Metrological framework for the practical use of luminescence thermometry in healthcare

Luminescence thermometry uses nanoscale materials, like semiconductor nanocrystals or doped nanoparticles, to measure temperature changes around cells and within tissues. These materials, which can be used to locate sites of inflammation or monitor the effects of certain therapies, emit light with a characteristic, temperature-sensitive spectrum. Typically, these emissions are at visible wavelengths, which can be detected using conventional fluorescence microscopes, but infrared emitters are also being developed for deeper tissue penetration and have application in oncology and brain monitoring. However, practical application of the method is limited by some critical challenges. These include environmental interference, the technical demands of long-wavelength detection and a lack of standardised spectral references. Precise, comparable calibration procedures are needed to ensure accuracy, and the transfer from research to clinical settings requires harmonisation to ensure repeatability and reliability.

This project will establish and evaluate new techniques for luminescence thermometry at the cellular level. Key interference factors such as pH will be evaluated, as well as practical limitations, influence from instruments and traceability at wavelengths used for both in vitro and in vivo testing. Relevant calibration procedures for the developed techniques will be created, as well as machine learning algorithms to de-noise data and analyse signals. These outputs and input from relevant stakeholders will then be used to develop new protocols for optical temperature measurement, which will be described in a good practice guide. The results of this work will then be verified via an interlaboratory comparison and reproducibility tests.

This work will support a new pathway for disease diagnosis, helping doctors to treat complex health issues and improve patient outcomes.