Compact imaging system with single-photon sensitivity and picosecond time resolution for fluorescence-guided surgery with lifetime imaging capability

We present a single-photon camera for fluorescence imaging capable of providing both intensity and images, with an accuracy better than 100ps; the camera was fabricated in standard CMOS technology. As a first step towards the study of biologically relevant samples, it was used to characterize in-vitro cultured melanoma cells labeled with indocyanine green (ICG) and ICG conjugated with cyclic pentapeptide (RGDfK). The application field would be fluorescence-guided surgical oncology.