# Oxygen imaging by phosphorescence quenching

> **NIH NIH U24** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2020 · $319,934

## Abstract

A Resource for Oxygen Imaging by Phosphorescence Quenching
Project Summary
 Real-time, minimally invasive and spatially resolved measurements of tissue oxygenation have the
potential to transform our understanding of many clinical problems, including those in tumor biology,
management of stroke, ophthalmology, tissue regeneration, to name a few. Over the years our laboratory has
developed a minimally invasive method for dynamic imaging of oxygen in biological systems, known as
phosphorescence quenching oximetry. Recently, the method has been expanded by two-photon
phosphorescence lifetime microscopy (2PLM), enabling dynamic imaging of oxygen gradients in tissues in 3D
with micron-scale resolution, opening new horizons for research in neuroscience, stem cell biology, cancer
immunology, tissue engineering and several other areas. Even more recently, the combination of
phosphorescence with Cherenkov-Excited Luminescence Scanned Imaging (CELSI) enabled tomography of
oxygen in 3D in pre-clinical setting in tissues undergoing radiation therapy. At the same time,
phosphorescence-based oximetry is increasingly drawing attention from the medical community for its potential
to directly evaluate physiologic status of tissue under trauma, optimize efficacy of blood transfusion as well as
a marker in monitoring progress of photodynamic and radiation therapies. These and other applications have
set the stage for broad dissemination of the phosphorescence technology across different biomedical fields.
 At the heart of the phosphorescence quenching method are special oxygen probes, developed and
continuously optimized in our laboratory. The synthesis of these probes, including the newest and the most
potent probe Oxyphor 2P, is not simple, and standard commercialization pathways are presently not feasible.
Here we propose to establish a U24 Resource that would allow us to sustain synthesis of phosphorescent
probes, making them available to a broad range of biomedical researchers across different fields.
Simultaneously, we will generate software for measuring/imaging oxygen by phosphorescence lifetime and will
establish a center to provide consultations and training of new users interested in the method. The work will be
performed at two closely collaborating sites: the University of Pennsylvania (probe chemistry, software
development) and Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at the MGH (software development, user training).
Our laboratories have long history of productive collaboration as well as multiple collaborations and contacts
with researchers interested in oxygen. These collaborations along with the past experience of running a
neuroscience research resource will help us to establish an effective program, making the phosphorescence-
based oximetry accessible to a broad user base.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10022378
- **Project number:** 5U24EB028941-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Sergei Vinogradov
- **Activity code:** U24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $319,934
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-30 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10022378

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10022378, Oxygen imaging by phosphorescence quenching (5U24EB028941-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10022378. Licensed CC0.

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