Instant FLIM enables 4D in vivo lifetime imaging of intact and injured zebrafish and mouse brains

Yide Zhang, Ian H. Guldner, Evan L. Nichols, David Benirschke, Cody J. Smith, Siyuan Zhang, Scott S. Howard

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Traditional fluorescence microscopy is blind to molecular microenvironment information that is present in a fluorescence lifetime, which can be measured by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). However, most existing FLIM techniques are slowto acquire and process lifetime images, difficult to implement, and expensive.Herewe present instant FLIM, an analog signal processing method that allows real-Time streaming of fluorescence intensity, lifetime, and phasor imaging data through simultaneous image acquisition and instantaneous data processing. Instant FLIM can be easily implemented by upgrading an existing two-photon microscope using cost-effective components and our open-source software. We further improve the functionality, penetration depth, and resolution of instant FLIM using phasor segmentation, adaptive optics, and super-resolution techniques. We demonstrate through-skull intravital 3D FLIM of mouse brains to depths of 300 _m and present the first in vivo 4D FLIM of microglial dynamics in intact and injured zebrafish and mouse brains for up to 12 h.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)885-897
Number of pages13
JournalOptica
Volume8
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 20 2021
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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