Fluorescence, Fluorescence Excitation and Lifetime Micro-Imaging
Systems.
The microfluorescence
excitation and lifetime system is based on the Fluorolog 3 instrument by JY
Horiba. These powerful diagnostic techniques will be harnessed to supply the
information on a micrometer scale by coupling the fluorescence excitation
system to a microscope. The instrument
represents a new frontier in spectroscopic instrumentation and a significant
enhancement of our diagnostic capabilities . The important mapping option uses
a computerised x-y-z translation stage. While mapping, the specimen undergoes
point-by-point scanning and the instrument collects the fluorescence excitation
spectra or time-dependent decay curves from each point. At the conclusion the
accumulated information is presented in the form of a spatial map.
In addition to
fluorescence excitation the instrument is capable of polarisation measurements.
The measured quantity, emission anisotropy or polarisation can give information
about the size and shape of the molecules, and also about the environment of
the fluorophore. These measurements can be carried out in the steady-state
conditions, when they yield time-averaged values. The temporal resolution of
measurements of the anisotropy decay provides much more detail about molecular
motions. The lifetime accessory uses the frequency-domain method for the
measurement of lifetime due to a proven advantage of this approach. It offers
the capability for time-resolved fluorescence measurements within a wide range
of lifetimes, between 10 ps to 10 ms.