Fluorescamine, analytical methods Fluorescence

Saxitoxin has been labeled with fluorescamine, o-phthaldialdehyde (OPA) and dansyl chloride and detection limits as low as 0.1 attomole were reported for the OPA derivative of saxitoxin (26). Labeling, separation, and analysis of saxitoxin was best accomplished using fluorescamine, which produces ionic derivatives that can be separated from other fluorescently labeled marine toxins, such as tetrodotoxin and microcystin. However, the precolumn labeling methods required xM concentrations of analyte, limiting the utility of the technique for trace analysis. 

Many derivatization techniques, based on chemical reactions or even heat and chemical reactions, can be applied to TLC or HPTLC to specifically determine some compounds or groups of compounds this is specific to TLC techniques. For instance, exposure to fluorescamine in acetone wiU convert sulfonamide antibiotics into fluorescent derivatives which can be visualized under UV radiation [8]. Other techniques are reported and, as suggested earher, the reader should refer to the latest edition of the Official Methods of Analysis pubhshed by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (Arlington VA, U.S.A.) for complete details about aU the available techniques for the routine analysis of drugs. 

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