AIEgens for microbial detection and antimicrobial therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Microbiology
• Chemical Biology

Background:

• Pathogenic microbes cause diseases and pose health threats.
• Antibiotics are crucial for treating infections but face challenges from emerging antibiotic resistance.
• New antimicrobial strategies are urgently needed to combat resistant pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in AIEgen-based biofunctional materials and systems for microbial detection and therapy.
• To highlight the potential of AIEgens in addressing the challenge of antibiotic resistance.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on AIEgens for bioimaging and antimicrobial applications.
• Analysis of AIE fluorescent probes for bacterial detection and classification.
• Evaluation of AIEgens-based photosensitizers (AIE-PSs) for eliminating resistant bacteria.

Main Results:

• AIE fluorescent probes demonstrate high sensitivity and rapid response for ultrafast bacterial imaging, classification, and pathogen discrimination.
• Early detection and identification using AIE probes aid in studying antibiotic resistance mechanisms.
• AIE-PSs exhibit potent photosensitization for efficient elimination of multidrug-resistant and intracellular bacteria.

Conclusions:

• AIEgens represent a promising class of materials for developing advanced microbial detection and antimicrobial therapeutic strategies.
• The application of AIEgens can significantly contribute to overcoming the challenge of antibiotic resistance.
• Further research into aggregate science can unlock new potential for AIEgen-based applications.