Several key techniques are employed in optical detection within bioanalytical sciences:
1. Spectrophotometry: Measures the absorbance or transmittance of light through a sample at different wavelengths. It is commonly used to quantify nucleic acids, proteins, and other biomolecules.
2. Fluorescence Spectroscopy: Involves the excitation of fluorophores in a sample and the detection of emitted fluorescence. It is highly sensitive and often used in cellular imaging and molecular diagnostics.
3. Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR): Measures changes in the refractive index near a sensor surface upon binding of biomolecules. It is widely used for studying protein-protein interactions and drug screening.
4. Raman Spectroscopy: Provides information about molecular vibrations that can be used to identify chemical structures. It is useful for detecting small molecules and changes in molecular environments.
5. Chemiluminescence: Involves the emission of light as a result of a chemical reaction. It is used in various assays, including immunoassays and nucleic acid detection.
