Fig. 1

a Example fluorescent and luminescence lifetimes of common organic dye-derived fluorophores and autofluorescent molecules (denoted by corresponding color boxes/peaks in a and b) in comparison to europium-derived chelates (red in a and b). b The methodology of time-gated microscope excitation (light blue) and acquisition cycles. Colored peaks are representative of the relative short lifetimes of organic dyes and autofluorescence to long lifetime lanthanide luminescence. Light blue boxes are illustrative of the time of light excitation (excitation time per cycle = 100 μs), which is followed by a 10-μs period of delay before subsequent camera acquisition