Since the appearance of the first two volumes of Modern Fluorescence Spectroscopy in 1976, important advances continue to be made in both the techniques and applications of molecular luminescence. In terms of "hardware," it is only recently that the application of laser excitation to molecular fluorometry has become feasible under conditions that are analy tically realistic. The improvements that can be effected in sensitivity, analy tical selectivity, and ability to handle "difficult" samples by laser fluorometry have only begun to be exploited. Likewise, time-resolved fluorometry has received widespread use in fundamental studies (a sizable number of which deal with biological systems), but has as of yet received relatively little analytical utilization. The use of electronic array detectors offers the promise of obtaining luminescence spectra more rapidly, and perhaps ultimately with greater sensitivity, than is possible by the use of scanning instruments equipped with conventional detectors. The increasing capabilities of microcomputers and the increasing sophistication of "smart" spectroscopic instrumentation signify that much more efficient acquisition and use can now be achieved of the information contained in the "excitation-emission matrix" inherent in the luminescence phenomenon.

Inhalt

1. Structural Interpretation of Fluorescence Spectra by Automated File Searching. Implementation and Applications in Liquid Chromatography.- A. Introduction.- B. Alternatives for Computerized Spectral Interpretation.- C. An Initial Approach.- D. Using More Subtle Features.- E. Limitations.- F. Hardware for an LC/Fluorescence System.- G. Reverse Searching.- H. Performance and Outlook.- References.- 2. Fluorescence Detection in Liquid and Gas Chromatography: Techniques, Examples, and Prospects.- A. Introduction.- B. Detection of Compounds That Exhibit Significant Native Fluorescence.- C. Detection of Compounds That Do Not Exhibit a Significant Fluorescence Quantum Yield.- D. Further Instrumental Considerations in HPLC Detection by Fluorescence.- E. Future Trends in Fluorometric HPLC Detection.- F. Fluorescence Detection in Gas Chromatography.- References.- 3. Reaction Rate Methods in Fluorescence Analysis.- A. Introduction.- B. Characteristics of Fluorescence Kinetic Measurements.- C. Applications of Fluorometric Kinetic Methods.- D. Instrumentation for Fluorescence Rate Measurements.- E. Conclusions.- References.- 4. Principles and Practice of Fluoroimmunoassay Procedures.- A. Introduction.- B. Principles of Immunoassay.- C. Fluoroimmunoassay Reagents and Equipment.- D. Fluoroimmunoassay Techniques.- E. Fluoroimmunoassay Limitations and Interfering Factors.- F. Selected Examples of Fluoroimmunoassay Development and Application.- G. Future Trends and Developments.- H. Summary.- I. Appendix: Glossary of Terms.- References.- 5. Fluorometric Studies of Biologically Important Molecular Complexes.- A. Introduction.- B. Complexes of Acridine Drugs with Nucleotides and DNA.- C. Complexes Involving Hydrogen Bonds.- D. Complexes between Oligopeptides and Proteins with Nucleic Acids.- E. Dynamics of Membranes Probed by Fluorophores Forming Complexes.- F. Intrinsic and Extrinsic Fluorescent Probes of Biomolecules.- References.- 6. Fluorometric Quantification of Specific Chemical Species in Single Cells.- A. Introduction.- B. Instrumentation and Methods.- C. Analytical Considerations.- D. DNA and RNA Determinations.- E. Enzymes.- F. Quantification of Proteins.- G. Conclusions.- References.- 7. Microspectrofluorometric Procedures and Their Applications in Biological Systems.- A. Introduction.- B. Methods.- C. Results and Discussion.- D. Conclusion.- References.