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8589366 
Journal Article 
Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy: fundamentals and advances in instrumentation, analysis, and applications 
Datta, R; Heaster, TM; Sharick, JT; Gillette, AA; Skala, MC 
2020 
Yes 
Journal of Biomedical Optics
ISSN: 1083-3668
EISSN: 1560-2281 
25 
7 
1-43 
English 
SIGNIFICANCEFluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) is a powerful technique to distinguish the unique molecular environment of fluorophores. FLIM measures the time a fluorophore remains in an excited state before emitting a photon, and detects molecular variations of fluorophores that are not apparent with spectral techniques alone. FLIM is sensitive to multiple biomedical processes including disease progression and drug efficacy.AIMWe provide an overview of FLIM principles, instrumentation, and analysis while highlighting the latest developments and biological applications.APPROACHThis review covers FLIM principles and theory, including advantages over intensity-based fluorescence measurements. Fundamentals of FLIM instrumentation in time- and frequency-domains are summarized, along with recent developments. Image segmentation and analysis strategies that quantify spatial and molecular features of cellular heterogeneity are reviewed. Finally, representative applications are provided including high-resolution FLIM of cell- and organelle-level molecular changes, use of exogenous and endogenous fluorophores, and imaging protein-protein interactions with Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). Advantages and limitations of FLIM are also discussed.CONCLUSIONSFLIM is advantageous for probing molecular environments of fluorophores to inform on fluorophore behavior that cannot be elucidated with intensity measurements alone. Development of FLIM technologies, analysis, and applications will further advance biological research and clinical assessments. 
Index Medicus; cell heterogeneity; fluorescence lifetime; microscopy; image analysis