Automated Phasor Segmentation of Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Data for Discriminating Pigments and Binders Used in Artworks
The non-invasive analysis of fluorescence from binders and pigments employed in mixtures in artworks is a major challenge in cultural heritage science due to the broad overlapping emission of different fluorescent species causing difficulties in the data interpretation. To improve the specificity of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/5/1475 |
| _version_ | 1797474434870673408 |
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| author | Sara Mattana Alice Dal Fovo João Luís Lagarto Maria Chiara Bossuto Vladislav Shcheslavskiy Raffaella Fontana Riccardo Cicchi |
| author_facet | Sara Mattana Alice Dal Fovo João Luís Lagarto Maria Chiara Bossuto Vladislav Shcheslavskiy Raffaella Fontana Riccardo Cicchi |
| author_sort | Sara Mattana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The non-invasive analysis of fluorescence from binders and pigments employed in mixtures in artworks is a major challenge in cultural heritage science due to the broad overlapping emission of different fluorescent species causing difficulties in the data interpretation. To improve the specificity of fluorescence measurements, we went beyond steady-state fluorescence measurements by resolving the fluorescence decay dynamics of the emitting species through time-resolved fluorescence imaging (TRFI). In particular, we acquired the fluorescence decay features of different pigments and binders using a portable and compact fibre-based imaging setup. Fluorescence time-resolved data were analysed using the phasor method followed by a Gaussian mixture model (GMM) to automatically identify the populations of fluorescent species within the fluorescence decay maps. Our results demonstrate that this approach allows distinguishing different binders when mixed with the same pigment as well as discriminating different pigments dispersed in a common binder. The results obtained could establish a framework for the analysis of a broader range of pigments and binders to be then extended to several other materials used in art production. The obtained results, together with the compactness and portability of the instrument, pave the way for future in situ applications of the technology on paintings. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:30:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-50f42c6fe76c4aa8a9a7cb74d6323726 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:30:02Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-50f42c6fe76c4aa8a9a7cb74d63237262023-11-23T23:24:54ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492022-02-01275147510.3390/molecules27051475Automated Phasor Segmentation of Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Data for Discriminating Pigments and Binders Used in ArtworksSara Mattana0Alice Dal Fovo1João Luís Lagarto2Maria Chiara Bossuto3Vladislav Shcheslavskiy4Raffaella Fontana5Riccardo Cicchi6National Institute of Optics—National Research Council (CNR-INO), Largo E. Fermi 6, 50125 Florence, ItalyNational Institute of Optics—National Research Council (CNR-INO), Largo E. Fermi 6, 50125 Florence, ItalyBiophotonics Platform, Champalimaud Clinical Centre, Champalimaud Foundation, Av. Brasilia, 1400-038 Lisbon, PortugalDepartment of Physics, University of Florence, Via G. Sansone 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, ItalyBecker & Hickl GmbH, Nunsdorfer Ring 7-9, 12277 Berlin, GermanyNational Institute of Optics—National Research Council (CNR-INO), Largo E. Fermi 6, 50125 Florence, ItalyNational Institute of Optics—National Research Council (CNR-INO), Largo E. Fermi 6, 50125 Florence, ItalyThe non-invasive analysis of fluorescence from binders and pigments employed in mixtures in artworks is a major challenge in cultural heritage science due to the broad overlapping emission of different fluorescent species causing difficulties in the data interpretation. To improve the specificity of fluorescence measurements, we went beyond steady-state fluorescence measurements by resolving the fluorescence decay dynamics of the emitting species through time-resolved fluorescence imaging (TRFI). In particular, we acquired the fluorescence decay features of different pigments and binders using a portable and compact fibre-based imaging setup. Fluorescence time-resolved data were analysed using the phasor method followed by a Gaussian mixture model (GMM) to automatically identify the populations of fluorescent species within the fluorescence decay maps. Our results demonstrate that this approach allows distinguishing different binders when mixed with the same pigment as well as discriminating different pigments dispersed in a common binder. The results obtained could establish a framework for the analysis of a broader range of pigments and binders to be then extended to several other materials used in art production. The obtained results, together with the compactness and portability of the instrument, pave the way for future in situ applications of the technology on paintings.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/5/1475time-resolved fluorescence imagingfluorescence lifetime imagingTCSPCphasor analysisGaussian mixture modelpigments |
| spellingShingle | Sara Mattana Alice Dal Fovo João Luís Lagarto Maria Chiara Bossuto Vladislav Shcheslavskiy Raffaella Fontana Riccardo Cicchi Automated Phasor Segmentation of Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Data for Discriminating Pigments and Binders Used in Artworks Molecules time-resolved fluorescence imaging fluorescence lifetime imaging TCSPC phasor analysis Gaussian mixture model pigments |
| title | Automated Phasor Segmentation of Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Data for Discriminating Pigments and Binders Used in Artworks |
| title_full | Automated Phasor Segmentation of Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Data for Discriminating Pigments and Binders Used in Artworks |
| title_fullStr | Automated Phasor Segmentation of Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Data for Discriminating Pigments and Binders Used in Artworks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Automated Phasor Segmentation of Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Data for Discriminating Pigments and Binders Used in Artworks |
| title_short | Automated Phasor Segmentation of Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Data for Discriminating Pigments and Binders Used in Artworks |
| title_sort | automated phasor segmentation of fluorescence lifetime imaging data for discriminating pigments and binders used in artworks |
| topic | time-resolved fluorescence imaging fluorescence lifetime imaging TCSPC phasor analysis Gaussian mixture model pigments |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/5/1475 |
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