Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 2025

A Novel Technique for Generating and Observing Chemiluminescence in a Biological Setting
Published on: March 9, 2017
Chemiluminescence Detection in the Study of Free-Radical Reactions. Part 2. Luminescent Additives That Increase the
1The A. I. Burnazyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of the Federal Medical Biological Agency of Russia, Moscow, 123098 Russia.
Abstract:
The present review examines the use of chemiluminescence detection to evaluate the course of free radical reactions in biological model systems. The application of the method is analyzed by using luminescent additives that enhance the luminescence thanks to a triplet-singlet transfer of the electron excitation energy from radical reaction products and its emission in the form of light with a high quantum yield; these additives are called chemiluminescence enhancers or activators. Examples of these substances are provided; differences between the so-called chemical and physical enhancers are described; coumarin derivatives, as the most promising chemiluminescence enhancers for studying lipid peroxidation, are considered in detail. The main problems related to the use of coumarin derivatives are defined, and possible ways of solving these problems are presented. Intrinsic chemiluminescence and the mechanism of luminescence accompanying biomolecule peroxidation are discussed in the first part of the review.
Related Concept Videos
Photoluminescence: Applications
Variables Affecting Phosphorescence and Fluorescence
Radical Reactivity: Nucleophilic Radicals
Photoluminescence: Fluorescence and Phosphorescence
A pair of electrons in a...
Flame Photometry: Lab
Labeling DNA Probes
Radioisotopes, fluorophores, or small molecule binding partners like biotin or digoxigenin, are the most widely used reporter tags for labeling DNA probes. These labels can be attached to the probe DNA molecule via...

