Abstract:

Single molecule spectroscopy has revolutionized numerous scientific disciplines, spanning from catalysis, plasmonics, and polymer physics to biophysics, cell biology, and DNA sequencing. By enabling the detection and characterization of individual molecules, this technique has provided unprecedented insights into molecular interactions and dynamic processes. Moreover, single molecule approaches have played a pivotal role in pushing the resolution of fluorescence microscopy beyond the diffraction limit, leading to significant advancements in imaging.

In this presentation, I will provide an overview of recent single molecule experiments conducted in my laboratory, highlighting how these studies have been closely intertwined with the development of novel microscopy modalities, the synthesis of specialized fluorescent labels, and advances in linker chemistry. A key focus will be our development of FLUOROCODE, a super-resolution optical mapping approach for DNA, which enables precise visualization and structural analysis of genomic sequences at the nanoscale. I will illustrate how fundamental research in this domain has transitioned into real-world applications, including microbiome analysis, and discuss ongoing valorization efforts. This work underscores the synergy between cutting-edge microscopy, innovative chemistry, and applied biotechnology, paving the way for new diagnostic and analytical tools in life sciences.