(324e) Exploring Single Polymer Conformation and Dynamics Using Single-Molecule Optical Microscopy

The behavior of single chains is integral to the foundation of polymer science. For example, many theories explaining fundamental behavior originate from how a single polymer interacts and responds to its environment, often made of other polymer chains. However, in this situation it is particularly difficult to interrogate the behavior of single polymers. Our group uses single-molecule optical microscopy to directly visualize the conformation and dynamics of polymers in real time and in their native environment. In one example, we use super-resolution optical microscopy to acquire images of fluorescently-labeled bottlebrush polymers blended with an unlabeled linear polymer melt. By fitting these images to a wormlike chain model, we are able to accurately and directly measure the persistence length of the backbone for the first time. In another example, we use single-particle tracking to explore the diffusion of concentrated polymer solutions. Our results reveal significant evidence of heterogeneity that is rarely explored using other techniques.