Method for activation of polyanionic fluorescent dyes in low dielectric media with quaternary onium compounds
First Claim
1. A method for measuring an analyte which changes the fluorescence of a fluorophore, wherein said analyte can permeate through a low dielectric medium, comprisinga. incorporating a fluorophore and quaternary onium compound in a low dielectric medium, said fluorophore being a polyanionic fluorescent dye which undergoes a complete loss of fluorescence when solublized in a low dielectric medium,said fluorescence being restored by the presence of the quaternary onium compound,b. measuring the fluorescence,c. exposing said medium to a solution containing the analyte to be measured,d. measuring the fluorescence change due to the analyte, ande. determining the concentration of the analyte by reference to a calibration curve.
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Abstract
The invention pertains to a method for generating the fluorescence of polyanionic fluorophores in low dielectric media with fluorescence activation produced by specific quaternary onium compounds. The method may be used for measuring an analyte and may be useful in sensor devices.
28 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for measuring an analyte which changes the fluorescence of a fluorophore, wherein said analyte can permeate through a low dielectric medium, comprising
a. incorporating a fluorophore and quaternary onium compound in a low dielectric medium, said fluorophore being a polyanionic fluorescent dye which undergoes a complete loss of fluorescence when solublized in a low dielectric medium,said fluorescence being restored by the presence of the quaternary onium compound, b. measuring the fluorescence, c. exposing said medium to a solution containing the analyte to be measured, d. measuring the fluorescence change due to the analyte, and e. determining the concentration of the analyte by reference to a calibration curve.
- 9. An optical sensing device for determining the concentration of an analyte comprising a polyanionic fluorophore and quaternary onium compound in a low dielectric polymer membrane on the surface of an optical component which is transparent to incident and emissive electromagnetic waves, optically connected to means for collecting the radiant emission to measure the fluorescence indicative of the concentration of the analyte.
Specification