Diagnostic Drugs: Concept, Current Status, and Challenges in New-Age Diagnosis Platform Development
Suresh K Kalangi1,2, Rajesh S Bhosale3,4, Tejender S Thakur2,5
1Division of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226001, India.
Chemical & Biomedical Imaging
|July 30, 2026
Summary
Advanced diagnostic drugs combining therapy and detection are emerging, with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) probes offering solutions for precision medicine and overcoming limitations of current diagnostic tools.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Unmet medical needs drive the development of novel diagnostic tools and drugs.
- Precision medicine relies on integrating diagnostics with drug discovery, termed 'drug-diagnostic co-development'.
- Current diagnostic drugs face challenges like fluorescence quenching and potential toxicity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a perspective on current trends in disease diagnosis and treatment.
- To highlight the evolution of diagnostic drugs and their role in precision medicine.
- To discuss the potential of advanced diagnostic drugs with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) probes.
Main Methods:
- Review of conventional and state-of-the-art diagnostic drugs.
- Exploration of quantum dots (QDs) conjugated to drugs (e.g., CdTe QDs with 5-FU, naproxen, celecoxib).
- Investigation of supramolecular chemistry and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) probes for drug conjugates.
Main Results:
- Drug-diagnostic co-development enables precision medicine.
- Quantum dots offer potential for dual detection and treatment but face aggregation and heavy metal toxicity issues.
- Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) probes show promise in addressing aggregation and safety concerns.
Conclusions:
- Advanced diagnostic drugs incorporating AIE-conjugated probes are significant for future diagnosis and therapy.
- Supramolecular chemistry offers innovative solutions for enhancing diagnostic drug utility and safety.
- The integration of AIE probes represents a key advancement in developing effective diagnostic and therapeutic agents.
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