SK2521 Fluorescence Spectroscopy for Biomolecular Studies 6.0 credits

Introduction to fluorescence, physical description of absorption and emission processes, fluorescence markers and their characteristics, environmental effects / fluorescent molecular sensors, other photoinduced non-fluorescent states of fluorophores, polarization and molecularr otational measurements, resonant energy transfer (FRET) and molecular distance measurements with fluorescence, ultra-sensitive fluorescence spectroscopic and fluorescence microscopic techniques, including single-molecule spectroscopy methods and fluctuation spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopic applications in biology, medicine and drug development.

After completing the course the student should be able to:

• explain the basic physical mechanisms of fluorescence.
• explain how the interaction between biomolecules and electromagnetic radiation, as well as environmental effects, can generate differences in the measured fluorescence parameters, and how these differences can be utilized for the observation of biomolecules and their interaction.
• explain the physical principles of the most important fluorescence techniques in the biomedical research field, and what kind of questions these techniques can be used to answer.
• describe and motivate which factors limit the performance of fluorescence techniques, and how measurement results obtained are evaluated.
• describe, discuss and assess the potential of key elements in the latest developments in the fluorescence spectroscopic field.

Mathematics corresponding to B2, D2, E2, F2, M2, T2. Fundamental knowledge of Physics, Course SK2520 (Experimental methods in molecular biophysics).

English B / English 6

• PRO1 - Project, 1.0 credits, grading scale: P, F
• TEN1 - Examination, 4.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
• LAB1 - Laboratory Work, 1.0 credits, grading scale: P, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

One written examination (TEN1, 4hp, grades A-F), one oral project presentation (PRO1; 1hp, grades P/F), laborations, exercises (LAB1; 1hp, grades P/F)

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

The course is given 2018, 2020, 2022 etc.