Olivia Dasilva
Research Mentor: Theodore Goodson III
Mentor Department: Chemistry, LSA
Author(s): Olivia DaSilva, Theodore Goodson III, Rachel Schmidt
Session: Session 2 (10:00 AM – 10:50 AM)
Presentation Type: Poster 25
Abstract
Cells are complex structures that require an in-depth understanding of their components to analyze and treat various medical conditions in humans. To examine these components, researchers use fluorescent stains to visualize cellular structures, but this process can damage live samples. We are exploring a less invasive method using entangled two-photon absorption (ETPA). ETPA is a quantum imaging technique that utilizes entangled photons, which are pairs of linked particles, to excite fluorescent dyes at lower light intensities. This differs from the classical two-photon absorption (TPA), which involves higher-intensity lasers that can damage cells. We tested three fluorescent dyes using the well-researched Coumarin 307 and Zinc (II) tetraphenylporphyrin (ZnTPP) as reference standards for comparison. For each dye, we measured the maximum fluorescence emissions and TPA efficiency under controlled conditions to determine dye detectability in imaging applications. We analyzed these samples by measuring their one-photon absorption and emission spectra, determining quantum yield, and investigating classical two-photon absorption. We are currently collecting ETPA data for those dyes. We expect the results to demonstrate enhanced absorption at lower light intensity compared to classical TPA. These results would indicate the dyes can be useful for non-invasive imaging techniques. Overall, this quantum-based approach could deepen our understanding of complex biological systems and contribute to safer diagnoses and identification of diseases in medical imaging.
