International anesthesiology clinics
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Int Anesthesiol Clin · Jan 1987
ReviewTheory and development of fluorescence-based optochemical oxygen sensors: oxygen optodes.
As the preceding considerations concerning the physical and technical features of oxygen optodes have demonstrated, fluorescence-based optochemical oxygen sensors possess certain advantages and peculiarities compared to conventionally applied electrochemical sensors such as polarographic oxygen electrodes. First, in contrast to oxygen electrodes, oxygen measurements with oxygen optodes do not suffer from distortions caused by the reference electrodes. In addition, because of the polarographic process, platinum electrodes continuously consume oxygen, which falsifies the results, especially when small sample volumes or long-term measurements, or both, are involved, whereas the sensor layer of oxygen optodes must only be equilibrated. ⋯ Furthermore, the sensitivity of oxygen optodes can be tuned to the desired range of PO2 values, resulting in a higher resolution. Use of suitable polymer alloys as indicator matrices can even enhance oxygen sensitivity; therefore, the application of optodes for trace analysis of oxygen might be possible, especially with regard to the application of highly oxygen-sensitive phosphorescent indicators. Finally, owing to the reversibility of fluorescence quenching, monitoring of oxygen by fluorescence optical sensors allows a continuous and remote control of biomedical parameters as well as regulation of biotechnological processes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)