Deformation-enhanced fluorescence resonance energy transfer

This work reports the influence of mechanical deformation on the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) process. The mechanical deformation of an elastomer was achieved with atomic force microscopy, and the FRET efficiency with respect to the indentation depth was obtained from the measured fluorescence lifetime of the donor in the presence of acceptors. In such a mechanoresponsive system, we have observed a significant FRET enhancement when the polymer matrix was structurally deformed.