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Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy


Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is an experimental technique allowing studies of the diffusion properties of fluorescent tracers in various environments with very high sensitivity, down to a single molecule level. The method is based on detecting the fluctuations of the fluorescent light intensity caused by the diffusion of the tracers through a small observation volume (<1 μm3), typically formed by the focus of a confocal microscope. A correlation analysis of these fluctuations provide information on the diffusion rate of the tracers and therefore on their size and the properties of the environment. Tracers can be single fluorescent molecules or macromolecules, quantum dots, fluorescent nanoparticles, etc.


In our FCS Labs, commercial and home-build setups are combined in order to achieve unique features. These include the possibility to study flows near solid surfaces with total internal reflection fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (TIR-FCCS), to characterize polymer matrices by simultaneously measuring the diffusion coefficient and the fluorescent live time of molecular rotors or to monitor drug nanocarriers in flowing blood with near infrared FCS.


Schematic representation of a typical confocal FCS setup and it's principle of operation.



  • Sascha Schmitt, Lutz Nuhn, Matthias Barz, Hans-Juergen Butt, Kaloian Koynov:
    Shining Light on Polymeric Drug Nanocarriers with Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy
    Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 2022, 43, 2100892 (doi 10.1002/marc.202100892)
  • Koynov K, Butt HJ:
    Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy in colloid and interface science.
    Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science, 2012, 17, 377-387 (doi 10.1016/j.cocis.2012.09.003)