Recent Advances in Fluorescent Probes

Dear Colleagues,

Fluorescent probes based on fluorescence microscopy are powerful tools to specifically target various organelles, determine the organelle microenvironment (viscosity, polarity and pH),  and detect localizations, quantities and dynamic changes of biomolecules including cations, anions, proteins, enzyme cofactors, enzymes, reactive oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur species at the cellular level. This is because of their intact imaging, high sensitivity, specificity, fast response, operational simplicity, and spatial and temporal resolution. The specifically targeted organelles include nuclei, plasma membranes, rough endoplasmic reticuli, ribosomes, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, lysosomes and endosomes. Reactive oxygen species such as the hydroxyl and superoxide radical, and, hydrogen peroxide, ONOO⁻, and ClO⁻, which are a class of nonradical oxygen‐containing species, play critical roles in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. Intracellular reactive sulfur species include cysteine, homocysteine, glutathione, thioredoxin, hydrogen polysulfide species, and sulfur dioxide molecules, which are very important for a variety of biological functions and physiological processes. Near-infrared fluorescence imaging with fluorescence wavelength from 650 nm to 950 nm, two-photon excitation and one-photon frequency upconversion fluorescence with near-infrared one-photon excitation have been used to overcome autofluorescence from biological samples, probe photobleaching, and photo damage to cells and tissues caused by short excitation and emission wavelengths. These fluorescent probes possess unique properties such as deep tissue penetration, low spectral interference from biomolecules in living systems, and reduced light scattering. Ratiometric fluorescence imaging with self-calibration capabilities based on ratiometric fluorescent probes have been developed to overcome systemic errors caused by fluctuations of excitation radiation, sample heterogeneity, uneven delivery, concentration variation, and different compartmental localizations of intensity-based fluorescent probes. Ratiometric near-infrared fluorescent probes have been developed to take advantage of combined unique properties of near-infrared and ratiometric imaging.  This special edition will cover organelle-specific and analyte-responsive fluorescent probes, near-infrared fluorescent probes, ratiometric fluorescent probes, and fluorescent probes for simultaneous detection of two or more analytes in biological samples.

Prof. Dr. Haiying Liu
Guest Editor

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