BitMap and PicoQuant – progress in medical tissue imaging
Press Release
Research project hosted at PicoQuant focuses on developing multichannel photon detection methods for biomedical applications
Berlin (Germany), 29 January 2018 – PicoQuant and the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin are co-supervising an Early Stage Researcher (ESR) as part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions in the Innovative Training Networks H2020-MSCA-ITN.
During his stay at PicoQuant, the ESR is preparing a PhD thesis on Novel Applications for Spectrally Resolved Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (sFLIM).
The projects aim is to explore the feasibility and limits for quantitative separation of fluorescent markers in a strongly autofluorescing environment. The separation has been improved over the last years by using spectral confocal microscopy in combination with linear unmixing. However, the separation of multiple labels in biological samples still remains challenging, especially when strong tissue autofluorescence drowns out the response from specific labeled structures. By combining spectrally resolved detection with fluorescence lifetime measurements, simultaneous detection of spectral and lifetime parameters becomes possible, which is expected to significantly improve separation quality.
Early on in the research project, hard- and software parameters were established that are excellent for simultaneous spectrally resolved imaging and fluorescence lifetime measurement. In a cooperation with the Charité Berlin, the developed sFLIM detection set-up is used to investigate and analyze highly autofluorescent lung tissues that are labeled with multiple fluorophores. Applying a unique pattern matching technique1, a massive improved discrimination of these labels has been achieved.
1) Multi-target spectrally resolved fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy, T. Niehörster et al., Nature Methods, 257-262, 13(3), 2016
About PicoQuant
PicoQuant is a leading research and development company specializing in optoelectronics,
which was founded in 1996. The company, based in the science and technology park of Berlin-Adlershof, Germany, is a worldwide leader in the field of single photon counting applications. The product portfolio encompasses picosecond pulsed diode lasers and LEDs, photon counting instrumentation, fluorescence lifetime spectrometers, FLIM and FCS upgrade kits for laser scanning microscopes as well as time-resolved confocal and super-resolution microscopes. Since April 2008 Sales and Support in North America is handled by PicoQuant Photonics North America Inc. The PicoQuant group employs currently around 80 people.
Attachment
An sFLIM image of lung tissue labeled with three fluorophores (shown in false colors). The label locations are clearly visible against the otherwise strong autofluorescence background (shown in gray).
Red - label 1
Yellow - label 2
Green - label 3
Gray - tissue autofluorescence
Contact
Marta Kolonko
Marketing
Tel.: +49-30-1208820-0
E-Mail: mkt@picoquant.com
www.picoquant.com
