Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Measurements in Polymer Science: A Review

• Published in: Macromolecular rapid communications. Vol. 43; no. 24; pp. e2200421 - n/a
• Main Authors: Valdez, Sara, Robertson, Mark, Qiang, Zhe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.12.2022
• Subjects: chain conformation; Composite materials; Diffusion; Energy transfer; Fluorescence; Fluorescence resonance energy transfer; Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer - methods; Interfaces; Kinetics; Micelles; Molecular conformation; Molecular Structure; optical imaging; polymer physics; Polymers; Polymers - chemistry; Resonance; Spatial discrimination; Spatial resolution; Spectroscopy; diffusion; micelles; polymer physics; chain conformation; optical imaging
• ISSN: 1022-1336; 1521-3927; 1521-3927
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.202200421

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a non‐invasive characterization method for studying molecular structures and dynamics, providing high spatial resolution at nanometer scale. Over the past decades, FRET‐based measurements are developed and widely implemented in synthetic polymer systems for understanding and detecting a variety of nanoscale phenomena, enabling significant advances in polymer science. In this review, the basic principles of fluorescence and FRET are briefly discussed. Several representative research areas are highlighted, where FRET spectroscopy and imaging can be employed to reveal polymer morphology and kinetics. These examples include understanding polymer micelle formation and stability, detecting guest molecule release from polymer host, characterizing supramolecular assembly, imaging composite interfaces, and determining polymer chain conformations and their diffusion kinetics. Finally, a perspective on the opportunities of FRET‐based measurements is provided for further allowing their greater contributions in this exciting area. This article reviews the development and application of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) in polymer science, particularly for understanding nanoscale phenomena. Example use of FRET includes detecting structural transition, elucidating chain dimensions, interfacial imaging in composites, and determining chain diffusion kinetics. Perspectives about potential research opportunities in this field are provided to unlock the potential of FRET measurements in polymers.