Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Its Applications: a Review
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View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by International Journal of Advances in Pharmaceutical Analysis Aswathy Bose et al / International Journal of Advances in Pharmaceutical Analysis 2018; 08(01): 01-08. 1 International Journal of Advances in Pharmaceutical Analysis ISSN: 2277-9353 (Online) Journal DOI: https://doi.org/10.7439/ijapa Review Article Fluorescence spectroscopy and its applications: A Review Aswathy Bose*, Irene Thomas, Kavitha G and Elessy Abraham Nazareth College of Pharmacy, Othera p.o, Thiruvalla, India QR Code *Correspondence Info: Aswathy Bose, Nazareth College of Pharmacy, Othera p.o, Thiruvalla, India *Article History: Received: 12/01/2018 Revised: 11/02/2018 Accepted: 14/02/2018 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7439/ijapa.v8i1.4578 Abstract Fluorescence spectroscopy is a rapid, sensitive method for characterizing molecular environments and events samples. Fluorimetry is chosen for its extraordinary sensitivity, high specificity, simplicity and low cost as compared to other analytical techniques. It is widely accepted and powerful technique that is used for a variety of environmental, industrial, medical diagnostics, DNA sequencing, forensics, genetic analysis and biotechnology applications. It is a valuable analytical tool for both quantitative and qualitative analysis. This article presents a brief overview of the theory of fluorescence spectroscopy, together with examples of applications of this technique in organic and inorganic chemistry, medical diagnosis, medical science etc. Keywords: Fluorimetry, DNA sequencing. 1. Introduction 2. Types of luminescence Alzheimer's Fluorescence and phosphorescence a) By Mechanism: are photon emission processes that occur during molecular i) Fluorescence ii) Phosphorescence relaxation from electronic excited states. These photonic b) By Excitation Source: processes involve transitions between electronic and i) Chemiluminescence vibrational states of polyatomic fluorescent molecules ii) Cathodoluminescence (fluorophores). iii) Electroluminescence Fluorophores play the central role in fluorescence iv) Photoluminescence spectroscopy. Fluorophores are the components in Fluorescence spectroscopy is a sensitive optical molecules that cause them to fluorescence. Majorly emission technique in which sample molecules are excited fluorophores are the molecule which contains aromatic with a photon source. Those molecules that relax by radiant rings such as Tyrosine, Tryptophan, and Fluorescein etc. emission can be subsequently detected by measuring the Luminescence is emission of light by a substance intensity of that emission. [1] not resulting from heat is thus a form of cold body radiation. It can be caused by chemical reactions, electrical 3. Principle of fluorescence spectroscopy [1,2] energy, subatomic motions, or stress on a crystal. There are Absorption of UV or visible radiation causes two pre-requisites for luminescence: transition of electrons from singlet ground state to the The luminescent material must have a semiconductor singlet excited state. As this state is not stable, it emits structure with a nonzero band gap. [Metals do not provide energy in the form of UV or visible radiation and returns to luminescence if they have no band gap]. singlet ground state. Fluorescence emission occurs as the The energy must be imparted to this material before fluorophore decay from the singlet electronic excited states luminescence can take place. to an allowable vibrational level in the electronic ground state. IJAPA|VOL 08|ISSUE 01|2018 www.ssjournals.com Aswathy Bose et al / Fluorescence spectroscopy and its applications: A Review 2 The fluorescence excitation and emission spectra 5.3 Nature of substituent groups reflect the vibrational level structures in the ground and the Electron donating groups like amino, hydroxyl excited electronic states respectively. groups enhance fluorescence activity. Electron withdrawing groups like Nitro, carboxylic group reduce + fluorescence. Groups like SO3H or on NH4 have no effect on fluorescence intensity. 5.4 Effect of temperature Increase in temperature leads to increase in collisions of molecules and decrease in fluorescence intensity while decrease in temperature leads to decrease in collisions of molecules and increased fluorescence intensity. 5.6 Viscosity Increase in viscosity leads to decreased collisions of molecules which will enhance fluorescence Figure 1: Jablonski diagram intensity while decrease in viscosity causes increased collisions of molecules which cause decreased fluorescence 4. Instrumentation of spectrofluorometer intensity. 5.7 Oxygen Oxygen decreases the Fluorescence intensity in two ways: Oxidises fluorescence substances to non fluorescence substances. It quenches fluorescence because of paramagnetic properties. 5.8 Effect of pH a. Aniline: Neutral or alkaline medium shows visible fluorescence while acidic conditions give fluorescence in UV region only. b. Phenols : Acidic conditions do not give fluorescence while alkaline conditions gives good fluorescence.[2,4] Figure 2: Schematic diagram of a spectrofluorometer 6. Effect of concentration on fluorescence intensity Spectroflourometer mainly consists of Fluorescence intensity = Q x Ia A. Source of light Where, . Mercury vapour lamp Q = Fluorescence efficiency . Xenon arc lamp Ia = Intensity of absorbed light . Tungsten film Since emission is proportional to absorption, Ia has B. Filters and monochromators to be knownWhere, . Primary filters and secondary filters Io = Intensity of incident light and It = Intensity of . Excitation monochromators and Emission incident light monochromators It is known that, C. Sample cells, Detectors[2-4] -act It = I0e [from beer lamberts law] -act Ia = I0 [1-e ] 5. Factors affecting fluorescence Ia = I0 x act 5.1 Conjugation Fluorescence intensity = Q x Ia Molecule must have unsaturation i.e. it must have F = QI0 act π electrons so that UV/vis radiation can be absorbed. If In this equation, there is no absorption of radiation, there will not be Q = Constant for a particular substance fluorescence. Ia = Constant for an instrument a = Molecular extinction coefficient 5.2 Rigidity of structures t = path length Rigid structures will produce more fluorescence, c = concentration of substances while flexible structure will produce less fluorescence. Fluorescence intensity is directly proportional to the substances. [2,4] IJAPA|VOL 08|ISSUE 01|2018 www.ssjournals.com Aswathy Bose et al / Fluorescence spectroscopy and its applications: A Review 3 7. Advantages 10. Fluorescent Compounds It’s one of the newer methods and its potentialities are Table 1: Fluorescent compounds [4] Wavelength[nm] Minimum still largely unexplored. Compound pH It also affects precision. Up to 1% can be achieved easily Fluorescence concentration Adrenaline 1 335 0.1 in Flourimetric. Allyl morphine 1 355 0.1 The method is very sensitive and also possesses Amylobarbitone 14 410 0.1 specificity because there is a choice of wavelength not Chloroquine 11 400 0.05 only for the radiation emitted, but also for the light which Chlor promazine 11 480 0.1 Cinchonidin 1 445 0.01 excites it. Cinchonine 1 420 0.01 Cyanocobalamine 7 305 0.003 8. Limitations Ergometrine 1 465 0.01 Careful buffering is necessary as fluorescence intensity Folic acid 7 450 0.01 may be strongly dependent Noradrenaline 1 320 0.006 Oxytetracycline 11 520 0.05 Ultraviolet light used for excitation may cause Pamaquine 11 530 0.06 photochemical changes or destruction of the fluorescent Procaine 11 345 0.01 molecule . Procainamide 11 385 0.01 The presence of dissolved oxygen may cause increased Proflavine 1 510 0.01 Physostigmine 1 360 0.04 photochemical destruction. Quinine 1 450 0.002 Traces of iodide and nitrogen oxides are efficient Reserpine 1 375 0.008 quenchers and therefore interfere. Riboflavine 6 520 0.01 The method is not suited for determination of major Salicylic acid 11 435 0.01 Thiopentone 13 530 0.1 constituents of a sample, because the accuracy is very Thymol 7 300 0.1 less for large amounts. Vitamin A 470 0.01 The extent of applicability of this technique is limited, because of the fact that all elements and compounds are 11. Compounds readily converted to fluorescent unable to exhibit fluorescence.[13,15] derivatives Table 2: Compounds readily converted to 9. Precautions fluorescent derivatives. [4] Compound Reagent Excitation Emission Fluorescence analysis is especially applicable to trace Wavelength Wavelength substances, care must be taken to eliminate [nm] [nm] Adrenaline I2or NaOH 420 530 contaminations of sample. Chlordiazepoxide Photo oxidation 380 480 Rubber and cork stoppers contain fluorescent materials Hydrocortisone 70% H2SO4 470 520 and these are extracted if the solvent touches them. 5Hydroxytryptamine Phthalaldehyde 365 495 Zinc Rhodamine B 366 580 Filter paper also contains fluorescent material which is Primaryamines Flourescamine 390 485 extracted by solvents. and secondary amines Grease from stop cocks and other sources is a fluorescent contaminant. 12. Fluorescent indicators All glasses contain Al, Ca and SiO2 which may be extracted. The intensity and colour of many fluorescent The most important consideration is the concentration of substances depends on pH. Some substances are so the reagent. Concentration must be expressed in micro sensitive to pH that they can be used as pH indicators. molecules so that the ratio of the reagent to metal may be These are termed as fluorescent or luminescent indicators.