (INO-CNR), Largo Enrico Fermi 6, 50125, Florence, Italy
- European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy (LENS), Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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4
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Lagarto JL, Nickdel MB, Kelly DJ, Price A, Nanchahal J, Dunsby C, French P, Itoh Y. Autofluorescence Lifetime Reports Cartilage Damage in Osteoarthritis. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2154. [PMID: 32034262 PMCID: PMC7005742 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59219-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common arthritis and its hallmark is degradation of articular cartilage by proteolytic enzymes leading to loss of joint function. It is challenging to monitor the status of cartilage in vivo and this study explores the use of autofluorescence lifetime (AFL) measurements to provide a label-free optical readout of cartilage degradation that could enable earlier detection and evaluation of potential therapies. We previously reported that treatment of ex vivo porcine cartilage with proteolytic enzymes resulted in decreased AFL. Here we report changes in AFL of ex vivo mouse knee joints, porcine metacarpophalangeal joints, normal human metatarsophalangeal articular tissue and human OA tibial plateau tissues measured with or without treatment using a compact single-point time resolved spectrofluorometer. Our data show that proteolytically damaged areas in porcine metacarpophalangeal joints present a reduced AFL and that inducing aggrecanases in mouse and human joints also significantly reduces AFL. Further, human cartilage from OA patients presents a significantly lower AFL compared to normal human cartilage. Our data suggest that AFL can detect areas of cartilage erosion and may potentially be utilised as a minimally-invasive diagnostic readout for early stage OA in combination with arthroscopy devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- João L Lagarto
- Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Mohammad B Nickdel
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7FY, UK
| | - Douglas J Kelly
- Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Andrew Price
- Botner Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7LD, UK
| | - Jagdeep Nanchahal
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7FY, UK
| | - Chris Dunsby
- Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.,Centre for Pathology, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Paul French
- Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
| | - Yoshifumi Itoh
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7FY, UK.
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Multispectral Depth-Resolved Fluorescence Lifetime Spectroscopy Using SPAD Array Detectors and Fiber Probes. SENSORS 2019; 19:s19122678. [PMID: 31200569 PMCID: PMC6631026 DOI: 10.3390/s19122678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) arrays are increasingly exploited and have demonstrated potential in biochemical and biomedical research, both for imaging and single-point spectroscopy applications. In this study, we explore the application of SPADs together with fiber-optic-based delivery and collection geometry to realize fast and simultaneous single-point time-, spectral-, and depth-resolved fluorescence measurements at 375 nm excitation light. Spectral information is encoded across the columns of the array through grating-based dispersion, while depth information is encoded across the rows thanks to a linear arrangement of probe collecting fibers. The initial characterization and validation were realized against layered fluorescent agarose-based phantoms. To verify the practicality and feasibility of this approach in biological specimens, we measured the fluorescence signature of formalin-fixed rabbit aorta samples derived from an animal model of atherosclerosis. The initial results demonstrate that this detection configuration can report fluorescence spectral and lifetime contrast originating at different depths within the specimens. We believe that our optical scheme, based on SPAD array detectors and fiber-optic probes, constitute a powerful and versatile approach for the deployment of multidimensional fluorescence spectroscopy in clinical applications where information from deeper tissue layers is important for diagnosis.
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