Fluorescence Polarization/Anisotropy in Diagnostics and Imaging

The history of the fluorescence polarization/anisotropy in diagnostics and imaging and discuss in detail both theoretical and practical aspects has been reported. Light can be considered as oscillations of an electromagnetic fields characterized by electric and magnetic components perpendicular to the direction of light propagation. The utility of fluorescence polarization in the clinical and biomedical sciences ultimately rests on the dependence of the observed polarization on the rotational diffusion rate of molecules. The most fundamental source of error in fluorescence polarization/anisotropy determinations would be actual errors in the polarization measurements themselves. Fluorescence polarization/ anisotropy offers significant advantages for some applications in clinical chemistry and bioassays and its use in biotechnology and drug discovery will no doubt continue to expand.