Analysis of Diffusion through Dynamic Network Polymers using Multi-photon Fluorescence Recovery after Photobleaching

ORAL

Abstract

Multi-Photon Fluorescence Recovery after Photobleaching (FRAP) techniques are utilized to study small molecule transport through polymer networks containing multiple hydrogen-bonding functional groups. Experiments involve uniformly dispersing small dye molecules (fluorophores) into functionalized polymers and networks. Polymer samples are then locally bleached, and the recovery of fluorescence is studied using 2-photon fluorescence microscopy. By curve-fitting fluorescence recovery curves to a model, diffusion coefficients are obtained. We have investigated series of polymer networks containing H-bonding interactions with different compositions at different temperatures. The diffusion coefficient through these polymer networks shows an expected Arrhenius-like temperature dependence. The influence of hydrogen bonding and network architecture on transport activation energies will be discussed.

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Authors

  • Jiahui Li

    • Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Rochester

  • Kelley Sullivan

    • Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester

  • Edward Brown

    • Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester

  • Mitchell Anthamatten

    • University of Rochester
    • Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Rochester