Issue 3, 2014

Long-lived metal complexes open up microsecond lifetime imaging microscopy under multiphoton excitation: from FLIM to PLIM and beyond

Abstract

Lifetime imaging microscopy with sub-micron resolution provides essential understanding of living systems by allowing both the visualisation of their structure, and the sensing of bio-relevant analytes in vivo using external probes. Chemistry is pivotal for the development of the next generation of bio-tools, where contrast, sensitivity, and molecular specificity facilitate observation of processes fundamental to life. A fundamental limitation at present is the nanosecond lifetime of conventional fluorescent probes which typically confines the sensitivity to sub-nanosecond changes, whilst nanosecond background autofluorescence compromises the contrast. High-resolution visualization with complete background rejection and simultaneous mapping of bio-relevant analytes including oxygen – with sensitivity orders of magnitude higher than that currently attainable – can be achieved using time-resolved emission imaging microscopy (TREM) in conjunction with probes with microsecond (or longer) lifetimes. Yet the microsecond timescale has so far been incompatible with available multiphoton excitation/detection technologies. Here we realize for the first time microsecond-imaging with multiphoton excitation whilst maintaining the essential sub-micron spatial resolution. The new method is background-free and expands available imaging and sensing timescales 1000-fold. Exploiting the first engineered water-soluble member of a family of remarkably emissive platinum-based, microsecond-lived probes amongst others, we demonstrate (i) the first instance of background-free multiphoton-excited microsecond depth imaging of live cells and histological tissues, (ii) over an order-of-magnitude variation in the probe lifetime in vivo in response to the local microenvironment. The concept of two-photon TREM can be seen as “FLIM + PLIM” as it can be used on any timescale, from ultrafast fluorescence of organic molecules to slower emission of transition metal complexes or lanthanides/actinides, and combinations thereof. It brings together transition metal complexes as versatile emissive probes with the new multiphoton-excitation/microsecond-detection approach to create a transformative framework for multiphoton imaging and sensing across biological, medicinal and material sciences.

Graphical abstract: Long-lived metal complexes open up microsecond lifetime imaging microscopy under multiphoton excitation: from FLIM to PLIM and beyond

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
04 Jul 2013
Accepted
15 Oct 2013
First published
16 Oct 2013
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2014,5, 879-886

Long-lived metal complexes open up microsecond lifetime imaging microscopy under multiphoton excitation: from FLIM to PLIM and beyond

E. Baggaley, S. W. Botchway, J. W. Haycock, H. Morris, I. V. Sazanovich, J. A. G. Williams and J. A. Weinstein, Chem. Sci., 2014, 5, 879 DOI: 10.1039/C3SC51875B

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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