Low-intensity light detection methods for selected biophotonic applications

Optical methods are widely used in biophotonic applications. They can be used for imaging cellular structures and living tissues. They also provide a tool to analyse cell cultures and cell suspensions. For example fluorescence, optical absorption or optical scattering can account for the contrast mechanism. Luminescence has also found various application areas. Luminescence from modified gene reporters can be measured to quantify biological phenomena and dynamic processes. In this paper the principles of phase sensitive detection and photon counting instrumentation systems to detect low-intensity light are shortly reviewed. They are typically using a photomultiplier tube as a detecting element. We discuss the experimental approach and the potential application areas in the context of elastic light scattering measurements of single particles and cells as well as in characterization of tissue-mimicking phantoms. Moreover, we describe a photon counting measurement system for measuring luminescence and show some results of monitoring luminescence in supernatant samples from cell cultures. The same instrument is capable to measure elastic light scattering from single cells and tissue-mimicking phantoms by using a phase sensitive detection with small modifications.

[1]  J. L'Huillier,et al.  Measurements of Scattering Effects Within Tissue-like Media at Two Wavelengths of 632.8 nm and 680 nm , 1999, Lasers in Medical Science.

[2]  Risto Myllylä,et al.  Measurement of light scattering from trapped particles , 2010, Laser Applications in Life Sciences.

[3]  N N Ugarova,et al.  Luciferase of Luciola mingrelica fireflies. Kinetics and regulation mechanism. , 1989, Journal of bioluminescence and chemiluminescence.

[4]  Risto Myllylä,et al.  Measurement of elastic light scattering from two optically trapped microspheres and red blood cells in a transparent medium. , 2011, Optics letters.

[5]  Risto Myllylä,et al.  Elliptical optical tweezers for trapping a red blood cell aggregate , 2011 .

[6]  J C Hebden,et al.  Tissue phantom for optical diagnostics based on a suspension of microspheres with a fractal size distribution. , 2005, Journal of biomedical optics.

[7]  Valery V. Tuchin,et al.  Multi-layered tissue head phantoms for noninvasive optical diagnostics , 2015 .

[8]  L. Kricka,et al.  Advantages of firefly luciferase as a reporter gene: application to the interleukin-2 gene promoter. , 1989, Analytical biochemistry.

[9]  Angela A. Eick,et al.  Mechanisms of light scattering from biological cells relevant to noninvasive optical-tissue diagnostics. , 1998, Applied optics.

[10]  S. Jacques.  Optical properties of biological tissues: a review , 2013, Physics in medicine and biology.

[11]  T. Baldwin,et al.  Firefly luciferase: the structure is known, but the mystery remains. , 1996, Structure.

[12]  B. Pogue,et al.  Review of tissue simulating phantoms for optical spectroscopy, imaging and dosimetry. , 2006, Journal of biomedical optics.

[13]  A. Dunn,et al.  Light scattering from cells: finite-difference time-domain simulations and goniometric measurements. , 1999, Applied optics.

[14]  P. Marchand,et al.  Elastic light scattering from single cells: orientational dynamics in optical trap. , 2004, Biophysical journal.

[15]  Judith R Mourant,et al.  In vivo light scattering for the detection of cancerous and precancerous lesions of the cervix. , 2009, Applied optics.

[16]  A. van der Eb,et al.  A new technique for the assay of infectivity of human adenovirus 5 DNA. , 1973, Virology.

[17]  S. Jacques,et al.  Angular dependence of HeNe laser light scattering by human dermis , 1988 .

[18]  R M Doornbos,et al.  Elastic light-scattering measurements of single biological cells in an optical trap. , 1996, Applied optics.

[19]  Valery V. Tuchin,et al.  Optical tweezers-assisted measurements of elastic light scattering , 2014, Saratov Fall Meeting.

[20]  Valery V Tuchin,et al.  Optical clearing at cellular level , 2014, Journal of biomedical optics.

[21]  R Marchesini,et al.  Extinction and absorption coefficients and scattering phase functions of human tissues in vitro. , 1989, Applied optics.

[22]  Nitish V. Thakor,et al.  Light scattering spectroscopy and imaging of cellular and subcellular events , 2014 .

[23]  Stefan Andersson-Engels,et al.  Feasibility study of a system for combined light dosimetry and interstitial photodynamic treatment of massive tumors. , 2002, Applied optics.

[24]  V. Tuchin.  Tissue Optics: Light Scattering Methods and Instruments for Medical Diagnosis , 2000 .

[25]  Huafeng Ding,et al.  Angle-resolved Mueller matrix study of light scattering by B-cells at three wavelengths of 442, 633, and 850 nm. , 2007, Journal of biomedical optics.

[26]  Risto Myllylä,et al.  Effect of the size and shape of a red blood cell on elastic light scattering properties at the single-cell level , 2011, Biomedical optics express.

[27]  Alexander V. Priezzhev,et al.  Multilayer tissue phantoms with embedded capillary system for OCT and DOCT imaging , 2011, European Conference on Biomedical Optics.

[28]  Risto Myllylä,et al.  Elastic light scattering measurements from multiple red blood cells in elliptical optical tweezers , 2011, NanoScience + Engineering.