Process for the simultaneous optical qualitative and quantitative detection of different molecules of a mixture marked with fluorochromes or fluorogens by means of laser spectroscopy

摘要

The invention relates to a method for the quantitative and qualitative optical detection of labelled molecules by time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. In the method, dyes or molecules labelled by one or more dye molecules (dye conjugates) are specifically coupled to biomolecules, toxic substances, polymers or pharmaceutical agents and characterised by the dye-specific fluorescence lifetime which is unaffected by the labelled molecule. The use of multiplex dyes (same absorption and emission behaviour but different fluorescence lifetimes) makes possible optimal characterisation, on the basis of their different fluorescence lifetimes, of various substances which are present in a mixture after specific labelling with multiplex dyes and with use of the same excitation light source and detection unit. Detection of the time-course of the fluorescence intensity (fluorescence lifetime) makes it possible to dispense with the filter technique hitherto used and to suppress temporarily the scattered light, which leads to an increase in sensitivity compared with the methods used at present.