Characterization of a large gated SPAD array for widefield NIR fluorescence lifetime imaging in vitro and in vivo

Optical imaging (OI) has become the most used alternative imaging tool for pre-clinical studies. Among all molecular imaging modalities, fluorescence optical imaging is central thanks to its high sensitivity, the numerous molecular probes available (either endogenous or exogenous) and its ability to simultaneously image multiple biomarkers or biological processes at various spatio-temporal scales. Especially, fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLI) has become an increasingly popular method, as it provides unique insights into the cellular micro-environment by non-invasively examining numerous intracellular parameters such as metabolic status, reactive oxygen species and intracellular pH.