In situ/In vivo Optical Microspectroscopy to Probe the Emergence of Morphology

Natercia Barbosa; Oscar Urquidi; Johanna Brazard; Takuji B. M. Adachi

doi:10.2533/chimia.2024.50

In situ/In vivo Optical Microspectroscopy to Probe the Emergence of Morphology

Authors

Natercia Barbosa Dept. Physical Chemistry, University of Geneva, CH-1204 Geneva
Oscar Urquidi Dept. Physical Chemistry, University of Geneva, CH-1204 Geneva
Johanna Brazard Dept. Physical Chemistry, University of Geneva, CH-1204 Geneva
Takuji B. M. Adachi Dept. Physical Chemistry, University of Geneva, CH-1204 Geneva

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2533/chimia.2024.50

PMID:

38430064

Keywords:

Biomineralization, Crystallization, Laser tweezer Raman microspectroscopy, Single crystal nucleation spectroscopy (SCNS), Time-resolved dynamic light scattering microscopy (micro-DLS)

Abstract

Morphology governs function. Yet, understanding and controlling the emergence of morphology at the molecular level remains challenging. The difficulty in studying the early stage of morphology formation is due to its stochastic nature both spatially and temporally occurring at the nanoscale. This nature has been particularly detrimental for the application of optical spectroscopy. To overcome this problem, we have been developing new in situ/in vivo optical spectroscopy tools, which are label-free and non-invasive. This account highlights several examples of how optical spectroscopy can become an important tool in studying the birth of morphology.