A setup consisting on a laser scanning microscope equipped with appropriate detection units was developed for time-resolved intracellular fluorescence spectroscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) for on-line detection of structural changes of various biomolecules. Short-pulsed excitation was performed with a diode laser which emits pulses at 398 nm with 70 ps duration. The laser was coupled to the laser scanning microscope. For time resolved spectroscopy a setup consisting of an Czerny Turner spectrometer and a MCP-gated and -intensified CCD camera was used. Time-gated spectra within the cells were acquired by placing the laser beam in "spot scan" mode. In addition, a time-correlated single photon counting module was used to determine the fluorescence lifetime from single spots and to record lifetime images (τ-mapping). The time-resolved fluorescence characteristics of 5-ALA (5-aminolevulinic-acid), as well as 5-ALAhe (5-aminolevulinic-acid-hexylester)- induced protoporphyrine IX (PPIX) were investigated before and during PDT with subcellular resolution. For cells which were incubated with 5-ALA, a component with a fluorescence lifetime of about 7 ns was correlated with a structured fluorescence, which probably coincides with mitochondria, whereas a shorter lifetime was found in the cytoplasm. In the case of 5-ALAhe the lifetime of PPIX was longer, which could be due to different localization. During PDT the component with the longer lifetime completely vanished, whereas the shorter liftime was retained. It seems that FLIM is a valuable method to selectively identify and localize the photodynamically active photosensitizer.
This work describes the time-resolved fluorescence characteristics
of two different photosensitizers in single cells, in detail
mTHPC and 5-ALA induced PPIX, which are currently clinically used
in photodynamic therapy. The fluorescence lifetime of the drugs was
determined in the cells from time-gated spectra as well as single photon
counting, using a picosecond pulsed diode laser for fluorescence
excitation. The diode laser, which emits pulses at 398 nm with 70 ps
full width at half maximum duration, was coupled to a confocal laser
scanning microscope. For time-resolved spectroscopy a setup consisting
of a Czerny Turner spectrometer and a MCP-gated and -intensified
CCD camera was used. Time-gated spectra within the cells were acquired
by placing the laser beam in ‘‘spot scan’’ mode. In addition, a
time-correlated single photon counting module was used to determine
the fluorescence lifetime from single spots and to record lifetime images.
The fluorescence lifetime of mTHPC decreased from 7.5 to 5.5
ns during incubation from 1 to 6 h. This decrease was probably attributed
to enhanced formation of aggregates during incubation. Fluorescence
lifetime imaging showed that longer lifetimes were correlated
with accumulation in the cytoplasm in the neighborhood of the cell
nucleus, whereas shorter lifetimes were found in the outer cytoplasm.
For cells that were incubated with 5-ALA, a fluorescence lifetime of
7.4 ns was found for PPIX; a shorter lifetime at 3.6 ns was probably
attributed to photoproducts and aggregates of PPIX. In contrast from
fluorescence intensity images alone, different fluorescence species
could not be distinguished. However, in the lifetime image a structured
fluorescence distribution in the cytoplasm was correlated with
the longer lifetime and probably coincides with mitochondria. In conclusion,
picosecond diode lasers coupled to a laser scanning microscope
equipped with appropriate detection units allows time-resolved
spectroscopy and lifetime imaging with high spatial resolution and
provides numerous possibilities in cellular and pharmaceutical research.
This article describes a setup for subcellular time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and fluorescence lifetime measurements using a confocal laser scanning microscope in combination with a short pulsed diode laser for fluorescence excitation and specimen illumination. The diode laser emits pulses at 398 nm wavelength with 70 ps full width at half maximum (FWHM) duration. The diode laser can be run at a pulse repetition rate of 40 MHz down to single shot mode. For time resolved spectroscopy a spectrometer setup consisting of an Czerny Turner spectrometer and a MCP-gated and -intensified CCD camera was used. Subcellular fluorescence lifetime measurements were achieved using a time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) module instead of the spectrometer setup. The capability of the short pulsed diode laser for fluorescence imaging, fluorescence lifetime measurements and time-resolved spectroscopy in combination with laser scanning microscopy is demonstrated by fluorescence analysis of several photosensitizers on a single cell level.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.