Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy of single dye-labeled polymers in organic solvents

Abstract

We discuss the use of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) to study the diffusion of single dye-labeled polymer chains in organic solvents. Monodisperse batches of polystyrenes labeled with a single Rhodamine B molecule have been synthesized via anionic polymerization of styrene and ethylene oxide end-capping followed by a polymer analogous coupling reaction. MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry is used to characterize the resulting material. A commercial FCS system has been modified to permit FCS measurements in volatile organic solvents. FCS was used to determine the molecular weight dependence of the diffusion coefficient of 10 nM solutions of end-labeled polystyrenes in toluene. The data are utilized to establish a calibration procedure for FCS measurements in organic solvents