Aggregation-Induced Emission: Recent Advances in Materials and Biomedical Applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) is a photophysical phenomenon where molecules exhibit strong fluorescence upon aggregation.
• AIE fluorogens (AIEgens) have emerged as promising alternatives to conventional fluorophores due to their unique properties.
• AIE probes, including molecular and nanoparticle (NP) probes, have shown excellent performance in sensing, imaging, and theranostics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the latest advancements in AIE molecular and AIE NP probes.
• To summarize their emerging biomedical applications.
• To discuss the evolution of AIE probes with new multifunctional AIEgens and strategies for overcoming limitations.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature on AIE probes and their applications.
• Analysis of strategies for developing novel AIEgens and probe designs.
• Examination of applications in fluorescence imaging, photoacoustic imaging, and image-guided therapy.

Main Results:

• AIE probes demonstrate superior performance compared to traditional fluorescent probes.
• New multifunctional AIEgens and innovative probe designs have been developed.
• AIE probes are increasingly utilized for advanced biomedical imaging and therapeutic applications.

Conclusions:

• AIE probes represent a significant advancement in biomedical research and clinical applications.
• Further development of AIEgens and probe strategies will enhance their translational potential.
• AIE technology holds great promise for future biomedical innovations.