Abstract

For life science research the fluorescent probes are essential tools and their use is continually increasing due to their low cost and higher sensitivity comparing other methods, and the capability for quantitative determination of bioanalytes. In this article the recent patents related to fluorescent probes for detection of nucleic acids, protein detection, bio-imaging, covalent labeling of amino groups, thiol groups, fluorescent dyes for detection of cations in bio-objects and chemiluminescent dyes are reviewed. The dyes applied in new and promptly developing research fields as fluorescence image-guided surgery, fluorescence bio-sensors, fluorescnent nanoparticles are also described. The future trends in the fluorescence bio-labeling are also addressed.

Keywords: Biosensors, covalently binding dyes, DNA binders, fluorescent dyes, intercalation, non-covalently binding dyes, protein fluorescent probes.