SPECTRAL IMAGING OF PHOTOLUMINESCENT MATERIALS

摘要

A system for infrared spectroscopic imaging comprises a light source (10) for illuminating an object to induce luminescent emission in the infrared wavelength range, an optical separator (40), for example a dichroic mirror or a beam splitter in combination with spectral filters, for spatially separating the emission into a first spectral image and a second spectral image, the first spectral image being formed from a shorter wavelength range of light than the second spectral image, and a detector (60) for detecting the first spectral image (70) and the second spectral image (75). The system is used for detecting fluorescence from nanostructures, such as carbon nanotubes, single walled nanotubes SWNT, or quantum dots, wherein a change in fluorescence intensity and/or wavelength is induced by an interaction of an analyte with said nanostructure. The nanostructure may be provided in a biological fluid or within a living or non-living cell.