Our BioLum platform allows full-color imaging of bioluminescence in living organisms.

BioLum has a simple and efficient design built around a Nikon DSLR camera with a bright lens, housed in a light-tight chamber large enough to accommodate an entire 40 × 60 cm tray of plants. A LED light source allows images to be taken also under “day” conditions.

The camera and LEDs are controlled by a Raspberry Pi, which also hosts a web-based graphical interface for operating the imager. The system can be accessed directly through the Raspberry Pi's own Wi-Fi hotspot, avoiding the usual fights against IT restrictions.

Thanks to its simple architecture, BioLum is easy to reproduce, and the images are crisp enough to see individual trichomes on plant leaves. Full-color imaging allows us to capture bioluminescence emitted at different wavelengths, opening possibilities for simultaneous multicolor bioluminescence imaging. The platform is also equipped with optical filters that selectively remove unwanted wavelengths when imaging specific emission bands.

BioLum combines accessible hardware, straightforward operation, and high-quality imaging in a platform that we can adapt to our experimental needs.