Aggregation-induced emission sonosensitizers: molecular engineering and biomedical applications.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Organic Chemistry

Background:

• Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a promising non-invasive treatment modality.
• Conventional sonosensitizers have limitations in ROS generation, stability, and biocompatibility.
• Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) materials offer unique properties to overcome these limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of recent advances in AIE sonosensitizers.
• To systematically classify AIE sonosensitizers and discuss molecular engineering strategies.
• To highlight the versatile biomedical functionalities and translational prospects of AIE sonosensitizers.

Main Methods:

• Classification of AIE sonosensitizers into small molecules and polymers.
• Emphasis on molecular engineering strategies to enhance ROS generation.
• Highlighting diverse biomedical applications and multimodal treatment integration.

Main Results:

• AIE sonosensitizers demonstrate improved ROS generation efficiency, stability, and biocompatibility.
• Molecular engineering strategies effectively enhance sono-induced ROS production.
• AIE sonosensitizers exhibit versatile functionalities for image-guided therapy, hypoxia adaptation, and multimodal treatments.

Conclusions:

• AIE sonosensitizers represent a transformative class of materials for advanced SDT.
• Molecular design is crucial for optimizing ROS generation and therapeutic efficacy.
• Further research into challenges and translational prospects is needed for clinical realization.