title: Quantum yields of luminescent lanthanide chelates and far-red dyes measured by resonance energy transfer.
abstract: Luminescent lanthanide chelates have unusual spectroscopic characteristics that make them valuable alternative probes to conventional organic fluorophores. However, fundamental parameters such as their quantum yield, and radiative and nonradiative decay rates have been difficult or impossible to measure. We have developed a simple and robust method based on resonance energy transfer to accurately measure these parameters. In addition, the excitation/emission process in lanthanide chelates involves several steps, and we are able to quantify each step. These include excitation of an organic antenna, transfer of energy from the antenna to lanthanide, and then lanthanide emission. Overall, the parameters show that lanthanide chelates can be efficient long-lived emitters, making them sensitive detection reagents and excellent donors in resonance energy transfer. The method is also shown to be applicable to photophysical characterization of red-emitting dyes, which are difficult to characterize by conventional means.
authors.affiliation: Physics Department and Biophysics Group, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Selvin
mesh_terms: D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D004735:Energy Transfer / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D007700:Kinetics; D028581:Lanthanoid Series Elements / Q000737:chemistry*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D028581:Lanthanoid Series Elements; D009942:Organometallic Compounds