Recent Advances in Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE) Fluorescent Sensors for Biomolecule Detection

Fluorescent sensors are indispensable tools in fields such as molecular biology, clinical diagnostics, biotechnology, and environmental monitoring, due to their high sensitivity, selectivity, biocompatibility, rapid response, and ease of use. However, conventional fluorophores often suffer from aggr...

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Main Authors: Kavya S. Keremane, M. Gururaj Acharya, Praveen Naik, Chandi C. Malakar, Kai Wang, Bed Poudel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Chemosensors
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/13/5/174
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author Kavya S. Keremane
M. Gururaj Acharya
Praveen Naik
Chandi C. Malakar
Kai Wang
Bed Poudel
author_facet Kavya S. Keremane
M. Gururaj Acharya
Praveen Naik
Chandi C. Malakar
Kai Wang
Bed Poudel
author_sort Kavya S. Keremane
collection DOAJ
description Fluorescent sensors are indispensable tools in fields such as molecular biology, clinical diagnostics, biotechnology, and environmental monitoring, due to their high sensitivity, selectivity, biocompatibility, rapid response, and ease of use. However, conventional fluorophores often suffer from aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ), leading to diminished fluorescence in the aggregated state. The advent of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogens, which exhibit enhanced fluorescence upon aggregation, offers a powerful solution to this limitation. Their unique photophysical properties have made AIE-based materials highly valuable for diverse applications, including biomedical imaging, optoelectronics, stimuli-responsive systems, drug delivery, and chemical sensing. Notably, AIE-based fluorescent probes are emerging as attractive alternatives to traditional analytical methods owing to their low cost, fast detection, and high selectivity. Over the past two decades, considerable progress has been made in the rational design and development of AIE-active small-molecule fluorescent probes for detecting a wide variety of analytes, such as biologically relevant molecules, drug compounds, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), explosives, and contaminants associated with forensic and food safety analysis. This review highlights recent advances in organic AIE-based fluorescent probes, beginning with the fundamentals of AIE and typical “turn-on” sensing mechanisms, and concluding with a discussion of current challenges and future opportunities in this rapidly evolving research area.
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spelling doaj-art-a4bd7cb024a14d9eb23e0f94835801022025-08-20T01:56:29ZengMDPI AGChemosensors2227-90402025-05-0113517410.3390/chemosensors13050174Recent Advances in Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE) Fluorescent Sensors for Biomolecule DetectionKavya S. Keremane0M. Gururaj Acharya1Praveen Naik2Chandi C. Malakar3Kai Wang4Bed Poudel5Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USASchool of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USADepartment of Chemistry, Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology, Yelahanka, Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, IndiaDepartment of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology Manipur, Imphal 795004, Manipur, IndiaDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USADepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USAFluorescent sensors are indispensable tools in fields such as molecular biology, clinical diagnostics, biotechnology, and environmental monitoring, due to their high sensitivity, selectivity, biocompatibility, rapid response, and ease of use. However, conventional fluorophores often suffer from aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ), leading to diminished fluorescence in the aggregated state. The advent of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogens, which exhibit enhanced fluorescence upon aggregation, offers a powerful solution to this limitation. Their unique photophysical properties have made AIE-based materials highly valuable for diverse applications, including biomedical imaging, optoelectronics, stimuli-responsive systems, drug delivery, and chemical sensing. Notably, AIE-based fluorescent probes are emerging as attractive alternatives to traditional analytical methods owing to their low cost, fast detection, and high selectivity. Over the past two decades, considerable progress has been made in the rational design and development of AIE-active small-molecule fluorescent probes for detecting a wide variety of analytes, such as biologically relevant molecules, drug compounds, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), explosives, and contaminants associated with forensic and food safety analysis. This review highlights recent advances in organic AIE-based fluorescent probes, beginning with the fundamentals of AIE and typical “turn-on” sensing mechanisms, and concluding with a discussion of current challenges and future opportunities in this rapidly evolving research area.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/13/5/174fluorescent sensorAIEfluorescencebiomolecule detection
spellingShingle Kavya S. Keremane
M. Gururaj Acharya
Praveen Naik
Chandi C. Malakar
Kai Wang
Bed Poudel
Recent Advances in Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE) Fluorescent Sensors for Biomolecule Detection
Chemosensors
fluorescent sensor
AIE
fluorescence
biomolecule detection
title Recent Advances in Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE) Fluorescent Sensors for Biomolecule Detection
title_full Recent Advances in Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE) Fluorescent Sensors for Biomolecule Detection
title_fullStr Recent Advances in Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE) Fluorescent Sensors for Biomolecule Detection
title_full_unstemmed Recent Advances in Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE) Fluorescent Sensors for Biomolecule Detection
title_short Recent Advances in Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE) Fluorescent Sensors for Biomolecule Detection
title_sort recent advances in aggregation induced emission aie fluorescent sensors for biomolecule detection
topic fluorescent sensor
AIE
fluorescence
biomolecule detection
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/13/5/174
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