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量巨大的技术，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。我们研制了一种使用单光子雪崩二极管的新型探测器，它可以根据喇曼光子和荧光光子的到达时间来分离它们。成功的申请者将研究使用这种检测器(集成到成像系统中)来分离拉曼和荧光，以在移植前评估肝脏健康(其中荧光主导与可能导致移植排斥反应的代谢变化相关的拉曼信号)，以及用于器官芯片设备，其中拉曼提供荧光的补充信息，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.