title: Use of scaling relations to extract intrinsic fluorescence lifetime of targets embedded in turbid media.
abstract: We present a novel method for estimating the intrinsic fluorescence lifetime of deeply embedded localized fluorophores. It is based on scaling relations, characteristic for turbid media. The approach is experimentally substantiated by successfully reconstructing lifetimes for targets at depths up to 14.5 mm. A derived correction factor was determined from the product of the transport-corrected scattering coefficient mu(s) (') and the index of refraction n(r). In addition, data from an array of detectors (> or =2) can be used to estimate mu(s) (')n(r). The suggested algorithm is a promising tool for diagnostic fluorescence, since lifetime can be a sensitive indicator of the fluorophore environment.
authors.affiliation: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. vchern@helix.nih.gov
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chernomordik
authors.forename: Moinuddin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amyot
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Riley
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gandjbakhche
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003102:Colloids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry / Q000379:methods*; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids