Detecting Early Degradation of Wood Ultrastructure with Nonlinear Optical Imaging and Fluorescence Lifetime Analysis.

Understanding the deterioration processes in wooden artefacts is essential for accurately assessing their conservation status and developing effective preservation strategies. Advanced imaging techniques are currently being explored to study the impact of chemical changes on the structural and mechanical properties of wood. Nonlinear optical modalities, including second harmonic generation (SHG) and two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF), combined with fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), offer a promising non-destructive diagnostic method for evaluating lignocellulose-based materials.