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Development of FLIM technology and FRET probes for FLIM-FRET studies

Fluorescence techniques are extremely powerful tools for probing the structure and function of biomolecules. In particular, the use of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) is becoming increasingly important as a "molecular ruler", providing information on interactions at the nanoscale. FRET involves an excited fluorescent donor molecule transferring it's excess energy to an acceptor molecule: the efficiency of this energy transfer process depends upon the distance between the donor and acceptor. Time-resolved fluorescence measurements offer the most sensitive and informative study of the FRET process. By performing the measurement under a microscope, any spatial variations in lifetime within a sample can be resolved. This work is concerned with fundamental characterisation of time-resolved FRET within biomolecules and the development of the emerging technique of fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) for combined FLIM-FRET studies.