Advances in Natural-Product-Based Fluorescent Agents and Synthetic Analogues for Analytical and Biomedical Applications

Fluorescence is a remarkable property exhibited by many chemical compounds and biomolecules. Fluorescence has revolutionized analytical and biomedical sciences due to its wide-ranging applications in analytical and diagnostic tools of biological and environmental importance. Fluorescent molecules ar...

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Main Authors: Soniya Joshi, Alexis Moody, Padamlal Budthapa, Anita Gurung, Rachana Gautam, Prabha Sanjel, Aakash Gupta, Surya P. Aryal, Niranjan Parajuli, Narayan Bhattarai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Bioengineering
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/11/12/1292
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author Soniya Joshi
Alexis Moody
Padamlal Budthapa
Anita Gurung
Rachana Gautam
Prabha Sanjel
Aakash Gupta
Surya P. Aryal
Niranjan Parajuli
Narayan Bhattarai
author_facet Soniya Joshi
Alexis Moody
Padamlal Budthapa
Anita Gurung
Rachana Gautam
Prabha Sanjel
Aakash Gupta
Surya P. Aryal
Niranjan Parajuli
Narayan Bhattarai
author_sort Soniya Joshi
collection DOAJ
description Fluorescence is a remarkable property exhibited by many chemical compounds and biomolecules. Fluorescence has revolutionized analytical and biomedical sciences due to its wide-ranging applications in analytical and diagnostic tools of biological and environmental importance. Fluorescent molecules are frequently employed in drug delivery, optical sensing, cellular imaging, and biomarker discovery. Cancer is a global challenge and fluorescence agents can function as diagnostic as well as monitoring tools, both during early tumor progression and treatment monitoring. Many fluorescent compounds can be found in their natural form, but recent developments in synthetic chemistry and molecular biology have allowed us to synthesize and tune fluorescent molecules that would not otherwise exist in nature. Naturally derived fluorescent compounds are generally more biocompatible and environmentally friendly. They can also be modified in cost-effective and target-specific ways with the help of synthetic tools. Understanding their unique chemical structures and photophysical properties is key to harnessing their full potential in biomedical and analytical research. As drug discovery efforts require the rigorous characterization of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, fluorescence-based detection accelerates the understanding of drug interactions via in vitro and in vivo assays. Herein, we provide a review of natural products and synthetic analogs that exhibit fluorescence properties and can be used as probes, detailing their photophysical properties. We have also provided some insights into the relationships between chemical structures and fluorescent properties. Finally, we have discussed the applications of fluorescent compounds in biomedical science, mainly in the study of tumor and cancer cells and analytical research, highlighting their pivotal role in advancing drug delivery, biomarkers, cell imaging, biosensing technologies, and as targeting ligands in the diagnosis of tumors.
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spelling doaj-art-a6f4f5ec0c684a6ba7d86d329f4a6acf2025-08-20T02:56:05ZengMDPI AGBioengineering2306-53542024-12-011112129210.3390/bioengineering11121292Advances in Natural-Product-Based Fluorescent Agents and Synthetic Analogues for Analytical and Biomedical ApplicationsSoniya Joshi0Alexis Moody1Padamlal Budthapa2Anita Gurung3Rachana Gautam4Prabha Sanjel5Aakash Gupta6Surya P. Aryal7Niranjan Parajuli8Narayan Bhattarai9Central Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu 44618, NepalDepartment of Chemical, Biological, and Bioengineering, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USACentral Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu 44618, NepalCentral Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu 44618, NepalCentral Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu 44618, NepalCentral Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu 44618, NepalDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USADepartment of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USACentral Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu 44618, NepalDepartment of Chemical, Biological, and Bioengineering, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USAFluorescence is a remarkable property exhibited by many chemical compounds and biomolecules. Fluorescence has revolutionized analytical and biomedical sciences due to its wide-ranging applications in analytical and diagnostic tools of biological and environmental importance. Fluorescent molecules are frequently employed in drug delivery, optical sensing, cellular imaging, and biomarker discovery. Cancer is a global challenge and fluorescence agents can function as diagnostic as well as monitoring tools, both during early tumor progression and treatment monitoring. Many fluorescent compounds can be found in their natural form, but recent developments in synthetic chemistry and molecular biology have allowed us to synthesize and tune fluorescent molecules that would not otherwise exist in nature. Naturally derived fluorescent compounds are generally more biocompatible and environmentally friendly. They can also be modified in cost-effective and target-specific ways with the help of synthetic tools. Understanding their unique chemical structures and photophysical properties is key to harnessing their full potential in biomedical and analytical research. As drug discovery efforts require the rigorous characterization of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, fluorescence-based detection accelerates the understanding of drug interactions via in vitro and in vivo assays. Herein, we provide a review of natural products and synthetic analogs that exhibit fluorescence properties and can be used as probes, detailing their photophysical properties. We have also provided some insights into the relationships between chemical structures and fluorescent properties. Finally, we have discussed the applications of fluorescent compounds in biomedical science, mainly in the study of tumor and cancer cells and analytical research, highlighting their pivotal role in advancing drug delivery, biomarkers, cell imaging, biosensing technologies, and as targeting ligands in the diagnosis of tumors.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/11/12/1292natural fluorescentfluorescence propertiesdrug deliverybiomarkerscancer
spellingShingle Soniya Joshi
Alexis Moody
Padamlal Budthapa
Anita Gurung
Rachana Gautam
Prabha Sanjel
Aakash Gupta
Surya P. Aryal
Niranjan Parajuli
Narayan Bhattarai
Advances in Natural-Product-Based Fluorescent Agents and Synthetic Analogues for Analytical and Biomedical Applications
Bioengineering
natural fluorescent
fluorescence properties
drug delivery
biomarkers
cancer
title Advances in Natural-Product-Based Fluorescent Agents and Synthetic Analogues for Analytical and Biomedical Applications
title_full Advances in Natural-Product-Based Fluorescent Agents and Synthetic Analogues for Analytical and Biomedical Applications
title_fullStr Advances in Natural-Product-Based Fluorescent Agents and Synthetic Analogues for Analytical and Biomedical Applications
title_full_unstemmed Advances in Natural-Product-Based Fluorescent Agents and Synthetic Analogues for Analytical and Biomedical Applications
title_short Advances in Natural-Product-Based Fluorescent Agents and Synthetic Analogues for Analytical and Biomedical Applications
title_sort advances in natural product based fluorescent agents and synthetic analogues for analytical and biomedical applications
topic natural fluorescent
fluorescence properties
drug delivery
biomarkers
cancer
url https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/11/12/1292
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