Study of Blood Porphyrin Spectral Profile for Diagnosis of Tumor Progression

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for approximately 3% of new cancer incidence and mortality in the United States. Unfortunately many RCC masses remain asymptomatic and nonpalpable until they are advanced. Diagnosis and localization of early carcinoma play an important role in the prevention and curative treatment of RCC. The autofluorescence of blood porphyrin of healthy and tumor induced in male SCID mice was analyzed using fluorescence and excitation spectroscopy. A significant contrast between normal and tumor blood could be established. Blood porphyrin fluorophore showed enhanced fluorescence band (around 630 nm) in function of the tumor growth. This indicates that either the autofluorescence intensity of the blood fluorescence may provide a good parameter for the “first approximation” characterization of the tumor stage.     

Study of ProtoPorphyrin IX Elimination by Body Excreta: A new Noninvasive Cancer Diagnostic Method?

This paper describes the elimination of porphyrins by feces. It was demonstrated that porphyrin accumulates substantially more in tumors than in normal tissues, and consequently more PPIX reaches the blood of patients and animals with tumors, and then, it needs to be eliminated. The fluorescence of feces revealed that there are large amounts of PPIX in the excreta of animals with cancer comparing with healthy animals. The autofluorescence of feces porphyrin extracted with acetone was analyzed using fluorescence spectroscopy of animals inoculated with DU145 cells into the prostate and healthy animals to monitor the PPIX concentration. Emission spectra were obtained by exciting the samples at 405 nm. Significant differences were observed in autofluorescence intensities measured in the 575–725 nm spectral regions for the studied groups. The results showed a noninvasive, simple, rapid and sensitive method to detect cancer by feces analysis.     

Measurement Conditions for Flow Cytometry Analyses of Cell Lines from Urological Carcinomas

Prerequisites for successful flow cytometry investigations are specific antibodies labeled with appropriate fluorochromes and negligible autofluorescence of the untreated cells at the wavelength of interest. The aim of this study was (a) to characterize frequently used urological carcinoma cell lines with regard to their autofluorescence properties, (b) to demonstrate the autofluorescence as a serious interfering factor on FACS analysis of urological carcinoma cell lines and (c) to suggest an alternative to avoid interfering autofluorescence. Twenty-one cell lines originating from prostate carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma and bladder cancer were included in this study. The various cell lines were read on a flow cytometer in comparison to human erythrocytes as cells with low fluorescence intensity. Urological cell lines show a high autofluorescence when flow cytometry analyses are performed at the frequently used excitation wavelengths at 405 and 488 nm. At excitation wavelength of 633 nm, this problem was reduced and most of the cell lines (14/21) were without autofluorescence at the emission wavelength of 785 nm. In addition, with a spectrofluorometer three exemplary cell lysates were investigated. The above observations were confirmed. The dye APC-Cy7 is one suitable fluorochrome for successful investigation under these measurement conditions.     

Laser-induced autofluorescence for medical diagnosis

The naturally occurring autofluorescence of cells and tissues is based on biomolecules containing intrinsic fluorophores, such as porphyrins, the amino acids tryptophan and tyrosine, and the coenzymes NADH, NADPH, and flavins. Coenzymes fluoresce in the blue/green spectral region (fluorecence lifetimes: 0.5–6 ns) and are highly sensitive indicators of metabolic function. Steadystate and time-resolved blue-green autofluorescence is, therefore, an appropriate measure of the function of the respiratory chain as well as of cellular and tissue damage. Autofluorescence in the yellow/red spectral region is based mainly on endogenous porphyrins and metalloporphyrins, such as coproporphyrin, protoporphyrin (fluorescence lifetime of porphyrin monomers: >10 ns), and Zn-protoporphyrin (2 ns). Various pathological microorganisms such asPropionibacterium acnes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Actinomyces odontolyticus, Bacteroides intermedius, andSaccharomyces cerevisiae are able to synthesize large amounts of these fluorophores and can therefore be located. This permits fluorescence-based detection of a variety of diseases, including early-stage dental caries, dental plaque, acne vulgaris, otitis externa, and squamous cell carcinoma. The sensitivity of noninvasive autofluorescence diagnostics can be enhanced by time-gated fluorescence measurements using an appropriate time delay between ultrashort laser excitation and detection. For example, videocameras with ultrafast shutters, in the nanosecond region, can be used to create caries images of the teeth. Alternatively, autofluorescence can be enhanced by stimulating protoporphyrin biosynthesis with the exogenously administered porphyrin precursor 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA). The fluorophore protoporphyrin IX (PP IX) is photolabile and photodynamically active. Irradiation of PP IX-containing tissue results in cytotoxic reactions which correlate with modifications in fluorescence due to photobleaching and singlet oxygen-dependent photoproduct formation. Therefore, on-line autofluorescence measurements during the phototreatment can yield information on the efficiency of ALA-based photodynamic therapy.     

Lung Cancer Detection by Native Fluorescence Spectra of Body Fluids—A Preliminary Study

Lung cancer takes a heavy toll every year, since the survival rate is not more than 15%. In this paper, we present results of a novel technique based on the autofluorescence of body fluids like blood plasma, acetone extract of cellular components, sputa and urine of lung cancer patients (N = 27). A set of ratio parameters based on the fluorescence peaks of tryptophan and elastin, in plasma and sputum; flavin, NADH (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and porphyrin in urine; porphyrin alone in acetone extract of formed elements, were all evaluated. Similar sets of ratios were obtained for age adjusted normal controls (N = 27) and all these ratios were given as inputs to multivariate (principle component and discriminant) analyses, which showed that the two groups could be classified with an accuracy of about 90%. Since the instrumentation involved was an ordinary steady state Xe lamp based spectrofluorometer, the technique is of significant advantage in screening and early detection of lung cancer in high risk population such as heavy smokers.     

Two-photon excited spectroscopies of ex vivo human skin endogenous species irradiated by femtosecond laser pulses

Two-photon excited spectroscopies from ex vivo human skin are investigated by using a femtosecond laser and a confocal microscope (Zeiss LSM 510 META). In the dermis, collagen is responsible for second harmonic generation (SHG); elastin, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), melanin and porphyrin are the primary endogenous sources of two-photon excited autofluorescence. In the epidermis, keratin,NADH, melanin and porphyrins contribute to autofluorescence signals. The results also show that the SHG spectra have the ability to shift with the excitation wavelength and the autofluorescence spectra display a red shift of the spectral peaks when increasing the excitation wavelength. These results may have practical implications for diagnosis of skin diseases.     

基于激光共焦扫描术的亚心形扁藻显微图像与光谱

采用激光共聚焦扫描显微技术,针对亚心形扁藻开展了研究.从获得的488 nm Ar+激光单光子激发的亚心形扁藻自体荧光光谱与图像,可知细胞内有一杯状叶绿体物质,其荧光峰值为682 nm,对应叶绿体发出的红色荧光.在单通道模式下,获得800 nm fs激光双光子激发的扁藻自体荧光光谱与图像,可知每个杯状叶绿体的内部有一个自体荧光更强的圆形物质.在双通道模式下,可分别获得小圆形物质的自体荧光图像,杯状叶绿体自体荧光图像,以及两个通道图像的叠加.进一步获得了双光子藻细胞荧光图的6个主要的荧光峰.采用单光子激光激发可获得亚心形扁藻叶绿体自体荧光图像及其荧光光谱,而双光子激光激发荧光光谱的多通道以及Lambda模式下采集光谱信号与图像,不仅可观察到亚心形扁藻的内部形态结构,还可能从双光子激发荧光图中研究分析亚心形扁藻生化物质的存在,灵敏度较单光子激发高.激光扫描共聚焦显微技术,特别是双光子荧光与图像技术可为海藻的检测与研究提供一种快速、实时、有效、简便的方法.     

Label-Free Spatial Analysis of Free and Enzyme-Bound NAD(P)H in the Presence of High Concentrations of Melanin

The analysis of autofluorescence, often regarded as undesired noise during the imaging of biological samples, allows label free, unbiased detection of NAD(P)H and melanin in native samples. Because both the emission and absorption spectra of these fluorophores overlap and they can hence not be differentiated using emission filters or with different excitation wavelengths, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) is used to differentiate between them. In the present paper the application of two-photon excitation microscopy is presented to investigate the autofluorescence of fungal spores. The model organism which was examined is Aspergillus ochraceus. Furthermore a strategy is developed which allows to quantitatively analyze the fluorescence lifetimes of melanin, free NAD(P)H and protein-bound NAD(P)H using forward convolution of a multiexponential decay function with the instrument response function (IRF) and subsequent fitting to the experimental fluorescence data. As a consequence proteins, which are able to bind NAD(P)H, are located with sub-cellular resolution. Furthermore a spatial differentiation of the fluorophores NAD(P)H and melanin inside the spores, is revealed.     

荧光光谱法检测角膜晚期糖基化终末产物研究

晚期糖基化终末产物（AGEs）是一种结构多样的化合物,在人体血糖高于正常范围时,会大量产生且不能通过自身代谢降解,具有血糖长期异常的记忆作用。研究表明AGEs是引起糖尿病及其并发症的重要因素之一,通过检测体内AGEs的积累情况可以预测糖尿病及其并发症的发生和发展进程。现有的离体AGEs检测方法存在操作复杂、时间较长、成本较高和不易推广等问题;在体AGEs检测方法存在皮肤色素、年龄和血红蛋白干扰等问题。为此,基于角膜良好的光学特性和AGEs的自体荧光特性,提出一种角膜晚期糖基化终末产物荧光光谱检测方法。构建了一套角膜AGEs荧光光谱检测系统,系统由微型光纤光谱仪、集成LED激发光源、Y型12+1光纤和PC端光谱处理显示软件组成。荧光光谱检测系统采用激发光源波长分别为370和395 nm在暗室条件下对17名志愿者（男性9人,女性8人,糖尿病患者4人,年龄最小15周岁,最大81周岁）进行数据采集,得到激发光波长分别为370和395 nm的荧光光谱数据。为了准确识别荧光光谱中的有用信息,先截取需要的荧光光谱数据段（450~700 nm）,然后对其进行去除背景噪声、归一化、小波变化等方法处理,可以将荧光光谱中不明显的荧光峰值进行放大和识别。实验结果发现,采用波长为370和395 nm的LED作为激发光源,检测到角膜发射的荧光光谱范围在420~600 nm内,并且都分别在450~500,500~550和550~600 nm三个范围内存在光谱峰值。根据荧光性物质的荧光峰值与激发光波长无关的原理,表明两种不同波长的激发光所得到的荧光光谱都是由同一种物质AGEs产生。对糖尿病患者和正常人的荧光峰值强度进行分析,显示糖尿病患者的荧光强度明显高于正常人,表明本研究通过荧光光谱法检测角膜晚期糖基化终末产物具有可行性。     

Stationary spectroscopy of biotissues in vivo: Fluorescent studies of some pathological states

The stationary spectra of autofluorescence, along with the reflection coefficient at the wavelength of excitation, are measured in vivo for some stomach tissues in the case of different pathological states (dysplasia, superficial gastritis, and cancer) using a nitrogen laser as the source of excitation (λ_rad=337.1 nm). The fluorescence spectra obtained are decomposed into Gaussian-Lorentzian components. It is found that, in development of dysplasia and tumor processes, at least seven groups of fluorophores can be distinguished that form the entire emission spectrum. The ratio between the fluorescence intensities of flavins and NAD(P)H is determined and the degree of respiratory activity of cells estimated for the states considered. The quantum yields of fluorescence of the biotissues under investigation are estimated.     

肿瘤发展过程中类胡萝卜素、卟啉代谢的模拟及其荧光分析

通过肿瘤发展过程中类胡萝卜素、卟啉代谢的模拟及其荧光分析,研究了类胡萝卜素对血清荧光法癌诊断的影响。采取肘静脉血制取血清,采用光致发光的方法研究了血清中的发光中心,模拟癌发展过程中类胡萝卜素和卟啉的代谢水平对血清荧光癌诊断方法的影响。血清中主要的发光是来自具有共轭基团的血清蛋白、类胡萝卜素和卟啉的电子跃迁。随着血清中类胡萝卜素含量的增加,520nm荧光峰强度提高,614nm附近的波谷亦升高,诊断I值(荧光强度的比值,见引言中公式(1))会下降即降低了癌诊断的阳性率。     

F?rster双分子猝灭作用对卟啉侧链聚合物荧光衰变的影响

通过采用时间分辨荧光光谱技术测量了一种卟啉侧链聚合物薄膜：卟啉丙烯酸酯—苯乙烯共聚物poly［porphyrin acrylate-styrene］ (P［(por)A-S］)在高激发密度下的瞬态荧光特性.实验发现,P［(por)A-S］样品的荧光衰减随聚合物分子浓度的增大而加快.利用Frster机制的双分子猝灭理论对其浓度猝灭的原因进行了分析,理论结果与实验结果符合较好.研究表明,在高激发密度的情况下,Frster机制的双分子作用是加快卟啉侧链聚合物初始荧光衰减和降低其发光效率的主要因素. 关键词： 双分子猝灭 Frster机制 瞬态荧光 卟啉侧链聚合物     

Laser-Induced Fluorescence at 488 nm Excitation for Detecting Benign and Malignant Lesions in Stomach Mucosa

This work aims the detection of the histopathologic alterations of in vitro human gastric mucosa using spectral informations from laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (LIFS) technique with excitation at 488 nm (argon laser). A total of 108 biopsies with endoscopic diagnosis of gastritis and gastric cancer were obtained at the antral gastric region, from 35 patients with dyspeptic digestive complaints. The biopsies were collected during the endoscopic examination. On each biopsy fragment the autofluorescence spectrum was collected in two random points, through a fiber-optic catheter coupled to the excitation laser. The fluorescence emission spectra collected by the fibers were directed to the spectrograph and detected by the CCD camera. The spectra were then separated in groups (N, normal; LI, light inflammation; MI, moderated inflammation; CA, adenocarcinoma), based on the histopathology. The ratio between the emission wavelengths 550 and 600 nm was used as a diagnostic parameter. Analysis of fluorescence spectra was able to identify the normal tissue from adenocarcinoma lesions with 100% of sensibility and specificity. The ratio intensities between inflammation (light and moderated), although presented significantly statistical differences when compared to the normal mucosa, do not furnish enough sensibility and specificity for use as an identification method due to high variations. LIFS, with excitation of 488 nm, could be used in the differentiation of normal tissue and neoplasic lesions, assisting a less invasive diagnosis.     

Steady state and time-resolved autofluorescence studies of human colonic tissues

Steady state and time-resolved autofluorescence spectroscopies are employed to study the autofluorescence characteristics of human colonic tissues in vitro. The excitation wavelength varies from 260 to 540 nm, and the corresponding fluorescence emission spectra are acquired from 280 to 800 nm. Significant difference in fluorescence intensity of excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) is observed between normal and tumor colonic tissues. Compared with normal colonic tissue, low nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) (NAD(P)H) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), and high amino acids and protoporphyrin Ⅸ (PpⅨ) fluorescences characterize high-grade malignant tissue. Moreover, the autofluorescence lifetimes of normal and carcinomatous colonic tissues at 635 nm under 397-nm excitation are about 4.32±0.12 and 18.45±0.05 ns, respectively. The high accumulation of endogenous PpⅨ in colonic cancers is demonstrated in both steady state and time-resolved autofluorescence spectroscopies.     

Sensing cell metabolism by time-resolved autofluorescence

We built a time-resolved confocal fluorescence spectroscopy system equipped with the multichannel time-correlated single-photon-counting technique. The instrument provides a unique approach to study the fluorescence sensing of cell metabolism via analysis of the wavelength- and time-resolved intracellular autofluorescence. The experiments on monolayered cell cultures show that with UV excitation at 365 nm the time-resolved autofluorescence decays, dominated by free-bound reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide signals, are sensitive indicators for cell metabolism. However, the sensitivity decreases with the increase of excitation wavelength possibly due to the interference from free-bound flavin adenine dinucleotide fluorescence. The results demonstrate that time-resolved autofluorescence can be potentially used as an important contrast mechanism to detect epithelial precancer.     

基于金/银纳米三明治结构SERS特性的超灵敏前列腺特异性抗原检测

基于金/银纳米三明治结构的表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)特性, 实现了前列腺特异性抗原(PSA)高灵敏度免疫检测, 检测结果具有特异性。采用化学还原法制备金、银纳米粒子, 用4-巯基苯甲酸(4-MBA)及前列腺特异性抗体(Anti-PSA)链接金、银纳米粒子制备免疫探针, 在硅片表面原位生长金、银纳米粒子并链接Anti-PSA制备得到免疫基底。将免疫探针、免疫基底以及PSA组成三明治结构, 进行基于SERS特性的免疫检测。实验结果表明, 纳米银免疫探针与纳米银免疫基底组成的三明治结构具有最佳的检测效果, PSA的检测灵敏度低至1.8fg/mL(3.490吆^-18mol/L), 可应用于前列腺癌症的早期检测与诊断。     

眼底视网膜色素上皮层细胞脂褐素及氧化黑色素自体荧光寿命成像研究

利用一种基于时间相关单光子计数器的双光子激发荧光寿命显微成像技术，对猪眼底视网膜色素上皮层细胞内的脂褐素和氧化黑色素颗粒的空间分布及其荧光寿命特性进行了研究，尤其对于这些色素颗粒在光致氧化环境中的荧光寿命差异进行了分析.结果表明，利用荧光寿命测量能有效区分视网膜色素上皮层细胞中的多组分荧光团，利用荧光寿命的衰减参数可分辨正常及异常的荧光现象.该方法有望发展成为一种用于眼科临床诊断及病理学研究的高灵敏度的工具，对眼底细胞随年龄增长的衰老机理的研究具有重要的意义.     

Development of Low-Cost Instrumentation for Single Point Autofluorescence Lifetime Measurements

Autofluorescence lifetime measurements, which can provide label-free readouts in biological tissues, contrasting e.g. different types and states of tissue matrix components and different cellular metabolites, may have significant clinical potential for diagnosis and to provide surgical guidance. However, the cost of the instrumentation typically used currently presents a barrier to wider implementation. We describe a low-cost single point time-resolved autofluorescence instrument, exploiting modulated laser diodes for excitation and FPGA-based circuitry for detection, together with a custom constant fraction discriminator. Its temporal accuracy is compared against a “gold-standard” instrument incorporating commercial TCSPC circuitry by resolving the fluorescence decays of reference fluorophores presenting single and double exponential decay profiles. To illustrate the potential to read out intrinsic contrast in tissue, we present preliminary measurements of autofluorescence lifetime measurements of biological tissues ex vivo. We believe that the lower cost of this instrument could enhance the potential of autofluorescence lifetime metrology for clinical deployment and commercial development.     

Nonlinear Excitation of Tryptophan Emission Enhanced by Silver Nanoparticles

We measured and analyzed the behavior of the fluorescence of tryptophan water solutions with and without silver nanoparticles, excited by one, two and three photon processes. Two different colloids with silver nanoparticles with distinct diameters (0.65 nm and 9 nm) were used in the experiments. Fluorescence quenching was observed with one and two photon excitation. However, upon three-photon excitation, significant fluorescence enhancement was observed in the colloid. In this case excitation of the amino acid is assisted by the nonlinear absorption of infrared light by the silver nanoparticles. In this paper we are proposing a new way to explore metallic nanoparticles to enhance autofluorescence of biomolecules.     

眼底视网膜色素上皮层细胞脂褐素及氧化黑色素自体荧光寿命成像研究

利用一种基于时间相关单光子计数器的双光子激发荧光寿命显微成像技术,对猪眼底视网膜色素上皮层细胞内的脂褐素和氧化黑色素颗粒的空间分布及其荧光寿命特性进行了研究,尤其对于这些色素颗粒在光致氧化环境中的荧光寿命差异进行了分析.结果表明,利用荧光寿命测量能有效区分视网膜色素上皮层细胞中的多组分荧光团,利用荧光寿命的衰减参数可分辨正常及异常的荧光现象.该方法有望发展成为一种用于眼科临床诊断及病理学研究的高灵敏度的工具,对眼底细胞随年龄增长的衰老机理的研究具有重要的意义. 关键词： 双光子激发荧光 荧光寿命成像 视网膜色素上皮层