1
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Luu P, Fraser SE, Schneider F. More than double the fun with two-photon excitation microscopy. Commun Biol 2024; 7:364. [PMID: 38531976 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06057-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
For generations researchers have been observing the dynamic processes of life through the lens of a microscope. This has offered tremendous insights into biological phenomena that span multiple orders of time- and length-scales ranging from the pure magic of molecular reorganization at the membrane of immune cells, to cell migration and differentiation during development or wound healing. Standard fluorescence microscopy techniques offer glimpses at such processes in vitro, however, when applied in intact systems, they are challenged by reduced signal strengths and signal-to-noise ratios that result from deeper imaging. As a remedy, two-photon excitation (TPE) microscopy takes a special place, because it allows us to investigate processes in vivo, in their natural environment, even in a living animal. Here, we review the fundamental principles underlying TPE aimed at basic and advanced microscopy users interested in adopting TPE for intravital imaging. We focus on applications in neurobiology, present current trends towards faster, wider and deeper imaging, discuss the combination with photon counting technologies for metabolic imaging and spectroscopy, as well as highlight outstanding issues and drawbacks in development and application of these methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Luu
- Translational Imaging Center, Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Division of Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Scott E Fraser
- Translational Imaging Center, Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Division of Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Alfred Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Falk Schneider
- Translational Imaging Center, Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.
- Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.
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2
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Acconcia G, Ceccarelli F, Gulinatti A, Rech I. Timing measurements with silicon single photon avalanche diodes: principles and perspectives [Invited]. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:33963-33999. [PMID: 37859164 DOI: 10.1364/oe.491400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Picosecond timing of single photons has laid the foundation of a great variety of applications, from life sciences to quantum communication, thanks to the combination of ultimate sensitivity with a bandwidth that cannot be reached by analog recording techniques. Nowadays, more and more applications could still be enabled or advanced by progress in the available instrumentation, resulting in a steadily increasing research interest in this field. In this scenario, single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) have gained a key position, thanks to the remarkable precision they are able to provide, along with other key advantages like ruggedness, compactness, large signal amplitude, and room temperature operation, which neatly distinguish them from other solutions like superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors and silicon photomultipliers. With this work, we aim at filling a gap in the literature by providing a thorough discussion of the main design rules and tradeoffs for silicon SPADs and the electronics employed along them to achieve high timing precision. In the end, we conclude with our outlook on the future by summarizing new routes that could benefit from present and prospective timing features of silicon SPADs.
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3
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Song L, Zhu Y, Wang J, Wu T, Zhou S, Zhang X, Tang J, Wang J, Lin D, Chen G. Inorganic phosphate regulated high luminescence NaYF 4:Yb 3+, Er 3+ as an iron ion fluorescent nanoprobe. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2023; 300:122903. [PMID: 37290241 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2023.122903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The iron ion in industrial circulating cooling water is an important indicator for early warning of equipment corrosion and control level. It is interesting to construct an upconversion luminescence iron ion nanoprobe with a common inorganic phosphate water treatment agent. Herein, inorganic phosphate sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) was used to regulate the morphology and functionalization of NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+ upconversion luminescent nanoprobe (UCNPs) and applied to fluorometric detection of trace Fe(III) in water based on the fluorescence quenching which is caused by the selective coordination between hexametaphosphate on the surface of UCNPs and Fe(III). The structure, morphology, and luminous intensity of UCNPs were regulated by disodium hydrogen phosphate (ADSP), sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) and sodium hexametaphosphate(SHMP). The UCNPs functionalized with SHMP has high sensitivity and selectivity for Fe(III) detection. The linear range and detection limit are 1.0-50 μM and 0.2 μM, respectively. The method has satisfactory results for the detection of trace Fe(III) in industrial circulating cooling water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyu Song
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Yongbao Zhu
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Jinfeng Wang
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Tingxia Wu
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Shuo Zhou
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Xianbo Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Junping Tang
- School of Energy and Materials, Shanghai Thermophysical Properties Big Data Professional Technical Service Platform, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Advanced Thermal Functional Materials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Engineering Materials Application and Evaluation, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai 201209, China
| | - Jikui Wang
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Donghai Lin
- School of Energy and Materials, Shanghai Thermophysical Properties Big Data Professional Technical Service Platform, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Advanced Thermal Functional Materials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Engineering Materials Application and Evaluation, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai 201209, China.
| | - Guosong Chen
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China.
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4
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Hauke L, Isbaner S, Ghosh A, Guido I, Turco L, Chizhik AI, Gregor I, Karedla N, Rehfeldt F, Enderlein J. Metal-Induced Energy Transfer (MIET) for Live-Cell Imaging with Fluorescent Proteins. ACS NANO 2023; 17:8242-8251. [PMID: 36995274 PMCID: PMC10173696 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c12372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Metal-induced energy transfer (MIET) imaging is an easy-to-implement super-resolution modality that achieves nanometer resolution along the optical axis of a microscope. Although its capability in numerous biological and biophysical studies has been demonstrated, its implementation for live-cell imaging with fluorescent proteins is still lacking. Here, we present its applicability and capabilities for live-cell imaging with fluorescent proteins in diverse cell types (adult human stem cells, human osteo-sarcoma cells, and Dictyostelium discoideum cells), and with various fluorescent proteins (GFP, mScarlet, RFP, YPet). We show that MIET imaging achieves nanometer axial mapping of living cellular and subcellular components across multiple time scales, from a few milliseconds to hours, with negligible phototoxic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Hauke
- Third Institute of Physics - Biophysics, Georg August University, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sebastian Isbaner
- Third Institute of Physics - Biophysics, Georg August University, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Arindam Ghosh
- Third Institute of Physics - Biophysics, Georg August University, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Isabella Guido
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Am Faßberg 17, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Laura Turco
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Am Faßberg 17, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alexey I Chizhik
- Third Institute of Physics - Biophysics, Georg August University, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ingo Gregor
- Third Institute of Physics - Biophysics, Georg August University, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Narain Karedla
- Third Institute of Physics - Biophysics, Georg August University, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Florian Rehfeldt
- Third Institute of Physics - Biophysics, Georg August University, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jörg Enderlein
- Third Institute of Physics - Biophysics, Georg August University, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
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5
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Chen P, Kang Q, Niu J, Jing Y, Zhang X, Yu B, Qu J, Lin D. Fluorescence lifetime tracking and imaging of single moving particles assisted by a low-photon-count analysis algorithm. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 14:1718-1731. [PMID: 37078048 PMCID: PMC10110318 DOI: 10.1364/boe.485729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) has been widely used in the field of biological research because of its high specificity, sensitivity, and quantitative ability in the sensing cellular microenvironment. The most commonly used FLIM technology is based on time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC). Although the TCSPC method has the highest temporal resolution, the data acquisition time is usually long, and the imaging speed is slow. In this work, we proposed a fast FLIM technology for fluorescence lifetime tracking and imaging of single moving particles, named single particle tracking FLIM (SPT-FLIM). We used feedback-controlled addressing scanning and Mosaic FLIM mode imaging to reduce the number of scanned pixels and the data readout time, respectively. Moreover, we developed a compressed sensing analysis algorithm based on alternating descent conditional gradient (ADCG) for low-photon-count data. We applied the ADCG-FLIM algorithm on both simulated and experimental datasets to evaluate its performance. The results showed that ADCG-FLIM could achieve reliable lifetime estimation with high accuracy and precision in the case of a photon count less than 100. By reducing the photon count requirement for each pixel from, typically, 1000 to 100, the acquisition time for a single frame lifetime image could be significantly shortened, and the imaging speed could be improved to a great extent. On this basis, we obtained lifetime trajectories of moving fluorescent beads using the SPT-FLIM technique. Overall, our work offers a powerful tool for fluorescence lifetime tracking and imaging of single moving particles, which will promote the application of TCSPC-FLIM in biological research.
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6
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Saurabh A, Fazel M, Safar M, Sgouralis I, Pressé S. Single-photon smFRET. I: Theory and conceptual basis. BIOPHYSICAL REPORTS 2023; 3:100089. [PMID: 36582655 PMCID: PMC9793182 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpr.2022.100089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
We present a unified conceptual framework and the associated software package for single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) analysis from single-photon arrivals leveraging Bayesian nonparametrics, BNP-FRET. This unified framework addresses the following key physical complexities of a single-photon smFRET experiment, including: 1) fluorophore photophysics; 2) continuous time kinetics of the labeled system with large timescale separations between photophysical phenomena such as excited photophysical state lifetimes and events such as transition between system states; 3) unavoidable detector artefacts; 4) background emissions; 5) unknown number of system states; and 6) both continuous and pulsed illumination. These physical features necessarily demand a novel framework that extends beyond existing tools. In particular, the theory naturally brings us to a hidden Markov model with a second-order structure and Bayesian nonparametrics on account of items 1, 2, and 5 on the list. In the second and third companion articles, we discuss the direct effects of these key complexities on the inference of parameters for continuous and pulsed illumination, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayush Saurabh
- Center for Biological Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Mohamadreza Fazel
- Center for Biological Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Matthew Safar
- Center for Biological Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Department of Mathematics and Statistical Science, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Ioannis Sgouralis
- Department of Mathematics, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, Tennesse
| | - Steve Pressé
- Center for Biological Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
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7
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Sorrells J, Iyer RR, Yang L, Martin EM, Wang G, Tu H, Marjanovic M, Boppart SA. Computational Photon Counting Using Multithreshold Peak Detection for Fast Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy. ACS PHOTONICS 2022; 9:2748-2755. [PMID: 35996369 PMCID: PMC9389606 DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.2c00505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Time-resolved photon counting methods have a finite bandwidth that restricts the acquisition speed of techniques like fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). To enable faster imaging, computational methods can be employed to count photons when the output of a detector is directly digitized at a high sampling rate. Here, we present computational photon counting using a hybrid photodetector in conjunction with multithreshold peak detection to count instances where one or more photons arrive at the detector within the detector response time. This method can be used to distinguish up to five photon counts per digitized point, whereas previous demonstrations of computational photon counting on data acquired with photomultiplier tubes have only counted one photon at a time. We demonstrate in both freely moving C. elegans and a human breast cancer cell line undergoing apoptosis that this novel multithreshold peak detection method can accurately characterize the intensity and fluorescence lifetime of samples producing photon rates up to 223%, higher than previously demonstrated photon counting FLIM systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet
E. Sorrells
- Department
of Bioengineering, University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Beckman
Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Rishyashring R. Iyer
- Beckman
Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department
of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Lingxiao Yang
- Beckman
Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department
of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Elisabeth M. Martin
- Department
of Bioengineering, University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Beckman
Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Geng Wang
- Beckman
Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Haohua Tu
- Beckman
Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department
of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Marina Marjanovic
- Department
of Bioengineering, University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Beckman
Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Stephen A. Boppart
- Department
of Bioengineering, University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Beckman
Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department
of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Cancer
Center at Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Carle
Illinois College of Medicine, University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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8
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Ji C, Wang X, He K, Xue Y, Li Y, Xin L, Zhao W, Tian J, Sheng L. Compressed fluorescence lifetime imaging via combined TV-based and deep priors. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0271441. [PMID: 35960754 PMCID: PMC9374265 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Compressed fluorescence lifetime imaging (Compressed-FLIM) is a novel Snapshot compressive imaging (SCI) method for single-shot widefield FLIM. This approach has the advantages of high temporal resolution and deep frame sequences, allowing for the analysis of FLIM signals that follow complex decay models. However, the precision of Compressed-FLIM is limited by reconstruction algorithms. To improve the reconstruction accuracy of Compressed-FLIM in dealing with large-scale FLIM problem, we developed a more effective combined prior model 3DTGp V_net, based on the Plug and Play (PnP) framework. Extensive numerical simulations indicate the proposed method eliminates reconstruction artifacts caused by the Deep denoiser networks. Moreover, it improves the reconstructed accuracy by around 4dB (peak signal-to-noise ratio; PSNR) over the state-of-the-art TV+FFDNet in test data sets. We conducted the single-shot FLIM experiment with different Rhodamine reagents and the results show that in practice, the proposed algorithm has promising reconstruction performance and more negligible lifetime bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Ji
- Key Laboratory of Ultra-fast Photoelectric Diagnostics Technology, Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics (XIOPM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Ultra-fast Photoelectric Diagnostics Technology, Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics (XIOPM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kai He
- Key Laboratory of Ultra-fast Photoelectric Diagnostics Technology, Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics (XIOPM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yanhua Xue
- Key Laboratory of Ultra-fast Photoelectric Diagnostics Technology, Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics (XIOPM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yahui Li
- Key Laboratory of Ultra-fast Photoelectric Diagnostics Technology, Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics (XIOPM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Liwei Xin
- Key Laboratory of Ultra-fast Photoelectric Diagnostics Technology, Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics (XIOPM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Ultra-fast Photoelectric Diagnostics Technology, Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics (XIOPM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Transient Optics and Photonics, Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jinshou Tian
- Key Laboratory of Ultra-fast Photoelectric Diagnostics Technology, Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics (XIOPM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liang Sheng
- The Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology, Xi’an, China
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9
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Netaev A, Schierbaum N, Seidl K. Advantages and Limitations of Fluorescence Lifetime Measurements Using Single-Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) Array Detector: A Comprehensive Theoretical and Experimental Study. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:3822. [PMID: 35632231 PMCID: PMC9144122 DOI: 10.3390/s22103822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Fast fluorescence lifetime (FL) determination is a major factor for studying dynamic processes. To achieve a required precision and accuracy a certain number of photon counts must be detected. FL methods based on single-photon counting have strongly limited count rates because of the detector's pile-up issue and are suffering from long measurement times in the order of tens of seconds. Here, we present an experimental and Monte Carlo simulation-based study of how this limitation can be overcome using array detectors based on single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs). We investigated the maximum count rate per pixel to determine FL with a certain precision and accuracy before pile-up occurs. Based on that, we derived an analytical expression to calculate the total measurement time which is proportional to the FL and inversely proportional to the number of pixels. However, a higher number of pixels drastically increases data rate. This can be counteracted by lowering the time resolution. We found that even with a time resolution of four times the FL, an accuracy of 10% can be achieved. Taken all together, FLs between 10 ns and 3 ns can be determined with a 300-pixel SPAD array detector with a measurement time and data rate less than 1 µs and 700 Mbit/s, respectively. This shows the enormous potential of SPAD array detector for high-speed applications requiring continuous data read out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Netaev
- Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems, 47057 Duisburg, Germany; (N.S.); (K.S.)
| | - Nicolas Schierbaum
- Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems, 47057 Duisburg, Germany; (N.S.); (K.S.)
| | - Karsten Seidl
- Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems, 47057 Duisburg, Germany; (N.S.); (K.S.)
- Department of Electronic Components and Circuits, University of Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
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10
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Avanzi E, Behera A, Contini D, Spinelli L, Dalla Mora A, Di Sieno L. Effects and correctability of pile-up distortion using established figures of merit in time-domain diffuse optics at extreme photon rates. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5417. [PMID: 35354888 PMCID: PMC8967884 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09385-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Time-domain diffuse optics (TD-DO) allows one to probe diffusive media with recognized advantages over other working domains but suffers from a poor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) resulting from the need to build-up the histogram of single-photon arrival times with maximum count rates (CR) of few percent of the laser pulse rate to avoid the so-called "pile-up" distortion. Here we explore the feasibility of TD-DO under severe pile-up conditions with a systematic in-silico/experimental study evaluating the effects and correctability of the distortion by means of shared figures of merit. In-silico, we demonstrate that pile-up correction allows one the retrieval of homogeneous optical properties with average error < 1% up to a CR > 99%, while the optimal CR needed to detect localized perturbation was found to be 83%. Experiments reported here confirm these findings despite exhibiting higher accuracy errors in the retrieval of homogeneous optical properties and higher noise in the detection of localized absorption perturbations, but in line with the state-of-the-art systems. This work validates a new working regime for TD-DO, demonstrating an increase of the SNR at constant acquisition time, but also potentially leading in the future to previously unrealizable measurements of dynamic phenomena or in spatial scanning applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Avanzi
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Anurag Behera
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Davide Contini
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Spinelli
- Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Dalla Mora
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Laura Di Sieno
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133, Milan, Italy
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11
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Ghosh A, Chizhik AI, Karedla N, Enderlein J. Graphene- and metal-induced energy transfer for single-molecule imaging and live-cell nanoscopy with (sub)-nanometer axial resolution. Nat Protoc 2021; 16:3695-3715. [PMID: 34099942 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-021-00558-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Super-resolution fluorescence imaging that surpasses the classical optical resolution limit is widely utilized for resolving the spatial organization of biological structures at molecular length scales. In one example, single-molecule localization microscopy, the lateral positions of single molecules can be determined more precisely than the diffraction limit if the camera collects individual photons separately. Using several schemes that introduce engineered optical aberrations in the imaging optics, super-resolution along the optical axis (perpendicular to the sample plane) has been achieved, and single-molecule localization microscopy has been successfully applied for the study of 3D biological structures. Nonetheless, the achievable axial localization accuracy is typically three to five times worse than the lateral localization accuracy. Only a few exceptional methods based on interferometry exist that reach nanometer 3D super-resolution, but they involve enormous technical complexity and restricted sample preparations that inhibit their widespread application. We developed metal-induced energy transfer imaging for localizing fluorophores along the axial direction with nanometer accuracy, using only a conventional fluorescence lifetime imaging microscope. In metal-induced energy transfer, experimentally measured fluorescence lifetime values increase linearly with axial distance in the range of 0-100 nm, making it possible to calculate their axial position using a theoretical model. If graphene is used instead of the metal (graphene-induced energy transfer), the same range of lifetime values occurs over a shorter axial distance (~25 nm), meaning that it is possible to get very accurate axial information at the scale of a membrane bilayer or a molecular complex in a membrane. Here, we provide a step-by-step protocol for metal- and graphene-induced energy transfer imaging in single molecules, supported lipid bilayer and live-cell membranes. Depending on the sample preparation time, the complete duration of the protocol is 1-3 d.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arindam Ghosh
- Third Institute of Physics-Biophysics, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alexey I Chizhik
- Third Institute of Physics-Biophysics, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Narain Karedla
- Rosalind Franklin Institute, Didcot, UK.,Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jörg Enderlein
- Third Institute of Physics-Biophysics, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany. .,Cluster of Excellence 'Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells' (MBExC), Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany.
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12
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Hwang W, Kim D, Moon S, Kim DY. Achieving a high photon count rate in digital time-correlated single photon counting using a hybrid photodetector. OPTICS EXPRESS 2021; 29:9797-9804. [PMID: 33820132 DOI: 10.1364/oe.419896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We report an enhanced photon count rate in a digitally implemented time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) system by utilizing a hybrid photodetector (HPD). In our digital TCSPC scheme, the photoelectronic responses from a single photon-sensitive photodetector are digitally analyzed through a high-speed analog-to-digital convertor (ADC). By virtue of the HPD which provides nearly a constant signal gain, the single-photon pulses can be effectively distinguished from pulses of simultaneously detected multiple photons by the pulse heights. Consequently, our digital TCSPC system can selectively collect single-photon signals even in the presence of intense multi-photon detections with its temporal accuracy not to be compromised. In our experiment of fluorescence lifetime measurement, the maximum count rate of single photons nearly reached the theoretical limit given by the Poisson statistics. This demonstrated that the digital TCSPC combined with the HPD provides an ultimate solution for the TCSPC implementation for high photon count rates.
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13
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Zelená A, Isbaner S, Ruhlandt D, Chizhik A, Cassini C, Klymchenko AS, Enderlein J, Chizhik A, Köster S. Time-resolved MIET measurements of blood platelet spreading and adhesion. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:21306-21315. [PMID: 33073832 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr05611a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Human blood platelets are non-nucleated fragments of megakaryocytes and of high importance for early hemostasis. To form a blood clot, platelets adhere to the blood vessel wall, spread and attract other platelets. Despite the importance for biomedicine, the exact mechanism of platelet spreading and adhesion to surfaces remains elusive. Here, we employ metal-induced energy transfer (MIET) imaging with a leaflet-specific fluorescent membrane probe to quantitatively determine, with nanometer resolution and in a time-resolved manner, the height profile of the basal and the apical platelet membrane above a rigid substrate during platelet spreading. We observe areas, where the platelet membrane approaches the substrate particularly closely and these areas are stable on a time scale of minutes. Time-resolved MIET measurements reveal distinct behaviors of the outermost rim and the central part of the platelets, respectively. Our findings quantify platelet adhesion and spreading and improve our understanding of early steps in blood clotting. Furthermore, the results of this study demonstrate the potential of MIET for simultaneous imaging of two close-by membranes and thus three-dimensional reconstruction of the cell shape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Zelená
- Institute for X-Ray Physics, University of Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
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14
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Di Sieno L, Behera A, Rohilla S, Ferocino E, Contini D, Torricelli A, Krämer B, Koberling F, Pifferi A, Mora AD. Probe-hosted large area silicon photomultiplier and high-throughput timing electronics for enhanced performance time-domain functional near-infrared spectroscopy. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 11:6389-6412. [PMID: 33282497 PMCID: PMC7687960 DOI: 10.1364/boe.400868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Two main bottlenecks prevent time-domain diffuse optics instruments to reach their maximum performances, namely the limited light harvesting capability of the detection chain and the bounded data throughput of the timing electronics. In this work, for the first time to our knowledge, we overcome both those limitations using a probe-hosted large area silicon photomultiplier detector coupled to high-throughput timing electronics. The system performances were assessed based on international protocols for diffuse optical imagers showing better figures with respect to a state-of-the-art device. As a first step towards applications, proof-of-principle in-vivo brain activation measurements demonstrated superior signal-to-noise ratio as compared to current technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Di Sieno
- Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Fisica, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - A. Behera
- Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Fisica, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - S. Rohilla
- PicoQuant Innovation GmbH, Rudower Chaussee 29, 12489 Berlin, Germany
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Internal Medicine/Infectious Diseases and Respiratory Medicine, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - E. Ferocino
- Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Fisica, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - D. Contini
- Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Fisica, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - A. Torricelli
- Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Fisica, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - B. Krämer
- PicoQuant GmbH, Rudower Chaussee 29, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - F. Koberling
- PicoQuant GmbH, Rudower Chaussee 29, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - A. Pifferi
- Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Fisica, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - A. Dalla Mora
- Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Fisica, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
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15
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Dual-Color Metal-Induced Energy Transfer (MIET) Imaging for Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Nuclear Envelope Architecture. Methods Mol Biol 2020. [PMID: 32681482 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0763-3_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
The nuclear envelope, comprising the inner and the outer nuclear membrane, separates the nucleus from the cytoplasm and plays a key role in cellular functions. Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are embedded in the nuclear envelope and control transport of macromolecules between the two compartments. Recently, it has been shown that the axial distance between the inner nuclear membrane and the cytoplasmic side of the NPC can be measured using dual-color metal-induced energy transfer (MIET). This chapter focuses on experimental aspects of this method and discusses the details of data analysis.
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16
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Datta R, Heaster TM, Sharick JT, Gillette AA, Skala MC. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy: fundamentals and advances in instrumentation, analysis, and applications. JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL OPTICS 2020; 25:1-43. [PMID: 32406215 PMCID: PMC7219965 DOI: 10.1117/1.jbo.25.7.071203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 326] [Impact Index Per Article: 81.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
SIGNIFICANCE Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) is a powerful technique to distinguish the unique molecular environment of fluorophores. FLIM measures the time a fluorophore remains in an excited state before emitting a photon, and detects molecular variations of fluorophores that are not apparent with spectral techniques alone. FLIM is sensitive to multiple biomedical processes including disease progression and drug efficacy. AIM We provide an overview of FLIM principles, instrumentation, and analysis while highlighting the latest developments and biological applications. APPROACH This review covers FLIM principles and theory, including advantages over intensity-based fluorescence measurements. Fundamentals of FLIM instrumentation in time- and frequency-domains are summarized, along with recent developments. Image segmentation and analysis strategies that quantify spatial and molecular features of cellular heterogeneity are reviewed. Finally, representative applications are provided including high-resolution FLIM of cell- and organelle-level molecular changes, use of exogenous and endogenous fluorophores, and imaging protein-protein interactions with Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). Advantages and limitations of FLIM are also discussed. CONCLUSIONS FLIM is advantageous for probing molecular environments of fluorophores to inform on fluorophore behavior that cannot be elucidated with intensity measurements alone. Development of FLIM technologies, analysis, and applications will further advance biological research and clinical assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupsa Datta
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Tiffany M. Heaster
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
- University of Wisconsin, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Joe T. Sharick
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Amani A. Gillette
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
- University of Wisconsin, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Melissa C. Skala
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
- University of Wisconsin, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
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17
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Schneider F, Hernandez-Varas P, Christoffer Lagerholm B, Shrestha D, Sezgin E, Julia Roberti M, Ossato G, Hecht F, Eggeling C, Urbančič I. High photon count rates improve the quality of super-resolution fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS D: APPLIED PHYSICS 2020; 53:164003. [PMID: 33191951 PMCID: PMC7655148 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6463/ab6cca] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Probing the diffusion of molecules has become a routine measurement across the life sciences, chemistry and physics. It provides valuable insights into reaction dynamics, oligomerisation, molecular (re-)organisation or cellular heterogeneities. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is one of the widely applied techniques to determine diffusion dynamics in two and three dimensions. This technique relies on the temporal autocorrelation of intensity fluctuations but recording these fluctuations has thus far been limited by the detection electronics, which could not efficiently and accurately time-tag photons at high count rates. This has until now restricted the range of measurable dye concentrations, as well as the data quality of the FCS recordings, especially in combination with super-resolution stimulated emission depletion (STED) nanoscopy. Here, we investigate the applicability and reliability of (STED-)FCS at high photon count rates (average intensities of more than 1 MHz) using novel detection equipment, namely hybrid detectors and real-time gigahertz sampling of the photon streams implemented on a commercial microscope. By measuring the diffusion of fluorophores in solution and cytoplasm of live cells, as well as in model and cellular membranes, we show that accurate diffusion and concentration measurements are possible in these previously inaccessible high photon count regimes. Specifically, it offers much greater flexibility of experiments with biological samples with highly variable intensity, e.g. due to a wide range of expression levels of fluorescent proteins. In this context, we highlight the independence of diffusion properties of cytosolic GFP in a concentration range of approx. 0.01-1 µm. We further show that higher photon count rates also allow for much shorter acquisition times, and improved data quality. Finally, this approach also pronouncedly increases the robustness of challenging live cell STED-FCS measurements of nanoscale diffusion dynamics, which we testify by confirming a free diffusion pattern for a fluorescent lipid analogue on the apical membrane of adherent cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Falk Schneider
- MRC Human Immunology Unit and MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DS, United Kingdom
| | - Pablo Hernandez-Varas
- Wolfson Imaging Centre Oxford, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DS, United Kingdom
- Core Facility for Integrated Microscopy, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - B Christoffer Lagerholm
- Wolfson Imaging Centre Oxford, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DS, United Kingdom
| | - Dilip Shrestha
- MRC Human Immunology Unit and MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DS, United Kingdom
| | - Erdinc Sezgin
- MRC Human Immunology Unit and MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DS, United Kingdom
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M Julia Roberti
- Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH, Am Friedensplatz 3, 68163 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Giulia Ossato
- Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH, Am Friedensplatz 3, 68163 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Frank Hecht
- Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH, Am Friedensplatz 3, 68163 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Christian Eggeling
- MRC Human Immunology Unit and MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DS, United Kingdom
- Wolfson Imaging Centre Oxford, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DS, United Kingdom
- Institute of Applied Optics and Biophysics, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Max-Wien Platz 4, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology e.V., Albert-Einstein-Straße 9, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Iztok Urbančič
- MRC Human Immunology Unit and MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DS, United Kingdom
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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18
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Moon S, Park B, Won Y. Digital implementation of TCSPC. OPTICS LETTERS 2020; 45:1615-1618. [PMID: 32235956 DOI: 10.1364/ol.384461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We present a digital instrumentation method of time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC). The pulsed signal of a single-photon sensitive photodetector is digitized by a high-speed analog-to-digital converter and digitally processed for determination of the photon detection times. We found that our digitally implemented TCSPC (dTCSPC) provides a smart way of discriminating valid photon pulses for the reliable measurement of fluorescence lifetimes and time-resolved spectroscopy.
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19
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Esposito A. How many photons are needed for FRET imaging? BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 11:1186-1202. [PMID: 32133242 PMCID: PMC7041441 DOI: 10.1364/boe.379305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) imaging is an essential analytical method in biomedical research. The limited photon-budget experimentally available, however, imposes compromises between spatiotemporal and biochemical resolutions, photodamage and phototoxicity. The study of photon-statistics in biochemical imaging is thus important in guiding the efficient design of instrumentation and assays. Here, we show a comparative analysis of photon-statistics in FRET imaging demonstrating how the precision of FRET imaging varies vastly with imaging parameters. Therefore, we provide analytical and numerical tools for assay optimization. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) is a very robust technique with excellent photon-efficiencies. However, we show that also intensity-based FRET imaging can reach high precision by utilizing information from both donor and acceptor fluorophores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Esposito
- MRC Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge, Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB20XY, UK
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20
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Trinh AL, Ber S, Howitt A, Valls PO, Fries MW, Venkitaraman AR, Esposito A. Fast single-cell biochemistry: theory, open source microscopy and applications. Methods Appl Fluoresc 2019; 7:044001. [PMID: 31422954 PMCID: PMC7000240 DOI: 10.1088/2050-6120/ab3bd2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Fluorescence lifetime sensing enables researchers to probe the physicochemical environment of a fluorophore providing a window through which we can observe the complex molecular make-up of the cell. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) quantifies and maps cell biochemistry, a complex ensemble of dynamic processes. Unfortunately, typical high-resolution FLIM systems exhibit rather limited acquisition speeds, often insufficient to capture the time evolution of biochemical processes in living cells. Here, we describe the theoretical background that justifies the developments of high-speed single photon counting systems. We show that systems with low dead-times not only result in faster acquisition throughputs but also improved dynamic range and spatial resolution. We also share the implementation of hardware and software as an open platform, show applications of fast FLIM biochemical imaging on living cells and discuss strategies to balance precision and accuracy in FLIM. The recent innovations and commercialisation of fast time-domain FLIM systems are likely to popularise FLIM within the biomedical community, to impact biomedical research positively and to foster the adoption of other FLIM techniques as well. While supporting and indeed pursuing these developments, with this work we also aim to warn the community about the possible shortcomings of fast single photon counting techniques and to highlight strategies to acquire data of high quality.
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21
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Barton-Grimley RA, Stillwell RA, Thayer JP. High resolution photon time-tagging lidar for atmospheric point cloud generation. OPTICS EXPRESS 2018; 26:26030-26044. [PMID: 30469696 DOI: 10.1364/oe.26.026030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The application of time-correlated single photon counting hardware and techniques to atmospheric lidar is presented. The results establish the viability of adapting photon time-tagging techniques to atmospheric lidar systems, facilitating high-range resolution (millimeter-level precision) and dynamic system observing capabilities that address the variety of atmospheric scatterers often present in atmospheric lidar profiles. The technique is demonstrated through measurements made by a high repetition rate, low pulse energy, elastic scattering, photon counting lidar. Detection probabilities with a non-zero system dead-time are derived and tested using acquired data. Atmospheric point cloud generation and the statistical implications on data retrievals utilizing this approach are presented. The results show an ability to preserve backscattered intensities while generating photon detections at picosecond resolution from a variety atmospheric scatterers.
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22
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Abdollahi E, Taucher-Scholz G, Jakob B. Application of fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy of DNA binding dyes to assess radiation-induced chromatin compaction changes. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E2399. [PMID: 30110966 PMCID: PMC6121443 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19082399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years several approaches have been developed to address the chromatin status and its changes in eukaryotic cells under different conditions-but only few are applicable in living cells. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) is a functional tool that can be used for the inspection of the molecular environment of fluorophores in living cells. Here, we present the use of single organic minor groove DNA binder dyes in FLIM for measuring chromatin changes following modulation of chromatin structure in living cells. Treatment with histone deacetylase inhibitors led to an increased fluorescence lifetime indicating global chromatin decompaction, whereas hyperosmolarity decreased the lifetime of the used dyes, thus reflecting the expected compaction. In addition, we demonstrate that time domain FLIM data based on single photon counting should be optimized using pile-up and counting loss correction, which affect the readout even at moderate average detector count rates in inhomogeneous samples. Using these corrections and utilizing Hoechst 34580 as chromatin compaction probe, we measured a pan nuclear increase in the lifetime following irradiation with X-rays in living NIH/3T3 cells thus providing a method to measure radiation-induced chromatin decompaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elham Abdollahi
- Department of Biophysics, GSI Helmholzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH, 64291 Darmstadt, Germany.
| | - Gisela Taucher-Scholz
- Department of Biophysics, GSI Helmholzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH, 64291 Darmstadt, Germany.
- Department of Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany.
| | - Burkhard Jakob
- Department of Biophysics, GSI Helmholzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH, 64291 Darmstadt, Germany.
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23
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Li Y, Jia H, Chen S, Tian J, Liang L, Yuan F, Yu H, Li DDU. Single-shot time-gated fluorescence lifetime imaging using three-frame images. OPTICS EXPRESS 2018; 26:17936-17947. [PMID: 30114076 DOI: 10.1364/oe.26.017936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Qualitative and quantitative measurements of complex flows demand for fast single-shot fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLI) technology with high precision. A method, single-shot time-gated fluorescence lifetime imaging using three-frame images (TFI-TGFLI), is presented. To our knowledge, it is the first work to combine a three-gate rapid lifetime determination (RLD) scheme and a four-channel framing camera to achieve this goal. Different from previously proposed two-gate RLD schemes, TFI-TGFLI can provide a wider lifetime range 0.6 ~ 13ns with reasonable precision. The performances of the proposed approach have been examined by both Monte-Carlo simulations and toluene seeded gas mixing jet diagnosis experiments. The measured average lifetimes of the whole excited areas agree well with the results obtained by the streak camera, and they are 7.6ns (N2 = 7L/min; O2 < 0.1L/min) and 2.6ns (N2 = 19L/min; O2 = 1L/min) with the standard deviations of 1.7ns and 0.8ns among the lifetime image pixels, respectively. The concentration distributions of the quenchers and fluorescent species were further analyzed, and they are consistent with the experimental settings.
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24
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Chizhik AM, Wollnik C, Ruhlandt D, Karedla N, Chizhik AI, Hauke L, Hähnel D, Gregor I, Enderlein J, Rehfeldt F. Dual-color metal-induced and Förster resonance energy transfer for cell nanoscopy. Mol Biol Cell 2018; 29:846-851. [PMID: 29444956 PMCID: PMC5905297 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e17-05-0314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
We report a novel method, dual-color axial nanometric localization by metal--induced energy transfer, and combine it with Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) for resolving structural details in cells on the molecular level. We demonstrate the capability of this method on cytoskeletal elements and adhesions in human mesenchymal stem cells. Our approach is based on fluorescence-lifetime-imaging microscopy and allows for precise determination of the three-dimensional architecture of stress fibers anchoring at focal adhesions, thus yielding crucial information to understand cell-matrix mechanics. In addition to resolving nanometric structural details along the z-axis, we use FRET to gain precise information on the distance between actin and vinculin at focal adhesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Chizhik
- Third Institute of Physics-Biophysics, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Carina Wollnik
- Third Institute of Physics-Biophysics, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Daja Ruhlandt
- Third Institute of Physics-Biophysics, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Narain Karedla
- Third Institute of Physics-Biophysics, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.,Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alexey I Chizhik
- Third Institute of Physics-Biophysics, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lara Hauke
- Third Institute of Physics-Biophysics, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dirk Hähnel
- Third Institute of Physics-Biophysics, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ingo Gregor
- Third Institute of Physics-Biophysics, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.,Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jörg Enderlein
- Third Institute of Physics-Biophysics, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.,Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Florian Rehfeldt
- Third Institute of Physics-Biophysics, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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25
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Chizhik AM, Ruhlandt D, Pfaff J, Karedla N, Chizhik AI, Gregor I, Kehlenbach RH, Enderlein J. Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Nuclear Envelope Architecture Using Dual-Color Metal-Induced Energy Transfer Imaging. ACS NANO 2017; 11:11839-11846. [PMID: 28921961 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.7b04671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The nuclear envelope, comprising the inner and the outer nuclear membrane, separates the nucleus from the cytoplasm and plays a key role in cellular functions. Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), which are embedded in the nuclear envelope, control transport of macromolecules between the two compartments. Here, using dual-color metal-induced energy transfer (MIET), we determine the axial distance between Lap2β and Nup358 as markers for the inner nuclear membrane and the cytoplasmic side of the NPC, respectively. Using MIET imaging, we reconstruct the 3D profile of the nuclear envelope over the whole basal area, with an axial resolution of a few nanometers. This result demonstrates that optical microscopy can achieve nanometer axial resolution in biological samples and without recourse to complex interferometric approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Chizhik
- Third Institute of Physics, University of Göttingen , 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Daja Ruhlandt
- Third Institute of Physics, University of Göttingen , 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Janine Pfaff
- Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, University of Göttingen, Department of Molecular Biology, GZMB , 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Narain Karedla
- Third Institute of Physics, University of Göttingen , 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alexey I Chizhik
- Third Institute of Physics, University of Göttingen , 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ingo Gregor
- Third Institute of Physics, University of Göttingen , 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ralph H Kehlenbach
- Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, University of Göttingen, Department of Molecular Biology, GZMB , 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jörg Enderlein
- Third Institute of Physics, University of Göttingen , 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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