Fiber-optic biosensors based on fluorescence energy transfer

A new optical homogeneous biochemical method for the assay of glucose has been developed, based on fluorescence energy transfer between a glucose analog, dextran labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC-dextran), and a glucose-receptor protein, Rhodamine-labeled Concanavalin A (Rh-ConA). When FITC-dextran binds to Rh-ConA in solution, and is light-activated, the FITC label transfers its absorbed energy to the Rhodamine label, which then emits light according to its own characteristic fluorescence spectrum. When glucose is added to this solution, the FITC fluorescence intensity increases as FITC-dextran is released from the Rh-ConA and is replaced by glucose. Thus it is possible to determine glucose concentrations directly from the level of FITC fluorescence.