A new approach to developing diagnostics and therapeutics: Aggregation-induced emission-based fluorescence turn-on

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Traditional fluorescent probes face quenching issues upon aggregation, limiting their use in sensitive bioassays.
• Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) molecules exhibit enhanced fluorescence upon restricted intramolecular motion, overcoming aggregation-caused quenching.
• AIE probes offer a promising alternative for advanced bioimaging and diagnostics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of the development and applications of AIE bioprobes.
• To elucidate the mechanisms behind the AIE phenomenon.
• To discuss strategies for accurate detection using AIE probes and highlight their potential in bioimaging and materials engineering.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on AIE phenomena and AIE-based probes.
• Analysis of mechanisms driving AIE characteristics.
• Compilation of examples of AIE-active materials in diagnosis, treatment, and nanocarrier tracking.

Main Results:

• AIE probes demonstrate superior practicality compared to traditional fluorescent probes, particularly in bioassays.
• AIE molecules exhibit unique photophysical properties, emitting intense fluorescence upon aggregation.
• Diverse applications of AIE probes in bioimaging, diagnostics, therapeutics, and nanocarrier tracking have been demonstrated.

Conclusions:

• AIE probes represent a significant advancement over traditional fluorescent probes for bioassays.
• The review highlights the potential of AIE-active materials in bridging bioimaging and materials engineering.
• Future challenges and opportunities in the field of AIE-active materials are identified to stimulate further research.