Time-resolved spectroscopy for improved therapies and clinical interventions

拉曼光谱是研究生物系统的一种信息丰富的技术，但它的使用具有挑战性，因为大量的背景荧光经常淹没信号。我们开发了一种新型的单光子雪崩二极管探测器，可以根据它们的到达时间来分离拉曼光子和荧光光子。成功的申请人将研究使用该检测器（并入成像系统）分离拉曼和荧光，以评估移植前的肝脏健康（其中荧光主导拉曼信号，与可能导致移植排斥的代谢变化相关），以及用于器官芯片设备，其中拉曼为荧光提供补充信息，例如将氧化还原电位和pH值与蛋白质表达和活性相关联。

Raman spectroscopy is a hugely informative technique for studying biological systems but its use is challenging because bulk background fluorescence often swamps the signal. We have developed a new type of detector employing Single Photon Avalanche Diodes that can be used to separate Raman photons from fluorescence photons on the basis of their arrival time. The successful applicant will investigate the use of this detector (incorporated into an imaging system) to separate Raman and Fluorescence for the assessment of liver health prior to transplant (where fluorescence dominates Raman signals associated with metabolic changes that may lead to transplant rejection), and for organ-on-chip devices where Raman gives complementary information to fluorescence e.g. correlating redox potential and pH with protein expression and activity.