Projects per year
Abstract
Time-gated luminescence microscopy using long-lifetime molecular probes can effectively eliminate autofluorescence to enable high contrast imaging. Here we investigate a new strategy of time-gated imaging for simultaneous visualisation of multiple species of microorganisms stained with long-lived complexes under low-background conditions. This is realized by imaging two pathogenic organisms (Giardia lamblia stained with a red europium probe and Cryptosporidium parvum with a green terbium probe) at UV wavelengths (320-400 nm) through synchronization of a flash lamp with high repetition rate (1 kHz) to a robust time-gating detection unit. This approach provides four times enhancement in signal-to-background ratio over non-time-gated imaging, while the average signal intensity also increases six-fold compared with that under UV LED excitation. The high sensitivity is further confirmed by imaging the single europium-doped Y₂O₂S nanocrystals (150 nm). We report technical details regarding the time-gating detection unit and demonstrate its compatibility with commercial epi-fluorescence microscopes, providing a valuable and convenient addition to standard laboratory equipment.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 6597 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-6 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Scientific Reports |
Volume | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 13 Oct 2014 |
Bibliographical note
Copyright the Author(s) 2014. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Practical implementation, characterization and applications of a multi-colour time-gated luminescence microscope'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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Rapid detection of rare-event cells by SUPER Dots: finding a needle in a haystack
Packer, N., Jin, D., Piper, J., Willows, R., Foote, S., Walsh, B., Dubljevic, V., MQRES, M. & CSC-MQRES (International), C.
12/09/13 → 11/09/16
Project: Research