Special cuvettes that dramatically increase the fluorescence intensity of diluted solutions and suspensions of isolated biomembranes and living cells are described. (1) Mirror cuvettes have a reflecting aluminum or silver layer, putting on their three external sides, having a slot-hole window at frontal side center. (2) Mirror microcuvettes have two reflecting sides. (3) Total internal reflection cuvettes have lateral reflecting side and two triangular prisms, attached outside; the cuvette works effectively with a parallel excitation light beam. (4) In cuvette with diagonal quartz plate, very small quantity of a sample is attached in the form of a thin layer. (5) Mirror cuvette with diagonal plate. All described cuvettes can be applied for measurements of spectra excitation and emission, excited-state lifetime, and polarization degree. Also, they can be used for photo-bleaching of biological chromophores.
Part of the book: Fluorescence Methods for Investigation of Living Cells and Microorganisms