Scientific article
English

Fluorescence lifetime estimation: A practical approach using Flipper-TR FLIM

Published inMethods in enzymology, p. 179-232
Publication date2026
First online date2026-02-18
Abstract

Flipper-TR is a membrane dye sensitive to lipid packing widely used to probe membrane tension in live cells via fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). However, no consensus currently exists on the optimal strategy for extracting lifetime values, particularly across varying experimental setups and biological systems. Here, we systematically compare multiple approaches to estimate Flipper-TR lifetime, including multi-exponential reconvolution fitting, tail fitting, mean photon arrival time (first moment), and phasor analysis. These estimators are tested against changes in photon budget, sample characteristics, microscope manufacturer, and laser frequency. This analysis offers a comprehensive benchmark and decision-making framework for quantitative FLIM analysis of Flipper dyes in various contexts.

Keywords
  • Cell mechanics
  • FLIM
  • Flipper-TR
  • Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy
  • Frequency-domain lifetime analysis
  • Membrane biophysics
  • Membrane tension
  • Phasor analysis
  • Time-domain lifetime analysis
Research groups
Citation (ISO format)
MANDAL, Tithi, ROUX, Aurélien, GARCIA ARCOS, Juan Manuel. Fluorescence lifetime estimation: A practical approach using Flipper-TR FLIM. In: Methods in enzymology, 2026, p. 179–232. doi: 10.1016/bs.mie.2026.01.018
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Article (Published version)
accessLevelRestricted
Identifiers
Journal ISSN0076-6879
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Creation26/03/2026 16:43:11
First validation30/03/2026 09:52:37
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