The Autoflorescence Lifetime Imaging And Spectroscopy for clinical and cultural heritage diagnostics – ALIAS project, is part of the PRIN project, promoted by MUR.

It is coordinated by Riccardo Cicchi, from CNR-INO, Sesto Fiorentino, with prof. Antonio Taddei University of Florence and Prof. Federica Alberta Villa, Politecnico of Milan.

Autofluorescence lifetime imaging and spectroscopy are very attractive techniques for clinical applications, as they exploit the optical properties of endogenous molecules such as collagens or NAD(P)H to provide label-free contrast and report structural and functional properties of cells and tissues at different stages of disease development. Autofluorescence lifetime represents a powerful tool also to distinguish regions in art works showing different compounds, based on their emission lifetime. Leveraging on a patented technology, ALIAS introduces a novel system, equipped with state-of-art multispectral autofluorescence lifetime imaging instrumentation, to provide real-time and multidimensional characterization of the specimens under bright background. Built around a common optical, electronic and data processing platform, the system will be integrated with two modular optical collection schemes, to exploit the benefits of such technique in both clinical and cultural heritage applications.

The ALIAS project aims to study novel applications and diagnostic protocols of autofluorescence lifetime imaging based on the development and use of a new interoperable prototype for both clinical and cultural heritage diagnostics:

• Upgrade of an autofluorescence lifetime imaging platform
• Development of an interoperable prototype
• Clinical diagnostics on surgical samples of gastro-intestinal tumour
• Characterization of protective and patinas used in cultural heritage

To learn more, contact:
Riccardo Cicchi, riccardo.cicchi@ino.cnr.it

The project ALIAS is funded by the European Union – Next Generation EU.
Website PRIN: https://prin.mur.gov.it/