FPS 792. Fluorescence Dyes and Imaging

Course Overview

Fluorescent dyes are the molecular engines behind modern optical technologies. From advanced materials characterization to biological imaging, dyes enable scientists to visualize molecular interactions, monitor dynamic processes, and probe nanoscale structures with extraordinary precision.

This course begins with the design, synthesis, and photophysical principles of fluorescent dyes, then builds toward their applications in fluorescence spectroscopy, microscopy, and nanoscopic imaging. By bridging organic and physical chemistry, optical physics, and computational image analysis, students will gain a holistic understanding of how dyes function as quantitative tools for probing matter — whether in polymers, fibers, nanomaterials, or biological systems.

Topics covered

• Molecular design and photophysics of fluorescent dyes — structure–property relationships, quantum yield, and photostability
• Light–matter interaction and fundamental fluorescence principles
• Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy for dye and material characterization
• Optical instrumentation and microscope design for widefield, confocal, and super-resolution imaging
• Quantitative analysis of fluorescence lifetime, anisotropy, and Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)
• Nanoscopic imaging techniques (Atomic force microscopy, electron microscopy, and optical nanoscopy)

• Their Applications in polymer science, soft matter, nanomaterials, and biophysical systems
• Using ImageJ, MATLAB, and machine learning for imaging analysis