title: Fluorescence lifetime-based sensing in tissues: a computational study.
abstract: We have numerically solved the photon diffusion equation to predict the distribution of light in a tissue model system with a uniform concentration of fluorophore. Our results show that time-dependent measurements of light propagation can be used to monitor the fluorescent lifetimes of a uniformly distributed fluorophore in tissues. With proper referencing, frequency-domain measurements of phase-shift, theta, may allow quantitation of fluorescent lifetimes, tau, independent of changes in the local absorption and scattering properties. These results point to a new approach for noninvasive diagnostic monitoring through quantitation of fluorescent lifetime, tau, when the lifetime of the fluorophore is comparable with photon migration times.
authors.affiliation: Purdue University, School of Chemical Engineering, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lakowicz
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Sevick-Muraca
mesh_terms: D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D004058:Diffusion; D005453:Fluorescence; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008027:Light; D008954:Models, Biological; D017785:Photons; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes