Ultrasensitive bioanalytical imaging

Bio- and chemiluminescence imaging combines the high sensitivity of luminescence detection techniques with the possibility to localize and quantify signal emission down to the single-photon level, employing state-of-the art light imaging devices. These techniques have been employed for the development of sensitive analytical methods based on the evaluation of the spatial distribution of the photons emitted from the sample surface, both in macro- and microsamples. The use of imaging detection offers the possibility to exploit the analytical features of bio- and chemiluminescence for the rapid and precise analyte quantification in membrane-based assays and for the development of high-throughput methods in high-density microtiter plate formats. Furthermore, the high detectability of the bio- and chemiluminescent analytical signal also in small volumes makes it appropriate for miniaturized bioanalytical formats (e.g., microarrays, microfluidic devices) suitable for high-throughput screening assays and for point-of-care applications. Finally, bio- and chemiluminescence detection have also been employed for the sensitive localization and quantification of target analytes (metabolites, enzymes, proteins, and nucleic acids) in tissue sections and single cells, also in multiplexed formats and for the monitoring of biomolecular interactions.