Homogeneous assay based on anti-Stokes' shift time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy-transfer measurement

We report here a novel, time-resolved, lanthanide-based energy-transfer assay utilizing nonoverlapping acceptor fluorophores, which have their absorption energetically at a higher level than the emittive transitions of the donor. The technique was studied by comparing a series of nonoverlapping acceptors in a homogeneous DNA model assay utilizing Eu3+ chelate as a donor. The assay provides strong energy-transfer enhanced acceptor emission and enables the anti-Stokes' shift FRET measurement, in which the induced acceptor emission is at shorter wavelength than the donor emission. This results in high sensitivity, and 0.8 pM detection limit was measured for the DNA target. The acceptor signal of the assay is characterized by exceptional lifetime properties and is not strictly following the Forster's theory. The mechanism of nonoverlapping energy transfer is considered, and we propose that when nonoverlapping acceptors are utilized, the energy transfer arises from the upper D-5(2) and D-5(1), excited states of europium. The assumption was studied using a simplified energy level scheme of the Eu3+ donor and the acceptors, and a correlation between the acceptor emission behavior and the energy level scheme was found.