Lights, Camera, Molecules PDF Download

Author: Veronica Krasecki
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Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Chemical reactions feature complex mechanisms with molecules undergoing multiple transformations going from starting materials to products. To better understand chemical reactions, one investigates the reaction mechanism. Fluorescence microscopy can provide a way to optically probe chemical reactions. Optical microscopy, specifically fluorescence microscopy, can provide a real-time, in situ measurement of a chemical reaction with inherently high signal-to-background, providing glimpses into a reaction as it occurs. Fluorescence microscopy has been used extensively in the biological field, contributing to our overall understanding of various biological molecules and functions. However, the use of fluorescence microscopy to understand chemistry and chemical reactions is still relatively new. Many fluorescence microscopy techniques have been designed and developed with aqueous biological systems in mind, which does not always translate to an organic chemical reaction. Therefore, the development of new methods is necessary to study chemical systems using fluorescence microscopy. In this thesis I focus on three major applications of fluorescence microscopy, going from large scale bulk measurements down to a single molecule. The first application focuses on the development of a hybrid classical-molecular computer. The hybrid classical-molecular computer consists of an electrochemical reaction on top of an array of discrete electrodes. In this project, a ratiometric fluorescence pH sensitive readout and input is used in combination with a classical computer to generate a feedback loop to solve computational problems. In particular, the fluctuations within the optical signal are investigated and found to aid in solving combinatorial optimization problems. The second application focuses on the development of a technique to monitor polymerizations catalyzed by homogenous catalysts within droplets. This project uses droplets around 0.5 mm in diameter to encapsulate and immobilize a polymerization. Fluorescence anisotropy and aggregation-induced emission are used to monitor the progress of the polymerization. This dual readout method provides a greater temporal dynamic range than either method alone. Then, the size of the droplets is reduced, as I attempt to monitor fluorescence anisotropy changes from single catalysts within attoliter droplets. Preliminary results show increases in anisotropy in droplets less than 1 [mu]m in diameter. Finally, I begin an investigation into surface chemistry and using fluorous surfaces as a noncovalent immobilization technique for single molecules. This project features single particle tracking along with fluorescence recovery after photobleaching as the fluorescence methods of choice. Preliminary data here is inconclusive and points to the need for further development of homogeneous fluorous surfaces. Collectively, there is a combination of techniques and methods to study interesting chemical processes using fluorescence.