Quantitative generalized ratiometric fluorescence spectroscopy for turbid media based on probe encapsulated by biologically localized embedding.

PEBBLE (probe encapsulated by biologically localized embedding) nanosensor encapsulating an intensity-based fluorescence indicator and an inert reference fluorescence dye inside the pores of stable matrix can be used as a generalized wavelength-ratiometric probe. However, the lack of an efficient quantitative model render the choices of inert reference dyes and intensity-based fluorescence indicators used in PEBBLEs based generalized wavelength-ratiometric probes rather limited. In this contribution, an extended quantitative fluorescence model was derived specifically for generalized wavelength-ratiometric probes based on PEBBLE technique (QFMGRP) with a view to simplify the design of PEBBLEs and hence further extend their application potentials. The effectiveness of QFMGRP has been tested on the quantitative determination of free Ca(2+) in both simulated and real turbid media using a Ca(2+) sensitive PEBBLE nanosensor encapsulating Rhod-2 and eosin B inside the micropores of stable polyacrylamide matrix. Experimental results demonstrated that QFMGRP could realize precise and accurate quantification of free Ca(2+) in turbid samples, even though there is serious overlapping between the fluorescence excitation peaks of eosin B and Ca(2+) bound Rhod-2. The average relative predictive error value of QFMGRP for the test simulated turbid samples was 5.9%, about 2-4 times lower than the corresponding values of partial least squares calibration model and the empirical ratiometric model based on the ratio of fluorescence intensities at the excitation peaks of Ca(2+) bound Rhod-2 and eosin B. The recovery rates of QFMGRP for the real and spiked turbid samples varied from 93.1% to 101%, comparable to the corresponding results of atomic absorption spectrometry.