AIE polymers for biosensing applications

Abstract

Polymeric materials featuring aggregation-induced emission (AIE) activity have been developed as new luminescent materials with the advantages of facile modification, synergetic effect, intelligent response, and excellent photophysical properties. Incorporating AIE luminogens into polymer fabrication endows the obtained polymeric materials with abundant properties, providing a feasible and effective approach for biosensor construction with fast response, high sensitivity, and excellent stability. In this review, the progress of AIE polymers in biosensing applications over the past five years is summarized: ion detection in the physiological environment, bio-related molecule sensing, and both in vitro and in vivo bioimaging applications are discussed in detail. Finally, the current challenges and perspectives for the future development of these promising materials are discussed at the end of this review.