# Functional super-resolution microscopy of fibers and polymers: convergence of artificial and biological systems at the nanoscale

## TL;DR

This paper explores how advanced microscopy techniques help study both natural and synthetic fibers at the nanoscale, revealing how their structure affects their function.

## Contribution

The paper introduces functional super-resolution microscopy as a tool to study dynamic properties of polymers and fibers at the nanoscale.

## Key findings

- Functional SMLM can map polarity and viscosity in polymers and fibers.
- Nanoscale parameters influence macroscopic material behavior.
- Shared principles between biological and artificial systems are revealed through imaging.

## Abstract

Fluorescence nanoscopy has opened a new frontier for visualizing and understanding polymeric and fibrous materials with molecular precision. Building on advances in single molecule localization microscopy (SMLM), researchers are now extending beyond structure to probe dynamic and functional properties that govern material behavior. This Focus article highlights recent progress in functional SMLM for mapping polarity, viscosity and molecular motion within polymers and fibers, revealing how these nanoscale parameters influence macroscopic performance. Examples include tracking polymerization and phase evolution, resolving nanofiber organization, and correlating structural heterogeneity with local chemical environments. We further discuss the growing convergence between artificial and biological systems with shared principles of hierarchical organization. By integrating structural, dynamic, and functional imaging, fluorescence nanoscopy provides a unifying framework for studying and engineering complex molecular assemblies across living and synthetic matter.

The diagram highlights functional SRM as a bridge between nanoscale studies of biological and artificial fibers and polymers where advances in SRM enable study of synthetic systems and polymer principles guide understanding of complex natural fiber.