Singlet oxygen phosphorescence lifetime imaging based on a fluorescence lifetime imaging microscope.

Abstract

The feasibility of singlet oxygen phosphorescence (SOP) lifetime imaging microscope was studied on a modified fluorescence lifetime imaging microscope (FLIM). SOP results from the infrared radiative transition of O2(a(1)Δg → X(3)Σg(-)) and O2(a(1)Δg) was produced in a C60 powder sample via photosensitization process. To capture the very weak SOP signal, a dichroic mirror was placed between the objective and tube lens of the FLIM and used to divide the luminescence returning from the sample into two beams: the reflected SOP beam and the transmitted photoluminescence of C60 (C60-PL) beam. The C60-PL beam entered the scanner of the FLIM and followed the normal optical path of the FLIM, while the SOP steered clear of the scanner and directly entered a finely designed SOP detection channel. Confocal C60-PL images and nonconfocal SOP images were then simultaneously obtained by using laser-scanning mode. Experimental results show that (1) under laser-scanning mode, the obstacle to confocal SOP imaging is the infrared-incompatible scanner, which can be solved by using an infrared-compatible scanner. Confocal SOP imaging is also expected to be realized under stage-scanning mode when the laser beam is parked and meanwhile a pinhole is added into the SOP detection channel. (2) A great challenge to SOP imaging is its extraordinarily long imaging time, and selecting only a few interesting points from fluorescence images to measure their SOP time-dependent traces may be a correct compromise.