Design Principles and Applications of Fluorescent Kinase Inhibitors for Simultaneous Cancer Bioimaging and Therapy.

Kinase inhibitors are potent therapeutic agents in cancer treatment, but their effectiveness is frequently restricted by the inability to image the tumor microenvironment. To address this constraint, kinase inhibitor-fluorophore conjugates have emerged as promising theranostic agents, allowing for simultaneous cancer diagnosis and treatment. These conjugates are gaining attention for their ability to visualize malignant tissues and concurrently enhance therapeutic interventions. This review explores the design principles governing the development of multimodal inhibitors, highlighting their potential as platforms for kinase tracking and inhibition via bioimaging. The structural aspects of constructing such theranostic agents are critically analyzed. This work could shed light on this intriguing field and provide adequate impetus for developing novel theranostic compounds based on small molecule inhibitors and fluorophores.