This monograph focuses on modern femtosecond laser microscopes for two photon imaging and nanoprocessing, on laser tweezers for cell micromanipulation as well as on fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) in Life Sciences. The book starts with an introduction by Dr. Wolfgang Kaiser, pioneer of nonlinear optics and ends with the chapter on clinical multiphoton tomography, the novel high resolution imaging technique. It includes a foreword by the nonlinear microscopy expert Dr. Colin Sheppard. Contents Part I: Basics Brief history of fluorescence lifetime imaging The long journey to the laser and its use for nonlinear optics Advanced TCSPC-FLIM techniques Ultrafast lasers in biophotonics Part II: Modern nonlinear microscopy of live cells STED microscopy: exploring fluorescence lifetime gradients for super-resolution at reduced illumination intensities Principles and applications of temporal-focusing wide-field two-photon microscopy FLIM-FRET microscopy TCSPC FLIM and PLIM for metabolic imaging and oxygen sensing Laser tweezers are sources of two-photon effects Metabolic shifts in cell proliferation and differentiation Femtosecond laser nanoprocessing Cryomultiphoton imaging Part III: Nonlinear tissue imaging Multiphoton Tomography (MPT) Clinical multimodal CARS imaging In vivo multiphoton microscopy of human skin Two-photon microscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging of the cornea Multiscale correlative imaging of the brain Revealing interaction of dyes and nanomaterials by multiphoton imaging Multiphoton FLIM in cosmetic clinical research Multiphoton microscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging for resection guidance in malignant glioma surgery Non-invasive single-photon and multi-photon imaging of stem cells and cancer cells in mouse models Bedside assessment of multiphoton tomography

This monograph demonstrates the latest developments in two-photon fluorescence microscopy and second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy, including coverage of high-resolution microscopy methods, such as STED microscopy. A special focus lies on clinical applications of these methods, e.g. in dermatology, ophtalmology, neuro sciences and cell biology.

Time-correlated Single Photon Counting has been written in the hope that by relating the authors' experiences with a variety of different single photon counting systems, they may provide a useful service to users and potential users of this formidably sensitive technique. Of all the techniques available to obtain information on the rates of depopulation of excited electronic singlet states of molecular species, monitoring of fluorescence provides, in principle, the simplest and most direct measure of concentration. This volume comprises eight chapters, with the first focusing on the time dependence and applications of fluorescence. Succeeding chapters go on to discuss basic principles of the single photon counting lifetime measurement; light sources; photomultipliers; electronics; data analysis; nanosecond time-resolved emission spectroscopy; time dependence of fluorescence anisotropy. This book will be of interest to practitioners in the field of chemistry.

This book focuses on the emerging non-invasive imaging technique of Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Ophthalmoscopy (FLIO). FLIO reveals unique information on retinal diseases, ranging from age-related macular degeneration and vascular diseases to hereditary retinal dystrophies. Fluorescence lifetimes enable the evaluation of disease progression before irreversible structural changes occur. The image acquisition is suitable for diagnostic purposes and follow-up examinations to investigate the natural course of disease, and to monitor the effects of possible therapies. This book fills the gap between available literature and gives state-of-the-art guidance on the principles of the FLIO technique, image acquisition, and data analysis. Written by a team of expert leaders within this field, this book will be relevant for scientists and clinicians with an interest in ophthalmoscopy.

In the last decade multiphoton excitation microscopy has emerged as an important technique with ever increasing numbers of significant applications in the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, and medicine. This volume contains key papers on the following topics: developments of nonlinear optical spectroscopy and nonlinear scanning microscopy (SHG, CARS); theory and techniques of multiphoton excitation microscopy; development of laser sources; single-molecule studies; and applications to biology, cell biology, embryology and developmental biology, neuroscience, dermatology, and optical biopsy. A comprehensive bibliography follows the reprinted papers.

During the past two decades, there has been an increasing appreciation of the significant value that lifetime-based techniques can add to biomedical studies and applications of fluorescence. Bringing together perspectives of different research communities, Fluorescence Lifetime Spectroscopy and Imaging: Principles and Applications in Biomedical Dia

Advances in technology have revolutionized the development of light microscopy techniques in biomedical research, thus improving visualization of the microstructure of cells and tissues under physiological conditions. Fluorescence microscopy methods are non-contact and non-invasive and provide high spatial and temporal resolution that other laboratory techniques cannot. This well-illustrated book targets graduate students and scientists who are new to the state-of-the-art fluorescence microscopy techniques used in biological and clinical imaging. It explains basic concepts and imaging procedures for wide-field, confocal, multiphoton excitation, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), lifetime imaging (FLIM), spectral imaging, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), optical tweezers, total internal reflection, high spatial resolution atomic force microscopy (AFM), and bioluminescence imaging for gene expression. The usage of these techniques in various biological applications, including calcium, pH, membrane potential, mitochondrial signaling, protein-protein interactions under various physiological conditions, and deep tissue imaging, is clearly presented. The authors describe the approaches to selecting epifluorescence microscopy, the detectors, and the image acquisition and processing software for different biological applications. Step-by-step directions on preparing different digital formats for light microscopy images on websites are also provided.

Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy IV, Volume 162, a new volume in the Methods in Cell Biology series, continues the legacy of this premier serial with quality chapters authored by leaders in the field. Besides the detailed description of protocols for CLEM technologies including time-resolution, Super resolution LM and Volume EM, new chapters cover Workflow (dis)-advantages/spiderweb, Serial section LM + EM, Platinum clusters as CLEM probes, Correlative Light Electron Microscopy with a transition metal complex as a single probe, SEM-TEM-SIMS, HPF-CLEM, A new workflow for high-throughput screening of mitotic mammalian cells for electron microscopy using classic histological dyes, and more. - Contains contributions from experts in the field - Covers topics using nano-SIMS and EDX for CLEM - Presents recent advances and currently applied correlative approaches - Gives detailed protocols, allowing for the application of workflows in one's own laboratory setting - Covers CLEM approaches in the context of specific applications - Aims to stimulate the use of new combinations of imaging modalities

This book, now in a thoroughly revised second edition, offers a comprehensive review of the rapidly growing field of optogenetics, in which light-sensing proteins are genetically engineered into cells in order to acquire information on cellular physiology in optical form or to enable control of specific network in the brain upon activation by light. Light-sensing proteins of various living organisms are now available to be exogenously expressed in neurons and other target cells both in vivo and in vitro. Cellular functions can thus be manipulated or probed by light. The new edition documents fully the extensive progress since publication of the first edition to provide an up-to-date overview of the physical, chemical, and biological properties of light-sensing proteins and their application in biological systems, particularly in neuroscience but also in medicine and the optical sciences. Underlying principles are explained and detailed information provided on a wide range of optogenetic tools for the observation and control of cellular signaling and physiology, gene targeting technologies, and optical methods for biological applications. In presenting the current status of optogenetics and emerging directions, this milestone publication will be a “must read” for all involved in research in any way related to optogenetics.