Development of fluorescence measurement system for an automated multi-well plate illumination device

Abstract

During fluorescence, a substance emits light after it has absorbed photons from an excitation light source. The emitted fluorescent light has a longer wavelength than the absorbed light. This phenomenon is utilized extensively in a variety of applications, such as in fluorescence labelling in in-vitro studies and as a diagnostic tool in ophthalmology, due to being a non-destructive and a highly sensitive approach.

The aim of this thesis is to propose a design for a fluorescence measurement system for an automated multi-well plate illumination device, manufactured by Modulight Inc. A measurement setup, which was constructed inside the device, was used to perform fluorescence measurements, the outcome of which determined whether the measurement system design was successful or needed further development. These measurements were carried out using the built setup to excite samples of protoporphyrin IX, a fluorescent compound, and measure its emission spectrum at different concentrations excited with different intensities.

The results of the experimental part of this thesis showed that with the constructed measurement system, it was possible to measure fluorescence emission from the prepared samples. In the light of this, the targets set to this bachelor’s thesis were accomplished and the product development of the fluorescence measurement system has proceeded from a design phase to an early prototype phase. In future development, the system can be further improved by reducing the amount of excitation light detected, and by enhancing the collection of fluorescence.