Membrane-intercalating conjugated oligoelectrolytes for lipid membrane imaging

Membrane-intercalating conjugated oligoelectrolytes (MICOEs), a class of phospholipid bilayer mimics, demonstrate an exceptional ability to spontaneously integrate into biological membranes through a combination of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. This unique property makes them promising candidates for membrane imaging applications. Over the past decade, MICOEs have been successfully applied to imaging and tracking a wide range of biological membranes, including microbial membranes, mammalian plasma membranes, intracellular membranes, extracellular vesicles, and artificial liposomes. Recent advancements have shed light on the imaging mechanisms of MICOEs and highlighted their potential as fluorescent probes, with a focus on structural optimization to enhance their performance. Building on these developments, this review will explore the intercalation mechanisms of MICOEs, analyze the structure-activity relationships governing their molecular design and imaging capabilities, and discuss the future challenges and emerging opportunities for their application as advanced membrane dyes.