Reviews in Fluorescence 2004, the first book of a new book series from Springer, is a collection of current trends and emerging hot topics in the field of Fluorescence.

This annual review series differs from Springer''s current Topics in Fluorescence series in that it is more specialized and includes reviews of an individual''s own work or scientific perspective. Reviews in Fluorescence will therefore complement the other fluorescence titles published by Springer, whilst feeding the requirement from the fluorescence community for annual informative updates and developments.

Key features:

- Reviews in Fluorescence will be citable, indexed, and available both in print and online.

- Reviews in Fluorescence will be published annually.

- Reviews in Fluorescence will comprise invited review articles that summarize the yearly progress in fluorescence.

- Alternate years will publish the Invited Papers from the Methods and Applications in Fluorescence conference series (MAFS).

Over the last decade, fluorescence has become the dominant tool in biotechnology and medical imaging. These exciting advances have been underpinned by the advances in time-resolved techniques and instrumentation, probe design, chemical / biochemical sensing, coupled with our furthered knowledge in biology.

Complementary volumes 9 and 10, Advanced Concepts of Fluorescence Sensing: Small Molecule Sensing and Advanced Concepts of Fluorescence Sensing: Macromolecular Sensing, aim to summarize the current state of the art in fluorescent sensing. For this reason, Drs. Geddes and Lakowicz have invited chapters, encompassing a broad range of fluorescence sensing techniques. Some chapters deal with small molecule sensors, such as for anions, cations, and CO2, while others summarize recent advances in protein-based and macromolecular sensors. The Editors have, however, not included DNA or RNA based sensing in this volume, as this were reviewed in Volume 7 and is to be the subject of a more detailed volume in the near future.

Over the last decade, fluorescence has become the dominant tool in biotechnology and medical imaging. These exciting advances have been underpinned by the advances in time-resolved techniques and instrumentation, probe design, chemical / biochemical sensing, coupled with our furthered knowledge in biology.

Complementary volumes 9 & 10, Advanced Concepts of Fluorescence Sensing: Small Molecule Sensing and Advanced Concepts of Fluorescence Sensing: Macromolecular Sensing, aim to summarize the current state of the art in fluorescent sensing. For this reason, Drs. Geddes and Lakowicz have invited chapters, encompassing a broad range of fluorescence sensing techniques. Some chapters deal with small molecule sensors, such as for anions, cations, and CO2, while others summarize recent advances in protein-based and macromolecular sensors. The Editors have, however, not included DNA or RNA based sensing in this volume, as this were reviewed in Volume 7 and is to be the subject of a more detailed volume in the near future.

During recent years our enthusiasm for Radiative Decay Engineering (RDE) has continually increased. Many of the early predictions have been confirmed experimentally. We see numerous applications for RDE in biotechnology, clinical assays and analytical chemistry. While implementation of RDE is relatively simple, understanding the principles of RDE is difficult. The concepts are widely distributed in the optics and chemical physics literature, often described in terms difficult to understand by biophysical scientists.

RDE includes chapters from the experts who have studied metal particle optics and fluorophore-metal interactions. This collection describes the fundamental principles for the widespread use of radiative decay engineering in the biological sciences and nanotechnology.

In the last decade concepts in fluorescence sensing have emerged as powerful techniques with an increasing number of applications in the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, and medicine. The increasing importance of these techniques is typified in one emerging area by developing non-invasive and continuous approaches for physiological glucose monitoring.

The Journal of Fluorescence’s fifth Who’s Who directory is to publish the names, contact details, specialty keywords, and a brief description of scientists employing fluorescence methodology and instrumentation in their working lives. In addition, the directory will provide company contact details with a brief list of fluorescence-related products. The directory will be edited by Chris D. Geddes and Joseph R. Lakowicz, editor and founding editor of the Journal of Fluorescence.

This book collects and analyzes all the current trends, opinions, and emerging hot topics in the field of metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF). Readers learn how this emerging technology enhances the utility of current fluorescence-based approaches. For example, MEF can be used to better detect and track specific molecules that may be present in very low quantities in either clinical samples or biological systems. Author Chris Geddes, a noted pioneer in the field, not only explains the fundamentals of metal-enhanced fluorescence, but also the significance of all the most recent findings and models in the field.

Metal-enhanced fluorescence refers to the use of metal colloids and nanoscale metallic particles in fluorescence systems. It offers researchers the opportunity to modify the basic properties of fluorophores in both near- and far-field fluorescence formats. Benefits of metal-enhanced fluorescence compared to traditional fluorescence include:

Increased efficiency of fluorescence emission

Increased detection sensitivity

Protect against fluorophore photobleaching

Applicability to almost any molecule, including both intrinsic and extrinsic chromophores

Following a discussion of the principles and fundamentals, the author examines the process and applications of metal-enhanced fluorescence. Throughout the book, references lead to the primary literature, facilitating in-depth investigations into particular topics.

Guiding readers from the basics to state-of-the-technology applications, this book is recommended for all chemists, physicists, and biomedical engineers working in the field of fluorescence.

Reviews in Fluorescence 2004, the first book of a new book series from Springer, is a collection of current trends and emerging hot topics in the field of Fluorescence.

This annual review series differs from Springer''s current Topics in Fluorescence series in that it is more specialized and includes reviews of an individual''s own work or scientific perspective. Reviews in Fluorescence will therefore complement the other fluorescence titles published by Springer, whilst feeding the requirement from the fluorescence community for annual informative updates and developments.

Key features:

- Reviews in Fluorescence will be citable, indexed, and available both in print and online.

- Reviews in Fluorescence will be published annually.

- Reviews in Fluorescence will comprise invited review articles that summarize the yearly progress in fluorescence.

- Alternate years will publish the Invited Papers from the Methods and Applications in Fluorescence conference series (MAFS).

Over the last decade, fluorescence has become the dominant tool in biotechnology and medical imaging. These exciting advances have been underpinned by the advances in time-resolved techniques and instrumentation, probe design, chemical / biochemical sensing, coupled with our furthered knowledge in biology.

Complementary volumes 9 and 10, Advanced Concepts of Fluorescence Sensing: Small Molecule Sensing and Advanced Concepts of Fluorescence Sensing: Macromolecular Sensing, aim to summarize the current state of the art in fluorescent sensing. For this reason, Drs. Geddes and Lakowicz have invited chapters, encompassing a broad range of fluorescence sensing techniques. Some chapters deal with small molecule sensors, such as for anions, cations, and CO2, while others summarize recent advances in protein-based and macromolecular sensors. The Editors have, however, not included DNA or RNA based sensing in this volume, as this were reviewed in Volume 7 and is to be the subject of a more detailed volume in the near future.

Over the last decade, fluorescence has become the dominant tool in biotechnology and medical imaging. These exciting advances have been underpinned by the advances in time-resolved techniques and instrumentation, probe design, chemical / biochemical sensing, coupled with our furthered knowledge in biology.

Complementary volumes 9 & 10, Advanced Concepts of Fluorescence Sensing: Small Molecule Sensing and Advanced Concepts of Fluorescence Sensing: Macromolecular Sensing, aim to summarize the current state of the art in fluorescent sensing. For this reason, Drs. Geddes and Lakowicz have invited chapters, encompassing a broad range of fluorescence sensing techniques. Some chapters deal with small molecule sensors, such as for anions, cations, and CO2, while others summarize recent advances in protein-based and macromolecular sensors. The Editors have, however, not included DNA or RNA based sensing in this volume, as this were reviewed in Volume 7 and is to be the subject of a more detailed volume in the near future.

During recent years our enthusiasm for Radiative Decay Engineering (RDE) has continually increased. Many of the early predictions have been confirmed experimentally. We see numerous applications for RDE in biotechnology, clinical assays and analytical chemistry. While implementation of RDE is relatively simple, understanding the principles of RDE is difficult. The concepts are widely distributed in the optics and chemical physics literature, often described in terms difficult to understand by biophysical scientists.

RDE includes chapters from the experts who have studied metal particle optics and fluorophore-metal interactions. This collection describes the fundamental principles for the widespread use of radiative decay engineering in the biological sciences and nanotechnology.

In the last decade concepts in fluorescence sensing have emerged as powerful techniques with an increasing number of applications in the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, and medicine. The increasing importance of these techniques is typified in one emerging area by developing non-invasive and continuous approaches for physiological glucose monitoring.

The Journal of Fluorescence’s fifth Who’s Who directory is to publish the names, contact details, specialty keywords, and a brief description of scientists employing fluorescence methodology and instrumentation in their working lives. In addition, the directory will provide company contact details with a brief list of fluorescence-related products. The directory will be edited by Chris D. Geddes and Joseph R. Lakowicz, editor and founding editor of the Journal of Fluorescence.

This book collects and analyzes all the current trends, opinions, and emerging hot topics in the field of metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF). Readers learn how this emerging technology enhances the utility of current fluorescence-based approaches. For example, MEF can be used to better detect and track specific molecules that may be present in very low quantities in either clinical samples or biological systems. Author Chris Geddes, a noted pioneer in the field, not only explains the fundamentals of metal-enhanced fluorescence, but also the significance of all the most recent findings and models in the field.

Metal-enhanced fluorescence refers to the use of metal colloids and nanoscale metallic particles in fluorescence systems. It offers researchers the opportunity to modify the basic properties of fluorophores in both near- and far-field fluorescence formats. Benefits of metal-enhanced fluorescence compared to traditional fluorescence include:

Increased efficiency of fluorescence emission

Increased detection sensitivity

Protect against fluorophore photobleaching

Applicability to almost any molecule, including both intrinsic and extrinsic chromophores

Following a discussion of the principles and fundamentals, the author examines the process and applications of metal-enhanced fluorescence. Throughout the book, references lead to the primary literature, facilitating in-depth investigations into particular topics.

Guiding readers from the basics to state-of-the-technology applications, this book is recommended for all chemists, physicists, and biomedical engineers working in the field of fluorescence.