Advanced time-resolved optical sensing and imaging systems for biomedical and environmental applications

光子学和电子技术的最新进展是许多新型光子学器件开发背后的驱动力之一。在这些设备技术中，已经研究了光学传感和成像在生命科学研究（例如显微成像和分析仪器）、环境传感（例如水质监测）和医学诊断（例如内窥镜成像和实验室测试仪器）中的应用。*******大多数仪器和设备通过测量空间（如成像）和光谱（如光谱学）领域的光强振幅来工作。时间相关的强度变化，特别是在高速下，并没有得到广泛的应用，即使许多可行性研究表明，它们为许多应用提供了重要的信息。例如，与基于密集的测量相比，荧光寿命成像（FLIM）可以在1-10纳米尺度上提供更有效的蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用测量，这在药物发现过程中非常有用。然而，目前还没有商用的高含量筛选仪器具有高分辨率FLIM能力来测量蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用。另一个例子是溶解氧（DO）测量。尽管商用调频DO仪器已经存在了10多年，但小型化的芯片实验室DO测量仍然依赖于稳态技术，通常每个成本超过1000美元。*******在提出的研究计划中，我们计划研究将光子学，微电子学和机械元件集成到下一代时间分辨光学传感器/成像仪中。具体而言，我们将****1)开发具有最高采集速度和高时空分辨率的FLIM显微镜技术；****2)开发集成的时间分辨紧凑型光流体传感器设备，能够连续测量，同时保持低成本；****3)开发针对检测技术的定制计算算法，实现准确、快速的时域参数检索。*******提出的先进传感和成像技术项目将得到麦克马斯特大学世界一流的微/纳米材料合成、组件制造、表征和设备集成设施的支持。该项目将侧重于集成时域光学传感和成像设备技术的开发。这些技术的应用包括生命科学分析仪器、用于药物发现的自动显微镜和环境监测。这些应用的研究将得到基于项目的资助机制的支持，包括NSERC、OCE和CIHR

Recent advances in photonics and electronics technologies are one of the driving forces behind many novel photonics devices development. Among these device technologies, optical sensing and imaging have been investigated for applications in life sciences research (e.g. microscopic imaging and analytical instruments), environmental sensing (e.g. water quality monitoring) and medical diagnosis (e.g. endoscopic imaging and laboratory test instruments).*******The majority of the instruments and devices operate by measuring the amplitude of the light intensity in the spatial (e.g. imaging) and spectral (e.g. spectroscopy) domain. Time-dependent intensity variation, especially at high speed, are not as widely used, even when many feasibility studies demonstrated that they provide important information for many applications. For example, comparing to intensive based measurements, fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) can provide more efficient measure of protein-protein interaction at 1-10 nm scale, which could be very useful in drug discovery process. However, there is no commercial high content screening instrument with a high resolution FLIM capability for measuring protein-protein interaction. Another example is dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements. Although commercial frequency modulated DO instruments exist for more than 10 years, miniaturized lab-on-chip DO measurements are still relying on steady-state techniques and usually cost over $1000 each.*******In the proposed research program, we plan to study the integration of photonics, microelectronics, and mechanical components into next generation time-resolved optical sensors/imagers. Specifically, we will****1) develop technologies towards a FLIM microscope with the highest acquisition speed with high spatial and temporal resolution;****2) develop integrated time-resolved compact optofluidics sensor devices capable of continuous measurements while remain low-cost;****3) develop customized computational algorithms tailored to the detection technologies for accurate and fast time-domain parameter retrieval.*******The proposed advanced sensing and imaging technology program will be supported by the world class Micro/Nano material synthetization, component fabrication, characterization, and device integration facilities available at McMaster. The program will focus on integrated time-domain optical sensing and imaging device technology development. The applications of such technologies include life science analytical instruments, automated microscopy for drug discovery, and environmental monitoring. Research in these applications will be supported by project-based funding mechanisms including NSERC, OCE, and CIHR.***