FCS - Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy

Kuschel, Lioba

March 28, 2018

FCS - Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy

The FCS Method

FCS is a fluorescence-based measurement method. Fluorescent molecules passing through a strongly focused, fixed laser beam are excited for fluorescence emission. After passing a confocal pinhole, the emitted photons are registered using very sensitive detectors.

Laser illumination at a fixed point of interest (beam parking) excites fluorescent particles in the excitation volume. The particle movement in and out of the confocal volume causes intensity fluctuations.

Quantitative parameters derived from autocorrelation curve

The moving particles give rise to intensity fluctuations. An autocorrelation of this reveals information on the molecular scale: the amplitude of the correlation curve shows the particle number. The time at the inflection point contains information about particle mobility. Finally, the steepness and shape of the curve reflect the type of diffusion. Particle concentration, particle mass, viscosity, and bound fraction can be derived from these parameters.

Principle of FCS data acquisition and analysis

Laser illumination at a fixed point of interest (beam parking) excites fluorescent particles in the excitation volume. The particle movement in and out of the confocal volume causes intensity fluctuations.
Registration of intensity fluctuations using detectors in single photon counting mode.
Calculation of the correlation function.
Fitting of the corresponding biophysical model to the correlation curve. Obtain parameters of interest:
- particle concentration
- diffusion coefficient
- viscosity
- molecular mass
- binding constant
- photo-physical properties