Fluorescence Spectroscopy in Medicine and Biology:
The use of fluorimetry within the fields of medicine and biological samples is well established. Actually, fluorescence technique has got a big boost along with its applications in Biological sciences. Presently, highly selective and sensitive biochemical determinations could be accomplished through fluorimetry. Spectrofluorimeters tailored to suit the required of exact sample to be analysed are available in the market. Interphasing fluorimeter along with chromatograph has also yielded good results, as it facilitates analysis of mixtures without resorting to tedious separations.
In clinical situations several a times we required quick analysis of the clinical samples as the diagnosis and treatment options depend on the outcome of such determinations. For instance, the enzyme released after heart attack must be analysed inside 15 minutes, so as to ascertain the future course of action. Within this life saving conditions the fluorescence methods search favour as these are simple, rapid, selective and sensitive.
The cleanup, separation and determination of the analyte are the significant steps includes in the analysis of clinical samples. For instance, the removal of red blood cells from blood is essential before one undertakes fluorescence analysis. In a few of the biological samples, we required to undertake deproteination as the latter quenches fluorescence. Within case a direct determination of the analyte faces too many interference it is advisable to use an appropriate agent and convert the analyte into a fluorinating derivative. Thus, several nonfluorescent compounds are converted within fluorinating derivatives prior to their analytical determination.
Fluorescence and phosphorescence are particularly useful in physical Biochemistry since they give much information with regard to the interaction of molecular complexes along with their environment. Molecular rotation and reorientation in biochemical systems could be conveniently studied as they have same lifetimes to the excited singlet and triplet states.