Fluorescence microscopy instrumentation

Plant cytochemistry/histochemistry continues to evolve as fluorescence microscopy (16-19), confocal fluorescence microscopy (20,21), and microspectrophotometry (22) expand our quantitative knowledge of the distributions of chemical constituents in plant cells and tissues. With regard to microspectrophotometry, this is possible for single cells, as the Arcturus Corporation (Mountain View, C A) has developed an instrument capable of isolating single cells. 

Wang X. F., Periasamy A., Wodnicki P., Gordon G. W. and Herman B. (1996) Time-Resolved Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy Instrumentation and Biomedical Applications, in Wang X. F. and Herman B. (Eds), Fluorescence Imaging Spectroscopy and Microscopy, Chemical Analysis Series, Vol. 137, John Wiley ... 

Progress in instrumentation has considerably improved the sensitivity of fluorescence detection. Advanced fluorescence microscopy techniques allow detection at single molecule level, which opens up new opportunities for the development of fluorescence-based methods or assays in material sciences, biotechnology and in the pharmaceutical industry. 

M. A. J. Rodgers and P. A. Firey, Instrumentation for fluorescence microscopy with picosecond time resolution, Photochem. Photobiol. 42,613-616 (1985). 

A major limitation of flow cytometric analysis is that it provides data from individual cells at a single point in time and the same cells are not available for further analysis once they have passed through the flow cell of the instrument. Therefore, it is not possible to monitor a given cell over time for changes in fluorescence intensity or distribution of fluorescence signal. Such studies require microinjection of the fluorochrome into individual cells and fluorescence microscopy analysis. 

This volume covers a wide range of fundamental topics in coal maceral science that varies from the biological origin of macerals to their chemical reactivity. Several chapters report novel applications of instrumental techniques for maceral characterization. These new approaches include solid l3C NMR, electron spin resonance, IR spectroscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and mass spectrometry. A recently developed method for maceral separation is also presented many of the new instrumental approaches have been applied to macerals separated by this new method. The contributions in this volume present a sampling of the new directions being taken in the study of coal macerals to further our knowledge of coal petrology and coal chemistry. 

K.J. Stine and C.M. Knobler, Fluorescence Microscopy A Tool for Studying the Physical Chemistry of Interfaces, Ultramicroscopy 47 (1992) 23. (Review short introduction to fluorescence and fluorophores basic instrumentation for fluorescence microscopy and extensions to study dynamics and resonance energy transfer, confocal scanning microscopy results obtained with Langmuir monolayers.)... 

Light microscopy (LM) is regularly used to obtain rapid, inexpensive qualitative and quantitative information in food analysis. The first routine use of LM in food analysis was for the identification of adulteration (e.g., the presence of chicory root in coffee) or contamination (insect, rodent, microbial, and foreign bodies). Bright-field, polarizing, and fluorescent microscopy are the three traditional LM techniques used most frequently in food analysis. The basic instrument is a conventional compound (bright-field) microscope, to which polarizing and fluorescence accessories are easily attached. 

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