title: Three-dimensional laser scanning two-photon fluorescence confocal microscopy of polymer materials using a new, efficient upconverting fluorophore.
abstract: Three-dimensional confocal imaging of polymer samples was achieved by the use of two-photon excited fluorescence in both positive and negative contrast modes. The fluorophore was a new and highly efficient two-photon induced upconverter, resulting in improved signal strength at low pumping power. Because of the relatively long wavelength of the excitation source (798 nm from a mode-locked Ti:Sapphire laser), this technique shows a larger penetration depth into the samples than provided by conventional single-photon fluorescence confocal microscopy. Single-photon and two-photon images of the same area of each sample show significant differences. The results suggest the possibility of using two-photon confocal microscopy, in conjunction with highly efficient fluorophores, as a tool to study the surface, interface, and fracture in material science applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo 14260, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bhawalkar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Swiatkiewicz
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Samarabandu
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Liou
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Berezney
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Prasad
mesh_terms: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007834:Lasers; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D011108:Polymers; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis*
chemical_list: C103290:4-(N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-(methyl)aminophenyl)-4'-(6-hydroxyhexylsulfonyl)stilbene; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011108:Polymers; D013267:Stilbenes