ABSTRACT

Because fluorescence emission is very sensitive to changes in functional and structural properties of molecules and molecular complexes in biological systems, fluorescence-based techniques play an important role on a broad area of biological and medical applications. This presentation will report progress in fluorescence spectroscopy and imaging techniques that has potential for non-invasive, non-destructive and real-time i) characterization, staging, and diagnosis of tissues and cells and ii) monitoring effects or efficacy of therapeutic interventions. Our current approach to the engineering of clinically compatible time-resolved (lifetime) fluorescence spectroscopy devices, and the applications of these devices to diagnosis at tissue and cellular levels, will be described. Key applications we are studying include in-vivo diagnosis of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques impacting stroke and heart disease, and intraoperative demarcation of brain tumor margins in patients. Finally, fluorescence imaging microscopy of bioconjugated semiconductor quantum dots as receptor-targeted probes for enhanced brain tumor delineation will be presented.