The power distribution advantage of fiber-optic coupled ultraviolet resonance Raman spectroscopy for bioanalytical and biomedical applications

Fiber-optic coupled ultraviolet resonance Raman spectroscopy (FO-UVRRS) of photosensitive biological samples is discussed in the context of both clinical and basic medical research applications. The fiberoptic probes are designed specifically for resonance Raman spectroscopy and offer a power distribution advantage over conventional focusing UVRR spectrometers that allows the use of higher power levels without increasing the risk of photo-damage. A typical fiber-optic probe using a 600 pm core diameter fiber for illumination of the sample allows an increase in power at the sample of over an order of magnitude while maintaining the same power density, and therefore the same level of safety, as a typical conventional UVRR spectrometer. This allows high-quality spectra to be easily obtained in 10 s. Spectra of representative biological samples using high power levels without damage are presented, including the study of a photosensitive enzyme-substrate system under anaerobic conditions. Copyright (C) 2002 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.