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Aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) carbon dot (CDs) in solid state with tunable multicolor emissions have sparked significant interest in multidimensional anti‐counterfeiting. However, the realization of solid‐state fluorescence (SSF) by AIE effect and the regulation of fluorescence wavelength in solid state is a great challenge. In order to solve this dilemma, the AIE method to prepare multi‐color solid‐state CDs with fluorescence wavelengths ranging from bright blue to red emission is employed. Specifically, by using thiosalicylic acid and carbonyl hydrazine as precursors, the fluorescence wavelength can be accurately adjusted by varying the reaction temperature from 150 to 230 °C or changing the molar ratio of the precursors from 1:1 to 1:2. Structural analysis and theoretical calculations consistently indicate that increasing the sp2 domains or doping with graphite nitrogen both cause a redshift in the fluorescence wavelength of CDs in the solid state. Moreover, with the multi‐dimensional and adjustable fluorescence wavelength, the application of AIE CDs in the fields of multi‐anti‐counterfeiting encryption, ink printing, and screen printing is demonstrated. All in all, this work opens up a new way for preparing solid‐state multi‐color CDs using AIE effect, and further proposes an innovative strategy for controlling fluorescence wavelengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorescent sensors are essential for rapid visual sensing of volatile acids, due to their profound impact on ecosystems and human health. However, solid phosphorescent materials for acid-base stimulus response are still rare, and it is important to achieve real-time monitoring of volatile acids. In order to obtain an efficient and rapid response to volatile acid stimulation, N-H and -NH2 substituents are introduced into an auxiliary ligand to synthesize a new cationic Ir(III) complex (Ir-NH). The AIE property of Ir-NH leads to enhanced emission in the aggregated state, which facilitates the construction of solid-state acid-base sensors. More importantly, due to the introduction of -NH2 and N-H in the molecular structure, reversible switching of the emission color of Ir-NH under acid-base stimulation was successfully achieved. A convenient and efficient sensing device for volatile acid monitoring was prepared using Ir-NH as the active material. Our results provide a new strategy for designing phosphorescent materials with AIE and acid-base stimulus-responsive properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

α‐Cyanostilbene represents one of the easily functionalized aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) scaffolds. It has been widely adopted for the construction of fluorescent materials for broad applications. Here, we further expanded the utilization of α‐cyanostilbene derivatives for the detection of hypoxia or proteostasis imbalance in live cells. Four different amine containing donors were introduced to construct α‐cyanostilbene derivatives (R‐ASC) with donor‐acceptor scaffolds. Equipped with the cysteine (Cys) reactive group, maleimide (MI), R‐ASC‐MI shows fluorescence turn‐on property upon binding with unfolded proteins in vitro and in live cells under proteostatic stress. By virtue of R‐ASC‐MI, the level of unfolded protein loads in cells can be quantified by flow cytometry, or visualized under microscope. Furthermore, we also characterized the performance of R‐ASC‐NO2, synthetic precursors of R‐ASC‐MI, in cellular hypoxia. R‐ASC‐NO2 revealed upregulated activities of nitroreductase, as well as increased hydrophobicity in live cells, under either chemical (NaN3) induced or atmospheric (1 % O2) hypoxia. Together, the advantages of easy modification and high signal‐to‐noise ratio of new α‐cyanostilbene derivatives reported in this work highlight the great potential of α‐cyanostilbene in constructing functional biosensors and many other domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A group of bithiophenyl compounds comprising the cyanoacrylate moiety were designed and successfully synthesized. The optical, (spectro)electrochemical, and aggregation-induced emission properties were studied. DFT calculations were used to explain the reaction's regioselectivity and to determine the molecules' energy parameters (i.e., band gaps, HOMO levels, and LUMO levels). The aggregation-induced emission of compounds has been studied in the mixture of DMF (as a good solvent) and water (as a poor solvent), with different water fractions ranging from 0% to 99%. It has been shown that there are differences in the physicochemical properties of the obtained compounds due to the length of the alkyl chain in the ester group. Investigated derivatives were tested for their potential use in visualizing latent fingerprints and electrochromic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a deep blue emitter (PI‐TPB‐CN) with a synergistic effect of hybridized local and charge transfer excited state (HLCT) and aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) properties is successfully designed and synthesized to improve the performance of deep blue organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). It is constructed using a 1,2,4,5‐tetraphenylbenzene (TPB) as an π‐conjugated AIE core being asymmetrically functionalized with a phenanthro[9,10‐d]imidazole (PI) as a weak donor (D) and a benzonitrile (CN) as an acceptor (A), thereby formulating D‐π‐A type fluorophore. Its HLCT and AIE properties verified by theoretical calculations, solvatochromic effects, and transient photoluminescence decay experiments, bring about a strong blue emission (452 nm) with a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 74 % in the thin film. PI‐TPB‐CN is successfully employed as a blue emitter in OLEDs. Non‐doped OLED with the structure of ITO/HAT‐CN (6 nm)/NPB (30 nm)/TCTA (10 nm)/PI‐TPB‐CN (30 nm)/TPBi (40 nm)/LiF (1 nm)/Al (100 nm) demonstrates excellent electroluminescence (EL) performance with blue emission (451 nm) and maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of 7.38 %. The device with a thinner layer of PI‐TPB‐CN (20 nm) and TPBi (30 nm) exhibits a deeper blue emission (444 nm) with CIE coordinates of (0.156, 0.096), a low turn‐on voltage of 3.0 V, and EQEmax of 6.45 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving full‐color emission with just two emitters presents a significant challenge. Two N‐heterocyclic carbene metallacycles (NHC‐M; M ═ Ag, Au) featuring a tetraphenylethene core, combining covalent and coordination bonds are synthesized to restrict rotation within the NHC‐M‐BC (BC = bicyclic) metallacycles and greatly enhanced their quantum yields. The enhancement is accomplished by adjusting the CH3CN/H2O solvent mixture, allowing emission tuning from blue to green for NHC‐Ag‐BC. Further diversification of the emission spectrum, including access to high‐quality white light (CIE coordinates 0.33, 0.34), is facilitated through the addition of sulforhodamine B via fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). The compatibility of NHC‐Ag‐BC with agarose gel extends its applicability to UV‐LEDs chromic coatings, as well as information encryption and anti‐counterfeiting materials. The results underscore the viability of dual‐fluorophore systems for achieving full‐color emission and highlight the potential for developing versatile, multi‐colored functional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-based photosensitizers (PSs) are well-known for their exceptional biocompatibility and high irradiation-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation capacity, making them promising candidates for photodynamic therapy (PDT). In antitumor treatment, enhancing the spatiotemporal specificity of AIEgen PSs can maximize the efficacy of suppressing tumor cells. Lysosomes, as digestive cellular organelles, can be perturbed by various external stimuli, leading to cellular dysfunction and even apoptosis. This makes them ideal targets for effective and precise PDT. In this study, an AIE photosensitizer MEO-TTMN (MT) was encapsulated with a silica shell to develop AIE-based silica nanoparticles (NPs), MT@SiO2-MP NPs, for antitumor PDT. The absorption and emission peaks of these NPs were at 513 and 675 nm, respectively. Upon irradiation, MT@SiO2-MP NPs exhibited a stronger ROS generation capacity when compared with the commercial photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6). The decoration of the morpholine group on the surface of the silica shell facilitated MT@SiO2-MP NPs to accumulate specifically in the cellular lysosomes. A high level of ROS was proven to be in situ generated at the lysosomal sites by irradiation, which led to the damage of lysosomes and subsequent apoptosis of tumor cells. The in vivo PDT of tumor-bearing mouse demonstrated that MT@SiO2-MP NPs significantly suppressed the growth of the tumor. This work has provided efficient lysosome-targeting NPs to improve PDT efficacy and accuracy, which is beneficial for cancer therapy in the field of nanomedicine research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, two aggregation-induced emission (AIE) chiral fluorescent materials, S-1 and S-2, were synthesized. The two materials are based on BINOL and H8-BINOL backbones, respectively, and large electron-absorbing groups are attached to the chiral backbones through the Knoevenagel reaction. At the same time, the CD signals of these two chiral fluorescent materials are gradually weakened (fw gradually increases) as they continue to aggregate. However, S-2 underwent a flip-flop from a negative to positive chiral CD signal at fw ≥ 90. And both materials also showed significant enantioselective recognition of lysine, demonstrating their potential as novel chiral fluorescent probes. Among them, the enantioselective fluorescence enhancement ratios (ef) of S-1 and S-2 for lysine were 10.0 and 10.3, respectively, while different degrees of blue shifts were produced by the ICT mechanism during the recognition process. In addition, the self-assembled morphology of the two nanomaterials is different; S-1 comprises hollow-core vesicles that are more likely to aggregate to form larger self-assembled vesicles, whereas S-2 is a solid block structure. When L/D-lysine was added alone, the morphology of S-1 was more distinctly different compared to S-2. With the addition of L-lysine, S-1 was dispersed and regularly spherical, whereas with the addition of D-lysine, S-1 itself remained in the form of aggregated large vesicles. This suggests that both S-1 and S-2 are important in the fields of chiral optics, chiral recognition, and nanoscale self-assembly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic fluorescent materials with red/near‐infrared (NIR) emission are highly promising for use in biotechnology due to their exceptional advantages. However, traditional red/NIR fluorophores often exhibit weak emission at high concentrations or in an aggregated state due to the aggregate‐caused quenching effect, which severely limits their applicability in biological imaging. To address this challenge, we developed a series of cyanostyrene derivatives with aggregation‐induced emission characteristics, including 2,3‐Bis‐(4‐styryl‐phenyl)‐but‐2‐enedinitrile (DPB), 2,3‐Bis‐{4‐[2‐(4‐methoxy‐ phenyl)‐vinyl]‐phenyl}‐but‐2‐enedinitrile (DOB), 2,3‐Bis‐{4‐[2‐(4‐diphenylamino‐ phenyl)‐vinyl]‐phenyl}‐but‐2‐enedinitrile (DTB), and 2,3‐Bis‐[4‐(2‐{4‐[phenyl‐ (4‐triphenylvinyl‐phenyl)‐amino]‐phenyl}‐vinyl)‐ phenyl]‐but‐2‐enedinitrile (DTTB). Notably, these compounds exhibited intense solid state fluorescence owing to AIE effect, especially DTTB shows NIR emission with high solid state quantum efficiency (712 nm, ΦF=14.2 %). Then we prepared DTTB@PS‐PEG NPs nanoparticles by encapsulating DTTB with the amphiphilic polymer polystyrene‐polyethylene glycol (PS‐PEG). Importantly, DTTB@PS‐PEG NPs exhibited highly efficient NIR luminescence (ΦF=28.7 %) and a large two‐photon absorption cross‐section (1900 GM) under 800 nm laser excitation. The bright two‐photon fluorescence of DTTB@PS‐PEG indicated that it can be a highly promising candidate for two‐photon fluorescence probe. Therefore, this work provides valuable insights for the design of highly efficient and NIR‐emitting two‐photon fluorescent probes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a methylamine gas sensor based on a composite material of halide metal perovskite (MAPbBr3) and the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) material (S)-OBN-tCz. Using electrospinning technology, superhydrophobic MAPbBr3&(S)-OBN-tCz@PMMA nanofibers were fabricated to enhance the specific surface area and stability of the sensing unit. The sensor exhibits high selectivity toward methylamine gas, enabling precise detection across a broad concentration range and demonstrating excellent repeatability. Additionally, the incorporation of AIE material has successfully improved the signal intensity of optical sensors through Förster resonance energy transfer mechanism and passivation effect, thereby effectively enhancing the sensitivity of sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful synthesis of the pentazolate anion (cyclo-N5−) has been a great breakthrough in the field of energetic materials. However, the detection methods for these energetic materials based on the pentazolate anion are quite rare. Herein, two fluorescent probes for cyclo-N5− anion were designed. Sensor 1 (TPE2N) was synthesized with a tetraphenylethylene functionalized by two cationic groups which can generate strong electrostatic interactions with pentazolate anion and result in specific fluorescent changes. Sensor 2 was designed based on sensor 1 and supramolecular cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]). The unique structural features of CB[7] provide sites for the interaction between the cations and N5− anion in its cavity, which would generate a platform for the detection and enhance the recognition performance. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) experiment and fluorescence titration experiment indicate the binding molar ratio between sensor 1 with CB[7] is 1:2. Both sensors display typical aggregation-induced emission (AIE) features and good water-solubility. The sensors demonstrate excellent sensitivity to pentazole hydrazine salt with high enhancement constant (sensor 1: 1.34 × 106; sensor 2: 3.78 × 106) and low limit of detection (LOD: sensor 1 = 4.33 μM; sensor 2 = 1.54 μM). The formation of an AIE-based supramolecular sensor effectively improves the sensitivity to N5− anion. In addition, the probes also have good selectivity of N5− anion salts. The research would shed some light on the design of novel fluorescent sensors to detect pentazolate-based molecules and provides an example of supramolecular chemistry combined with fluorescent probes.

Optical sensors, especially fluorescence sensors, have been widely used because of their advantages in sensing, such as the high sensitivity, good selectivity, no radiation source, and easy operation. Here, we report an example of fluorescence sensing based on two-dimensional (2D) covalent organic polymers and highlight that the material can achieve a fast response and multi-signal output. This 2DPTPAK+TAPB-based sensor can quickly detect aromatic hydrocarbons and Fe3+ by the fluorescence signal or electrical resistance signal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dots (CDs) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) have sparked significant interest in multidimensional anti-counterfeiting due to their exceptional fluorescence properties. However, the preparation of AIE CDs with multicolor solid-state fluorescence remains a formidable challenge due to its complicated construction. In the present work, a novel class of multicolor AIE CDs (M-CDs) were fabricated using selected precursor (salicylic acid, thiosalicylic acid, and 2,2′-dithiodibenzoic acid), with an eco-friendly, low-cost one-pot solvothermal method. In the dilute organic solution, M-CDs manifested blue emission, but upon aggregation in the presence of water, the red, yellow, green, and blue emissions were displayed due to the AIE effect. Structural analysis, coupled with theoretical calculations, revealed that the increase in the size of sp2 domains would lower the Eg and cause a red-shift emission wavelength. Significantly, the continuous emission of M-CDs from blue to red can be utilized as ink for multimode printing, enabling the creation of a variety of school badges and quick response codes. These findings hold promising implications for multi-information encryption applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetraphenylethene and its derivatives have become increasingly attractive as aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) due to their superior luminescence efficiency and low contamination. In this paper, a tetraphenylethene derivative (4,4′,4″,4‴-(ethene-1,1,2,2-tetrayltetrakis-(benzene-4,1-diyl)) tetrakis-(1-allylpyridin-1-ium), TPE-1) synthesized with unique fluorescent properties, was integrated into a fluorescent nanocomposite with polyoxometalate (Na9[Eu-(W5O18)2]·32H2O, EuW10) in an aqueous solution using an ionic self-assembly strategy. The TPE-1/EuW10 nanocomposite is composed of spherical particles with a uniform particle size of about 40 nm, and compared with the original material TPE-1, its quantum yield grows from 18.27% to 39.88%. The experimental results suggest that the negatively charged groups of EuW10 may interact electrostatically with the positively charged nitrogen atoms of TPE-1, leading to the aggregation of TPE-1 molecules to enhance the fluorescence. Mixing the TPE-1/EuW10 nanocomposite with commercially available blue and green phosphor can yield a white emitting phosphor with the CIE coordinate of (0.33, 0.34), which is close to the standard white light. This ionic self-assembly strategy of TPE-1 and EuW10 with easy preparation is of great significance for the simple construction of an AIE light-emitting system applicable to optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A group of bithiophenyl compounds comprising the cyanoacrylate moiety were designed and successfully synthesized. The optical, (spectro)electrochemical, and aggregation-induced emission properties were studied. DFT calculations were used to explain the reaction’s regioselectivity and to determine the molecules’ energy parameters (i.e., band gaps, HOMO levels, and LUMO levels). The aggregation-induced emission of compounds has been studied in the mixture of DMF (as a good solvent) and water (as a poor solvent), with different water fractions ranging from 0% to 99%. It has been shown that there are differences in the physicochemical properties of the obtained compounds due to the length of the alkyl chain in the ester group. Investigated derivatives were tested for their potential use in visualizing latent fingerprints and electrochromic materials.

An optical manipulation method to activate the aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) of Au(I)‐glutathione (Au(I)‐GSH) complexes is presented. First, the well‐known AIE‐type Au(I)‐GSH complexes with a solid emission wavelength of 570 nm are synthesized. At the beginning of the focusing a 1064 nm continuous‐wave (CW) laser at the interface of Au(I)‐GSH complexes solution, its luminescence is hardly detectable. However, with the extension of the laser irradiation time, aggregate appears and rapidly grows, and strong luminescence is shown, indicating the activation of AIE of Au(I)‐GSH complexes through optical manipulation. Surprisingly, the emission peak is at 780 nm and no blue‐shift is observed with the emission intensity increases. The activated AIE emission wavelength by optical manipulation is longer than reported previously, which means that optical manipulation activates AIE in a unique manner. The switching on/off of the activation of AIE is arbitrarily controlled by changing the laser power. In this paper, the luminescence phenomenon and mechanism of AIE are discussed from the perspective of the movement limitation of Au(I)‐GSH complexes under optical manipulation. It is of significant importance for further insights into the luminescence of Au(I)‐GSH complexes and their future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a matter of debate whether the discipline independence in discipline formation narrows its interdisciplinarity. It is also less well understood how disruptive works emerge in investigative practice rather than a theory‐driven approach. Aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) is an atypical photophysical phenomenon, in which the whole (aggregate) is brighter than the sum of its parts (single molecule). Through measuring and computing the cognitive extent and evolution of research on AIE, including topics, epistemic‐social collaborative networks, interdisciplinarity, emergent concepts, core concept networks and knowledge flow, this study shows that a cross‐research scales concept and its practice can establish new bridges in the sciences and promote disruptive work. Focusing on mesoscale entities, scientists from many different branches of science are involved in theoretical research on mechanisms, as well as developing different AIE systems for applications. The data analysis in this study provides details showing how non‐reductionist concepts based on new scientific discoveries cross traditional disciplinary boundaries and aggregate interdisciplinary research. The emergence and evolution of the AIE field implies that scientists may be motivated to embrace nonreductionist ideas at different research scales, leading to a more permeable field boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

4-[5-(Naphthalen-1-ylmethyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl]benzene-1,3-diol (NTBD) was extensively studied through stationary UV–vis absorption and fluorescence measurements in various solvents and solvent mixtures and by first-principles quantum chemical calculations. It was observed that while in polar solvents (e.g., methanol) only a single emission band emerged; the analyzed 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivative was capable of producing dual fluorescence signals in low polarity solvents (e.g., n-hexane) and certain solvent mixtures (e.g., methanol/water). As clearly follows from the experimental spectroscopic studies and theoretical modeling, the specific emission characteristic of NTBD is triggered by the effect of enol → keto excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) that in the case of solvent mixture is reinforced by aggregation of thiadiazole molecules. Specifically, the restriction of intramolecular rotation (RIR) due to environmental hindrance suppresses the formation of non-emissive twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) excited keto* states. As a result, this particular thiadiazole derivative is capable of simultaneously producing both ESIPT and aggregation-induced emission (AIE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNAs play important roles in regulating biological growth and development. Advancements in RNA-imaging techniques are expanding our understanding of their function. Several common RNA-labeling methods in plants have pros and cons. Simultaneously, plants' spontaneously fluorescent substances interfere with the effectiveness of RNA bioimaging. New technologies need to be introduced into plant RNA luminescence. Aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens), due to their luminescent properties, tunable molecular size, high fluorescence intensity, good photostability, and low cell toxicity, have been widely applied in the animal and medical fields. The application of this technology in plants is still at an early stage. The development of AIEgens provides more options for RNA labeling. Click chemistry provides ideas for modifying AIEgens into RNA molecules. The CRISPR/Cas13a-mediated targeting system provides a guarantee of precise RNA modification. The liquid–liquid phase separation in plant cells creates conditions for the enrichment and luminescence of AIEgens. The only thing that needs to be looked for is a specific enzyme that uses AIEgens as a substrate and modifies AIEgens onto target RNA via a click chemical reaction. With the development and progress of artificial intelligence and synthetic biology, it may soon be possible to artificially synthesize or discover such an enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Preparing new fluorescent materials for individualized and customized anti-counterfeiting applications to meet needs from the rapid development of e-commerce is of great significance. This paper reports the preparation of dynamic color-changing fluorescent polymer nanoparticles (PNPs) by constructing a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) pair between aggregation-induced emission (AIE) structures and photochromic structures. At first, methyl methacrylate (MMA) was used as the main monomer and tetraphenylethylene (TPE, a typical AIE structure) modified methacrylate (TPE-MA) and photochromic spiropyran (SP) modified methacrylate (SP-MA) as minor monomers were copolymerized to obtain the ternary copolymer PMMA-TPE-SP. Then, two types of PNPs based on this terpolymer was prepared via the reprecipitation method, with and without the addition of an amphiphilic polymer as the surfactant. The photophysical study shows that the fluorescence color of PNPs dynamically changes from blue to light violet and finally to red under UV light irradiation, a process that can be reversed under visible light. The PNPs were alternately irradiated with UV light and visible light for 10 cycles, which proved their good photoswitching reproducibility. The PNPs prepared with addition of surfactant were found to have stronger fluorescence and better stability. Finally, the photochromic fluorescent inks were prepared based on these PNPs. Several anti-counterfeiting scenarios and modes were designed, exhibiting excellent photochromic behavior on cellulose paper, even after 120 days of long-term storage. With simple equipment, desirable anti-counterfeiting effects with dynamic fluorescence color changing was achieved. This study demonstrated a promising hard-to-imitate anti-counterfeiting encryption strategy, which can achieve multiple outputs with simple operation and can be personalized and customized as needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new pyrrolo[3,2‐b]pyrrole derivatives containing methoxyphenyl, pyrene or tetraphenylethylene (TPE) units (compounds 1–3) have been designed, synthesized and fully characterized. The aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) properties of compounds 1–3 were tested in different water fraction (fw) of tetrahydrofuran (THF). The pyrrolo[3,2‐b]pyrrole derivative 3 containing TPE units exhibited typical AIE features with an enhanced emission (∼32‐fold) in the solid state versus in solution; compounds 1 and 2 exhibited an aggregation‐caused quenching effect. In addition, the steric and electronic effects of the peripheral moieties on the emission behavior, both in solution and in the solid state, have been investigated. Moreover, pyrrolo[3,2‐b]pyrrole 1 exhibits high sensitivity and selectivity for dichloromethane and chloroform solvents, with the system displaying a new emission peak and fast response time under ultraviolet irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract It is a matter of debate whether the discipline independence in discipline formation narrows its interdisciplinarity. It is also less well understood how disruptive works emerge in investigative practice rather than a theory‐driven approach. Aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) is an atypical photophysical phenomenon, in which the whole (aggregate) is brighter than the sum of its parts (single molecule). Through measuring and computing the cognitive extent and evolution of research on AIE, including topics, epistemic‐social collaborative networks, interdisciplinarity, emergent concepts, core concept networks and knowledge flow, this study shows that a cross‐research scales concept and its practice can establish new bridges in the sciences and promote disruptive work. Focusing on mesoscale entities, scientists from many different branches of science are involved in theoretical research on mechanisms, as well as developing different AIE systems for applications. The data analysis in this study provides details showing how non‐reductionist concepts based on new scientific discoveries cross traditional disciplinary boundaries and aggregate interdisciplinary research. The emergence and evolution of the AIE field implies that scientists may be motivated to embrace nonreductionist ideas at different research scales, leading to a more permeable field boundary.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has garnered significant attention in the fields of cancer treatment and drug-resistant bacteria eradication due to its non-invasive nature and spatiotemporal controllability. Iridium complexes have captivated researchers owing to their tunable structure, exceptional optical properties, and substantial Stokes displacement. However, most of these complexes suffer from aggregation-induced quenching, leading to diminished luminous efficiency. In contrast to conventional photosensitizers, photosensitizers exhibiting aggregation-induced luminescence (AIE) properties retain the ability to generate a large number of reactive oxygen species when aggregated. To overcome these limitations, we designed and synthesized a novel iridium complex named Ir-TPA in this study. It incorporates quinoline triphenylamine cyclomethylated ligands that confer AIE characteristics for Ir-TPA. We systematically investigated the photophysical properties, AIE behavior, spectral features, and reactive oxygen generation capacity of Ir-TPA. The results demonstrate that Ir-TPA exhibits excellent optical properties with pronounced AIE phenomenon and robust capability for producing singlet oxygen species. This work not only introduces a new class of metal iridium complex photosensitizer with AIE attributes but also holds promise for achieving remarkable photodynamic therapeutic effects in future cellular experiments and biological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aggregation‐induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) in the second near‐infrared region (NIR‐II,1000‐1700 nm) have shown tremendous potential as theragnostic probe for tumor multimodal diagnostic imaging and combined treatment owing to their programmable optical, structural and functional properties. Herein, we presented a radionuclide 177Lu‐labeled AIEgen, 177Lu‐2TT‐oC6B dots, for NIR‐II fluorescence and SPECT/CT imaging‐guided tumor photothermal and radiopharmaceutical therapy. Intriguingly, 177Lu‐2TT‐oC6B self‐assembled into 10 nm dots, exhibited high NIR‐II fluorescence quantum yield (QY, 1.34 %) and unprecedented photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE, 70.3 %) in vitro, furtherly performed extremely long blood circulation (T1/2=52.4 h), persistent tumor accumulation and retention in tumor (NIR‐II SNR=5.56; SPECT SNR=36.59) via intravenous administration in vivo. Furthermore, upon NIR light activation and 177Lu irradiation, 177Lu‐2TT‐oC6B demonstrated great application potential in synergistic photothermal/radiopharmaceutical tumor therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latent fingerprints are a significant carrier of information for a court expert. To detect this type of forensic trace, what is necessary is a method that is easy to use, compact, and versatile. The research aimed to investigate the physicochemical properties of luminescent substances of donor–π–acceptor systems in terms of their potential use in detecting hidden fingerprints. During the research, a group of fluorene compounds consisting of the (-CH=C(CN)(COOR)) moiety was designed and successfully synthesized. The optical, electrochemical, and aggregation-induced emission properties were studied. The aggregation-induced emission of compounds has been studied in the mixture of THF (as a good solvent) and water (as a poor solvent) with different water fractions ranging from 0% to 99%. Due to the molecular structure, substances showed different affinities to organic traces. As a result, it was noticed that all compounds showed the AIE phenomenon, while during tests on latent fingerprints, it was observed that two substances had particularly forward-looking features in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The simple preparation of a nanohybrid of terbium-doped carbon dots/glutathione-capped copper nanoclusters (Tb@CDs/GSH-CuNCs) was for the first time developed for ratiometric detection of phosphate anion (Pi). Blue-emission of Tb@CDs can trigger non-luminescence of GSH-CuNCs for aggregation-induced emission (AIE) performance due to the strong reserved coordination capacity of Tb3+. Thus, Tb@CDs/GSH-CuNCs rapidly generated dual-emission signals at 630 nm and 545 nm by directly mixing the two individual materials via the AIE effect, alongside fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) process. However, by the introduction of Pi, both AIE and FRET processes were blocked because of the stronger binding affinity of Tb3+ and Pi than that of Tb3+ and –COOH on Tb@CDs, thus realizing successful ratiometric detection of Pi. The linear concentration range was 0–16 μM, with the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.32 μM. The proposed method provided new ideas for designing nanohybrid of CDs and nanoclusters (MNCs) as ratiometric fluorescent probes for analytical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical sensors, especially fluorescence sensors, have been widely used because of their advantages in sensing, such as the high sensitivity, good selectivity, no radiation source, and easy operation. Here, we report an example of fluorescence sensing based on two-dimensional (2D) covalent organic polymers and highlight that the material can achieve a fast response and multi-signal output. This 2DPTPAK+TAPB-based sensor can quickly detect aromatic hydrocarbons and Fe3+ by the fluorescence signal or electrical resistance signal.

Fluorescent hydrogels with fast and reversible responses have attracted extensive attention, and it remains a challenge to design multistimuli-responsive fluorescent hydrogel through a facile and versatile method. Meanwhile, the segmental motion in hydrogels is of significance for the various functions of hydrogels such as chemical reactivity, self-healing, and mechanical strength, etc., however, it is difficult and complicated to in situ investigate the segmental motion under different conditions. In this work, a multistimuli-responsive fluorescent hydrogel was designed and fabricated by introducing a tetraphenylethylene (TPE) derivative as a nonaggregated crosslinker in the gel network. Since the intermolecular rotation of TPE at the crosslinking point was directly integrated with the dynamic conformational transition of the macromolecular network, the mobility of macromolecular segments can be monitored by the fluorescence intensity of the hydrogel. The prepared hydrogel has promising fluorescence responses to temperature, pH, metal ions, and hydrogen bonding agents, and characterization of the fluorescence and the chain segmental motion showed that the weaker the mobility of the network macromolecular chain is, the stronger the fluorescence intensity is. Furthermore, due to the multistimuli-responsive fluorescence of the hydrogel, such fluorescent hydrogels can be designed as reversible patterning displays and biomimetic color/shape adjustable actuators, with various potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two‐dimensional (2D) AIE‐inorganic nanocomposites exhibit high stability and high fluorescence activity. However, limited by the types and properties of 2D inorganic materials, it's challenging to realize complex structures and functions. We designed a quaternary ammonium‐type AIE ligand, TPECholine. We chose TPECholine and POM clusters as building blocks and synthesized a series of single‐layer nanosheets (SLNSs) by assembling LnW10 or P2W18 POM clusters with TPECholine. By regulating the types of POM clusters and ligands, the morphology and fluorescence intensity of the SLNSs can be finely tuned. Due to the restriction of the intramolecular motions of AIEgens by the SLNSs, nanosheets can exhibit promoted quantum yield (up to 76 %). In addition, thanks to the sub‐nanometric sizes and excess surface charges, SLNSs exhibit excellent solvent compatibility, including water, chloroform, ethanol, etc. And the nanosheets showed high fluorescence intensity in these solvents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the photoluminescence property of simple silver(I) coordination compounds constructed by 1,3,5-trithian (3S), two new silver(I) polymers, namely, [Ag(3S) (9-AnCO2)]∞ (I, 9-AnCO2 = anthracene carboxylate), and [Ag2(3S)(Ph2PO2)2]∞ (II, Ph2PO2 = diphenylphosphinate), have been prepared and investigated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SXRD), fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), solid-state UV–vis absorption spectra (SUV) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). Polymer I represents an electroneutral one-dimensional polymer bridging only by 3S. Polymer II represents an electroneutral one-dimensional polymer co-bridging by 3S and diphenylphosphinate. Both polymers show bright emission at room temperature in the solid-state, cyan light for I, and green light for II. The Aggregation-induced Emission (AIE) phenomenon of II is also observed when gradually adding the weakly polar solvent (ether) to its CH3CN solvent. Our work shows that 3S is an excellent ligand for constructing new luminous coordination compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new water-soluble poly(propylene imine) dendrimer (PPI) modified with 4-sulfo-1,8-naphthalimid units (SNID) and its related structure monomer analog (SNIM) has been prepared by a simple synthesis. The aqueous solution of the monomer exhibited aggregation-induced emission (AIE) at 395 nm, while the dendrimer emitted at 470 nm due to an excimer formation beside the AIE at 395 nm. Fluorescence emission of the aqueous solution of either SNIM or SNID was significantly affected by traces of different miscible organic solvents, and the limits of detection were found to be less than 0.05% (v/v). Moreover, SNID exhibited the function to execute molecular size-based logic gates where it mimics XNOR and INHIBIT logic gates using water and ethanol as inputs and the AIE/excimer emissions as outputs. Hence, the concomitant execution of both XNOR and INHIBIT enables SNID to mimic digital comparators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azines are interesting compounds exhibiting aggregation‐induced‐emission (AIE) and twisted‐intramolecular‐charge‐transfer (TICT) properties that have exciting prospects in chemosensing and bioimaging applications. They commonly have symmetrical structures and there is no report on red‐emissive unsymmetrical azines. Herein, we report a novel class of orange‐to‐red emissive hydroxybenzothiazole(HBT)‐based unsymmetrical azines (BTDPA) with triple photophysical characteristics of ESIPT‐TICT‐AIE. The dyes were synthesized by an all‐throughout mechanochemical route in a sustainable way. They displayed D1‐A‐D2 character and fluoresce strongly both in organic solvents due to ESIPT and in the solid state by AIE via TICT. The incorporation of different electron‐withdrawing groups (EWGs) and electron‐donating groups (EDGs) at either HBT or diphenyl‐methylene moiety resulted in tunable fluorescence properties. The red‐emissive character was achieved by keeping EDG both at HBT (−OMe) and the diphenyl‐methylene moiety (−NMe2) (λem 680 nm). The dyes exhibited good quantum yields, large Stoke shifts (upto 293 nm) and were utilized in nitroaromatics and Cu2+ sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientists are faced with a formidable problem in improving the smart properties of multi-stimuli responsive fluorescent materials. Here, we integrated two kinds of stimuli-responsive materials: aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and liquid crystals (LCs) into one system. An AIE-active fluorescence liquid crystal compound of α-cyanodistyrene derivate Py-CN-LBM8 was synthesised using knoevenagel condensation reaction. Its AIE effect, LC behaviour, multi-stimuli responsive properties and mechanisms were investigated by polarised optical microscopes (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectra and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. The results showed that Py-CN-LBM8 exhibited significant physical response to external stimuli including temperature, mechanical force, solvent, pH and trace water. This work provided a strategy for designing new multi-stimuli responsive materials and made it possible to apply in the multifunction anti-counterfeit, sensor and information storage fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNAs play important roles in regulating biological growth and development. Advancements in RNA-imaging techniques are expanding our understanding of their function. Several common RNA-labeling methods in plants have pros and cons. Simultaneously, plants’ spontaneously fluorescent substances interfere with the effectiveness of RNA bioimaging. New technologies need to be introduced into plant RNA luminescence. Aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens), due to their luminescent properties, tunable molecular size, high fluorescence intensity, good photostability, and low cell toxicity, have been widely applied in the animal and medical fields. The application of this technology in plants is still at an early stage. The development of AIEgens provides more options for RNA labeling. Click chemistry provides ideas for modifying AIEgens into RNA molecules. The CRISPR/Cas13a-mediated targeting system provides a guarantee of precise RNA modification. The liquid–liquid phase separation in plant cells creates conditions for the enrichment and luminescence of AIEgens. The only thing that needs to be looked for is a specific enzyme that uses AIEgens as a substrate and modifies AIEgens onto target RNA via a click chemical reaction. With the development and progress of artificial intelligence and synthetic biology, it may soon be possible to artificially synthesize or discover such an enzyme.

Carbon dots (CDs) find widespread attention due to their remarkable fluorescent and electronic properties. However, aggregation‐caused quenching currently limits the application of CDs in colored displays. The construction of CDs with color‐tunable solid‐state fluorescence (SSF) is rarely reported, since the preparation of SSF CDs is technically challenging. Herein, through surface ligand modulation, SSF CDs with an emission‐color span of almost 300 nm (from blue to deep red) were obtained. In‐depth structure‐property studies reveal that intra‐ and inter‐molecular hydrogen‐bonding inside SSF CDs provokes the emission properties in the aggregated state. Photodynamic characterizations demonstrate emission wavelengths can be switched smoothly by deliberately altering conjugation ability between substituent ligands and CDs core. Three‐dimensional printing patterning is used to create a range of emissive objects, demonstrating the commercial potential for use in optical lamps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two‐coordinate Cu (I) complexes have attracted great interest recently because of the rich photophysical property in solid state, including the aggregation‐induced thermal activated delayed fluorescence. Here, we summarize our theoretical investigations on the excited state structure and decay dynamics for the two‐coordinate Cu (I) complexes in solution phase and solid state by the thermal vibration correlation function rate formalism we developed earlier coupled with time‐dependent density‐functional theory within polarizable continuum model and hybrid quantum and molecular mechanics. First, for the CAACCu (I)Cl complex, we found that the nature of the excited state undergoes a change from metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (MLCT) in solution to hybrid halogen‐to‐ligand charge transfer and MLCT in solid state. The bending vibrations of the CCuCl and CuCN bonds are restricted in aggregates, reducing the non‐radiative decay rate to cause strong solid‐state fluorescence. Second, for CAACCu (I)Cz, we found that both intersystem crossing (ISC) and reverse intersystem crossing (rISC) are enhanced by 2–4 orders of magnitudes upon aggregation, leading to highly efficient thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF). The enhanced ISC and rISC rates can be attributed to the increase of the metal proportion in the frontier molecular orbitals, leading to an enhanced spin−orbit coupling between S1 and T1. The reaction barriers for ISC and rISC are much lower in solution than that in aggregate phase resulting in a decrease in energy gap ∆EST and an increase in the relative reorganization energy through bending the angle ∠C − Cu − N for T1. Our theoretical studies provide a clear rationalization for the highly efficient solid‐state luminescence character of two‐coordinate Cu (I) complexes and may clarify the ongoing dispute on the understanding of the high TADF quantum efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipid-related cancers cause a large number of deaths worldwide. Therefore, development of highly efficient Lipid droplets (LDs) fluorescent imaging probes will be beneficial to our understanding of lipid-related cancers by allowing us to track the metabolic process of LDs. In this work, a LDs-specific NIR (λmax = 698 nm) probe, namely BY1, was rationally designed and synthesized via a one-step reaction by integrating triphenylamine (electron–donor group) unit into the structure of rofecoxib. This integration strategy enabled the target BY1 to form a strong Donor–Acceptor (D-A) system and endowed BY1 with obvious aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect. Meanwhile, BY1 also showed observable solvent effect and reversible mechanochromatic luminescent property, which could be interpreted clearly via density functional theory (DFT) calculations, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder X-ray diffraction (XPRD), and single crystal X-ray data analysis. More importantly, BY1 exhibited highly specific fluorescent imaging ability (Pearson's correlation = 0.97) towards lipid droplets in living HeLa cells with low cytotoxicity. These results demonstrated that BY1 is a new promising fluorescent probe for lipid droplets imaging, and it might be beneficial to facilitate biological research of lipid-related cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The common fluorescent conjugated materials present weak or quenching luminescent phenomena in the solid or aggregate state (ACQ), which limits their applications in medicine and biology. In the last two decades, certain materials, named aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorescent materials, have exhibited strong luminescent properties in the aggregate state, which can overcome the ACQ phenomenon. Due to their intrinsic properties, the AIE materials have been successfully used in biolabeling, where they can not only detect the species of ions and their concentrations in organisms, but can also monitor the organisms' physiological activity. In addition, these kinds of materials often present non-biological toxicity. Thus, AIE materials have become some of the most popular biofluorescent probe materials and are attracting more and more attention. This field is still in its early infancy, and several open challenges urgently need to be addressed, such as the materials' biocompatibility, metabolism, and so on. Designing a high-performance AIE material for biofluorescent probes is still challenging. In this review, based on the molecular design concept, various AIE materials with functional groups in the biofluorescent probes are introduced, including tetrastyrene materials, distilbene anthracene materials, triphenylamine materials, and hexaphenylsilole materials. In addition, according to the molecular system design strategy, the donor–acceptor (D-A) system and hydrogen-bonding AIE materials used as biofluorescent probes are reviewed. Finally, the biofluorescent probe design concept and potential evolution trends are discussed. The final goal is to outline a theoretical scaffold for the design of high-performance AIE biofluorescent probes that can at the same time further the development of the applications of AIE-based biofluorescent probes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aggregation Induced Emission Carbon Dots (AIE-CDs) address the problem of conventional CDs being quenched in the solid-state. However, there are still challenges in comprehending the luminescence mechanism. This work proposed a strategy for preparing green, yellow, and near-infrared CDs by modifying the functional groups on the precursor from hydroxyl and amino to p -methylenediamine, in which electronic supply capacity determined the redshift. Additionally, The CDs' properties transformed from Aggregation-Caused Quenching (ACQ) to AIE was realized by substituting non-rotatable hydroxyl or amino groups with the rotatable p -methylenediamine on the precursor. The resulting CDs were then applied in multifield. C-CDs was used for ratiometric detection of Al3+ and F− in pure water through three methods including fluorometer, test strip and smartphone. R-CDs was used for imaging cell nucleus and zebrafish. NIR-CDs (λ em = 676 nm) exhibits dual emission, AIE and phosphorescent characteristics was used for triple anti-counterfeiting and binary information encryption. In summary, our finding presented a strategy for preparing multicolor CDs, proposed a mechanism for the transition of CDs from ACQ to AIE, and explore their multiple applications in anti-counterfeiting, information encapsulation, sensing and imaging. [Display omitted] • Multicolor carbon dots were obtained by altering functional group of precursors. • A strategy to transform CDs from AIE to ACQ was proposed. • A highly practical sensing platform for Al3+ and F− was developed. • Designed an advanced anti-counterfeiting and information encapsulation platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Blue light emitting, Y-shaped pyridine substituted quinoxaline and pyridopyrazine derivatives. • Aggregation induced emission observed in THF: H 2 O mixtures. • Reversible acidochromism in solution as well as solid state. • Linear dependence of emission on temperature shows potential thermal sensitivity. • HOMO-LUMO energy levels are calculated using DFT studies. This work presents a systematic study of five novel closely related pyridine-substituted quinoxaline and pyridopyrazine derivatives 3a - e. Modifying the quinoxaline framework by introducing electron donating and accepting units led to fine-tuning of optical, thermal, and electrochemical properties. The single crystal X-ray diffraction studies revealed a Y-shaped structure with a herringbone packing arrangement. These compounds showed aggregation-induced emission (AIE) with the formation of J -aggregates. These compounds emitted blue fluorescence with one of the compounds showing CIE y as low as 0.08 in CHCl 3 and 0.09 in the solid state. The band gaps were evaluated using UV-visible spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT). The optical band gaps in the solid state were in the 2.81–3.05 eV range. They exhibited reversible switching of emission properties upon treatment with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) followed by triethylamine (TEA) in both solution and solid states, which was utilized to fabricate filter paper strips to detect volatile acids. The emission of compounds also displayed linear temperature dependence. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyloid-β (Aβ) species (Aβ fibrils and Aβ plaques), as one of the typical pathological markers of Alzheimer's disease (AD), plays a crucial role in AD diagnosis. Currently, some near-infrared I (NIR I) Aβ probes have been reported in AD diagnosis. However, they still face challenges such as strong background interference and the lack of effective probe design. In this study, we propose molecular design strategy that incorporates CN group and amphiphilic modulation to synthesize a series of amphiphilic NIR I Aβ probes, surpassing the commercial probe ThT and ThS. Theoretical calculations indicate that these probes exhibit stronger interaction with amino acid residues in the cavities of Aβ. Notably, the probes containing CN group display the ability of binding two distinct sites of Aβ, which dramatically enhanced the affinity to Aβ species. Furthermore, these probes exhibit minimal fluorescence in aqueous solution and offer ultra-high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for in vitro labeling, even in wash-free samples. Finally, the optimal probe DM-V2CN-PYC3 was utilized for in vivo imaging of AD mice, demonstrating its rapid penetration through the blood-brain barrier and labelling to Aβ species. Moreover, it enabled long-term monitoring for a duration of 120 min. These results highlight the enhanced affinity and superior performance of the designed NIR I Aβ probe for AD diagnosis. The molecular design strategy of CN and amphiphilic modulation presents a promising avenue for the development Aβ probes with low background in vivo / in vitro imaging for Aβ species. Tailoring high-performance Aβ Probes based on CN and amphipathic regulatory strategies. [Display omitted] • The high performance NIR Aβ probes are constructed by molecular design strategies. • These NIR Aβ probes exhibit significantly higher affinity to Aβ fibrils than commercial ThT. • The AD brain slices stained with the probes are imaged with ultra-high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) even without washing. • DM-V2CN-PYC3 can label Aβ deposits in vivo imaging of AD mice with low background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) materials are attracting great attention in biomedical fields such as sensors, bioimaging, and cancer treatment, et al. due to their strong fluorescence emission in the aggregated state. In this contribution, a series of tetraphenylene-acetonitrile AIE compounds with D-A-D′ structures were synthesized by Suzuki coupling reaction and Knoevenagel condensation, and their relationship of chemical structure and fluorescence properties was investigated in detail, among which TPPA compound was selected as the monomer owing to the longest emission wavelength at about 530 nm with low energy band gap ΔE 3.09 eV of neutral TPPA and 1.43 eV of protonated TPPA. Novel amphiphilic AIE PEG-TA copolymers were prepared by RAFT polymerization of TPPA and PEGMA with about 1.44×104 M w and narrow PDI, and the molar ratio of TPPA in the PEG-TA1 and PEG-TA2 copolymers was about 23.4 % and 29.6 %. The as-prepared PEG-TA copolymers would self-assembled in aqueous solution to form core-shell structures with a diameter of 150–200 nm, and their emission wavelength could reversibly convert from 545 nm to 650 nm with excellent pH sensitivity. The CLSM images showed that the PEG-TA FONs and PTX drugs-loaded PTX-TA FONs could be endocytosed by cells and mainly enriched in the cytoplasm, and CCK-8 results showed that the PEG-TA FONs had excellent biocompatibility but PTX-TA FONs had high inhibition ratio for A549 cells, moreover, the flow cytometry also showed that PTX-TA FONs could result in the apoptosis of A549 cells with some extent anti-tumor effect. • A series of AIE compounds TVPD and TPPA monomers was prepared to show the structure-activity relationship of fluorescence. • PEG-TA1 copolymers exhibited reversible pH-sensitivity, high biocompatibility and prospective application in cells imaging. • PY-PTX FONs could effectively deliver and release PTX with high inhibition ratio of A549 cells for the anti-tumor effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The AIE probe YM2T was respond to Al3+ by fluorescence colormetric and viscosity by fluorescence "turn on" modes. • The probe YM2T could monitor Al3+ and viscosity in cells through blue and green fluorescent channel imaging, respectively. • The probe YM2T was used to image mice with AD. Alzheimer's disease is associated both with imbalances in Al3+ production and changes in viscosity in cells. Their simultaneous measurement could therefore provide valuable insights into Alzheimer's disease pathology. Their simultaneous measurement would therefore be of great value in investigating the pathological mechanism of Alzheimer's disease. We designed a fluorescent probe YM2T with AIE effect that is capable of selectively responding to Al3+ by fluorescence colormetrics and to viscosity by fluorescence "turn on" modes. Additionally, Al3+ and viscosity were simultaneously detected in PC12 cells using the low cytotoxic probe YM2T via blue and green fluorescence channels. More importantly, the YM2T probe was used to image mice with AD. Hence, the YM2T probe shows potential as a useful molecular instrument for studying the pathological impact of Al3+ and viscosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has garnered significant attention in the fields of cancer treatment and drug-resistant bacteria eradication due to its non-invasive nature and spatiotemporal controllability. Iridium complexes have captivated researchers owing to their tunable structure, exceptional optical properties, and substantial Stokes displacement. However, most of these complexes suffer from aggregation-induced quenching, leading to diminished luminous efficiency. In contrast to conventional photosensitizers, photosensitizers exhibiting aggregation-induced luminescence (AIE) properties retain the ability to generate a large number of reactive oxygen species when aggregated. To overcome these limitations, we designed and synthesized a novel iridium complex named Ir-TPA in this study. It incorporates quinoline triphenylamine cyclomethylated ligands that confer AIE characteristics for Ir-TPA. We systematically investigated the photophysical properties, AIE behavior, spectral features, and reactive oxygen generation capacity of Ir-TPA. The results demonstrate that Ir-TPA exhibits excellent optical properties with pronounced AIE phenomenon and robust capability for producing singlet oxygen species. This work not only introduces a new class of metal iridium complex photosensitizer with AIE attributes but also holds promise for achieving remarkable photodynamic therapeutic effects in future cellular experiments and biological studies.