Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Biosensors Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Fluorescent Materials with Excellent Biocompatibility and Their Application in Bio-Sensing, Bio-Imaging (Volume II)

Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of Biosensors (ISSN 2079-6374). This special issue belongs to the section "Biosensor Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 19215

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yalong Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, China
Interests: fluorescent material; luminescence material; fluorescent probe; fluorescent sensor; biosensor; fluorescent imaging; bioimaging; photosensitizer
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Mingqiang Zhu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Dr. Deteng Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Institute of Neuroregeneration and Neurorehabilitation, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
Interests: fluorescent material; luminescence material; fluorescent probe; fluorescent sensor; biosensor; fluorescent imaging; bioimaging; photosensitizer
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Meng Zheng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Qingdao Haiwan Science and Technology Industry Research Institute Co., Ltd., Qingdao, China
Interests: fluorescent material; luminescence material; fluorescent probe; fluorescent sensor; biosensor; fluorescent imaging; bioimaging; photosensitizer
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fluorescent material is an extensively studied issue in the bio-field because it is easy to functionalize and tune fluorescence color. In previous decades, major progress in the synthesis, characterization, and application of fluorescent materials has been accomplished, along with the recent development of nano-, biobased, sensor, imaging and high performance material-based technologies. These advanced technologies promote the application of fluorescent materials in a wide range of applications, for instance, bio-sensing, bio-labelling, bio-tracing, bio-imaging, diseases diagnosis and therapy, etc. To advance the use of fluorescent materials in the bio-field, the development of biocompatible fluorescent materials (BFM) has become increasingly relevant. The intention of this research topic is to describe the biocompatible fluorescent materials (BFM), the recent breakthroughs in this field, and their application in the bio-field. Our attention will be focused on: (i) the preparation of biocompatible fluorescent materials (BFM), including material synthesis and purification and photo physical chemical properties; (ii) the fabrication of novel fluorescent detection devices for bio-objects; and (iii) applications in bio-field, bio-sensing, bio-tracing, bio-imaging and diseases diagnosis and therapy, etc. We hope that this research topic will attract the attention of academic and industrial researchers who are interested in the development of biocompatible fluorescent materials (BFM) and their biological applications. Our goal is to stimulate ideas, methods, and technologies related to chemistry, biology, materials science, medicine, bioscience and electronics in this exciting area.

We welcome manuscripts from diverse aspects of fluorescent materials, including but not limited to:

Synthesis and design of novel fluorescent materials with excellent biocompatibility;
Preparation of fluorescent materials, including materials synthesis and purification;
Multi-scale techniques and morphological studies on biocompatible fluorescent materials;
Investigation of fluorescent materials structure-property relationships;
Applications in cell-labelling, tumor labelling and therapy, bio-sensing, bio-imaging, etc.;
the fabrication of novel fluorescent detection devices for bio-object.

Dr. Yalong Wang
Prof. Dr. Mingqiang Zhu
Dr. Deteng Zhang
Dr. Meng Zheng
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biosensors is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

fluorescent material
luminescence material
fluorescent probe
fluorescent sensor
biosensor
fluorescent imaging
bioimaging photosensitizer

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (10 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

12 pages, 2648 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of a Rapid-Response Fluorescent Probe for H₂S: Mechanism Elucidation and Biological Applications

by Trevor Dvorak, Haley Hernandez-Sandoval, Sunayn Cheku, Marijose Mora Valencia González, Linus Borer, Riley Grieser, Kimberly A. Carlson and Haishi Cao

Biosensors 2025, 15(3), 174; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15030174 - 7 Mar 2025

Viewed by 679

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is an important signaling molecule involved in various physiological and pathological processes, making its accurate detection in biological systems highly desirable. In this study, two fluorescent probes (M1 and M2) based on 1,8-naphthalimide were developed for H₂S detection via a nucleophilic aromatic substitution. M1 demonstrated high sensitivity and selectivity for H₂S in aqueous media, with a detection limit of 0.64 µM and a strong linear fluorescence response in the range of 0–22 µM of NaHS. The reaction kinetics revealed a rapid response, with a reaction rate constant of 7.56 × 10² M⁻¹ s⁻¹, and M1 was most effective in the pH range of 6–10. Mechanism studies using ¹H NMR titration confirmed the formation of 4-hydroxyphenyl-1,8-naphthalimide as the product of H₂S-triggered nucleophilic substitution. M1 was applied in MDA-MB-231 cells for cell imaging, in which M1 provided significant fluorescence enhancement upon NaHS treatment, confirming its applicability for detecting H₂S in biological environments. In comparison, M2, designed with extended conjugation for red-shifted emission, exhibited weaker sensitivity due to the reduced stability of its naphtholate product and lower solubility. These results demonstrate that M1 is a highly effective and selective fluorescent probe for detecting H₂S, providing a valuable resource for investigating the biological roles of H₂S in health and disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescent Materials with Excellent Biocompatibility and Their Application in Bio-Sensing, Bio-Imaging (Volume II))

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

10 pages, 2538 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rapid Acquisition of High-Pixel Fluorescence Lifetime Images of Living Cells via Image Reconstruction Based on Edge-Preserving Interpolation

by Yinru Zhu, Yong Guo, Xinwei Gao, Qinglin Chen, Yingying Chen, Ruijie Xiang, Baichang Lin, Luwei Wang, Yuan Lu and Wei Yan

Biosensors 2025, 15(1), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15010043 - 13 Jan 2025

Viewed by 892

Abstract

Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) has established itself as a pivotal tool for investigating biological processes within living cells. However, the extensive imaging duration necessary to accumulate sufficient photons for accurate fluorescence lifetime calculations poses a significant obstacle to achieving high-resolution monitoring of cellular dynamics. In this study, we introduce an image reconstruction method based on the edge-preserving interpolation method (EPIM), which transforms rapidly acquired low-resolution FLIM data into high-pixel images, thereby eliminating the need for extended acquisition times. Specifically, we decouple the grayscale image and the fluorescence lifetime matrix and perform an individual interpolation on each. Following the interpolation of the intensity image, we apply wavelet transformation and adjust the wavelet coefficients according to the image gradients. After the inverse transformation, the original image is obtained and subjected to noise reduction to complete the image reconstruction process. Subsequently, each pixel is pseudo-color-coded based on its intensity and lifetime, preserving both structural and temporal information. We evaluated the performance of the bicubic interpolation method and our image reconstruction approach on fluorescence microspheres and fixed-cell samples, demonstrating their effectiveness in enhancing the quality of lifetime images. By applying these techniques to live-cell imaging, we can successfully obtain high-pixel FLIM images at shortened intervals, facilitating the capture of rapid cellular events. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescent Materials with Excellent Biocompatibility and Their Application in Bio-Sensing, Bio-Imaging (Volume II))

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 6392 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Selection and Engineering of Novel Brighter Bioluminescent Reporter Gene and Color- Tuning Luciferase for pH-Sensing in Mammalian Cells

by Vanessa R. Bevilaqua, Gabriel F. Pelentir, Moema A. Hausen, Eliana A. R. Duek and Vadim R. Viviani

Biosensors 2025, 15(1), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15010018 - 4 Jan 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1800

Abstract

Firefly luciferases have been extensively used for bioanalytical applications, including their use as bioluminescent reporters, biosensors, and for bioimaging biological and pathological processes. Due to their intrinsic pH- sensitivity, in recent years we have demonstrated that firefly luciferases can also be harnessed as color- tuning sensors of intracellular pH. However, it is known that mammalian cells require temperatures higher than 36 °C, which red-shift the bioluminescence spectra of most firefly luciferases, decreasing their activities and the resolution of ratiometric pH analysis. Therefore, we prospected and engineered novel pH-sensitive firefly luciferases for mammalian cells. We humanized the luciferases of Amydetes vivianii (Amy-Luc) and Cratomorphus distinctus (Crt-Luc) fireflies, inserted them into the pCDNA3 vector, and compared their bioluminescence and pH-sensing properties with those of Macrolampis firefly luciferase (Mac-Luc) inside fibroblasts. The transfected COS-1 with Mac-Luc and Crt-Luc displayed lower bioluminescence activity and considerably red-shifted spectra (611 and 564 nm, respectively) at 37 °C, whereas Amy-Luc displayed the highest bioluminescence activity and spectral stability at 37 °C inside cells, displaying the most blue-shifted spectrum at such temperatures (548 nm) and the best spectral resolution at different pH values, making it possible to ratiometrically estimate the pH from 6.0 to 8.0. These results show that Amy-Luc is a novel brighter reporter gene and suitable pH- indicator for mammalian cells. Furthermore, whereas at pH 8.0 the spectrum was thermally stable, at pH 6.0 Amy-Luc showed higher temperature sensitivity, raising the possibility of using this luciferase as an intracellular temperature sensor. Thus, the improved bioluminescence properties as compared to existing luciferases could offer advantages for in vivo imaging and pH- sensing for the study of mammalian cellular physiology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescent Materials with Excellent Biocompatibility and Their Application in Bio-Sensing, Bio-Imaging (Volume II))

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

11 pages, 2783 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Advanced Bioluminescence Reporter with Engineered Gaussia Luciferase via Sequence-Guided Mutagenesis

by Vinayakumar Gedi, Eun Hye Kim, Bohyun Oh and Young-Pil Kim

Biosensors 2024, 14(11), 528; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14110528 - 1 Nov 2024

Viewed by 1431

Abstract

Gaussia luciferase (GLuc) is the preeminent secreted luciferase widely used in cell-based reporter assays. By employing sequence-guided mutagenesis informed by alignments of diverse copepod luciferase sequences, we identified key amino acids that significantly enhance bioluminescence (BL) intensity. Among the mutated proteins expressed in bacteria, five individual mutations (M60L, K88Q, F89Y, I90L, or S103T) independently increased BL intensity by 1.8 to 7.5-fold compared to wild-type GLuc in the presence of coelenterazine substrates. Remarkably, the combination of all five mutations in GLuc (designated as GLuc5) resulted in an unexpected 29-fold enhancement in BL intensity. Subsequent evaluation of the GLuc5-secreted reporter in transfected mammalian cells confirmed its superior BL performance across multiple cell lines. These findings suggest that the mutated residues are likely crucial for enhancing BL intensity in GLuc, supporting its potential to serve as a highly sensitive biosensor or reporter for a wide range of biological applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescent Materials with Excellent Biocompatibility and Their Application in Bio-Sensing, Bio-Imaging (Volume II))

► Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 2636 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The First N,O-Chelated Diphenylboron-Based Fluorescent Probe for Peroxynitrite and Its Bioimaging Applications

by Xiaoping Ye, Longxuan Li, Hong Liu, Yuyu Fang and Xiaoya Liu

Biosensors 2024, 14(11), 515; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14110515 - 22 Oct 2024

Viewed by 1307

Abstract

Peroxynitrite (ONOO⁻) is a reactive oxygen species (ROS) that takes part in the oxidation-reduction homeostasis while at the same time being responsible for activating numerous pathological pathways. Accordingly, monitoring the dynamic changes in ONOO⁻ concentration has attracted a great deal of attention, undoubtedly prompting the development of appropriate fluorescent chemosensors. Herein, we developed a novel N,O-chelated diphenylboron-based fluorescent probe (DPB) for ONOO⁻ featuring high selectivity, a quick response time (2.0 min), and a low detection limit (55 nM). DPB incorporates tetra-coordinated boron in the center of the fluorogenic core and a three-coordinated boron from the pinacolphenylboronate fragment, which acts as the recognition site for ONOO⁻. As confirmed by HR-MS and ¹H NMR, the interaction of DPB with ONOO⁻ led to an oxidative cleavage of pinacolphenylboronate moiety to produce strongly emissive derivative DPB-OH. The fluorescence enhancement is likely a result of a substantial deactivation of non-radiative decay due to the replacement of the bulky pinacolphenylboronate moiety with a compact hydroxyl group. Importantly, DPB probe exhibits negligible cytotoxicity and favorable biocompatibility allowing for an efficient tracking of ONOO⁻ in living cells and zebrafish. Overall, the current study does not only represents the first N,O-chelated diphenylboron-based fluorescent probe for a specific analyte, but also serves as a guideline for designing more potent fluorescent probes based on the chemistry of boron chelates. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescent Materials with Excellent Biocompatibility and Their Application in Bio-Sensing, Bio-Imaging (Volume II))

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 7349 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Study of Fluorescence Emission of Fisetin, Luteolin and Quercetin Powders and Solutions: Further Evidence of the ESIPT Process

by Alexandra Deriabina, Tatiana Prutskij, Hector Daniel Morales Ochoa, Esteban Delgado Curiel and Veranda Palacios Corte

Biosensors 2024, 14(9), 413; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14090413 - 26 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1555

Abstract

Fisetin and Luteolin are important flavonoids produced in plants and known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and analgesic properties. They are also good candidates for different types of biosensors. The model used to describe the fluorescence (FL) emission of these flavonoids involves an excited-state intermolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process that causes a change in the molecule configuration and a corresponding decrease in the emission energy. Due to the different molecular structures of Fisetin and Luteolin, only one possible proton transfer within the molecule is allowed for each of them: transfer of the H3 proton for Fisetin and of the H5 for Luteolin. Here, we compare their calculated emission wavelengths, obtained using TDDFT/M06-2X/6-31++G(d,p), with their FL emission spectra measured on the corresponding powders and solutions and show that the experimental data are consistent with the presence of the ESIPT process. We also compare the emission wavelengths found for Fisetin and Luteolin with those calculated and measured for Quercetin, where, under photoexcitation, the transfers of both H3 and H5 protons are possible. We analyze the difference in the processes associated with the H3 and H5 proton transfers and discuss the reason for the predominance of the H5 proton transfer in Quercetin. Additionally, a new system of notation for flavonoid molecules is developed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescent Materials with Excellent Biocompatibility and Their Application in Bio-Sensing, Bio-Imaging (Volume II))

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

12 pages, 5510 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fluorogenic Aptamer-Based Hybridization Chain Reaction for Signal-Amplified Imaging of Apurinic/Apyrimidinic Endonuclease 1 in Living Cells

by Meixi Liu, Yunjie Tan, Chen Zhou, Zhaoming Fu, Ru Huang, Jin Li and Le Li

Biosensors 2024, 14(6), 274; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14060274 - 27 May 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1764

Abstract

A fluorogenic aptamer (FA)-based hybridization chain reaction (HCR) could provide a sensitive and label-free signal amplification method for imaging molecules in living cells. However, existing FA-HCR methods usually face some problems, such as a complicated design and significant background leakage, which greatly limit their application. Herein, we developed an FA-centered HCR (FAC-HCR) method based on a remote toehold-mediated strand displacement reaction. Compared to traditional HCRs mediated by four hairpin probes (HPs) and two HPs, the FAC-HCR displayed significantly decreased background leakage and improved sensitivity. Furthermore, the FAC-HCR was used to test a non-nucleic acid target, apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1), an important BER-involved endonuclease. The fluorescence analysis results confirmed that FAC-HCR can reach a detection limit of 0.1174 U/mL. By using the two HPs for FAC-HCR with polyetherimide-based nanoparticles, the activity of APE1 in living cells can be imaged. In summary, this study could provide a new idea to design an FA-based HCR and improve the performance of HCRs in live cell imaging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescent Materials with Excellent Biocompatibility and Their Application in Bio-Sensing, Bio-Imaging (Volume II))

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2413 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Specific Fluorescent Probes for Imaging DNA in Cell-Free Solution and in Mitochondria in Living Cells

by Anna S. Efimova, Mariya A. Ustimova, Nelly S. Chmelyuk, Maxim A. Abakumov, Yury V. Fedorov and Olga A. Fedorova

Biosensors 2023, 13(7), 734; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios13070734 - 15 Jul 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2263

Abstract

New styryl dyes consisting of N-methylpyridine or N-methylquinoline scaffolds were synthesized, and their binding affinities for DNA in cell-free solution were studied. The replacement of heterocyclic residue from the pyridine to quinoline group as well as variation in the phenyl part strongly influenced their binding modes, binding affinities, and spectroscopic responses. Biological experiments showed the low toxicity of the obtained dyes and their applicability as selective dyes for mitochondria in living cells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescent Materials with Excellent Biocompatibility and Their Application in Bio-Sensing, Bio-Imaging (Volume II))

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

16 pages, 8840 KiB

Open AccessReview

Recent Research Progress in Fluorescent Probes for Detection of Amyloid-β In Vivo

by Zhen-Yu Zhang, Ze-Jun Li, Ying-Hao Tang, Liang Xu, De-Teng Zhang, Tian-Yi Qin and Ya-Long Wang

Biosensors 2023, 13(11), 990; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios13110990 - 19 Nov 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3430

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease. Due to its complex pathological mechanism, its etiology is not yet clear. As one of the main pathological markers of AD, amyloid-β (Aβ) plays an important role in the development of AD. The deposition of Aβ is not only related to the degeneration of neurons, but also can activate a series of pathological events, including the activation of astrocytes and microglia, the breakdown of the blood–brain barrier, and the change in microcirculation, which is the main cause of brain lesions and death in AD patients. Therefore, the development of efficient and reliable Aβ-specific probes is crucial for the early diagnosis and treatment of AD. This paper focuses on reviewing the application of small-molecule fluorescent probes in Aβ imaging in vivo in recent years. These probes efficiently map the presence of Aβ in vivo, providing a pathway for the early diagnosis of AD and providing enlightenment for the design of Aβ-specific probes in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescent Materials with Excellent Biocompatibility and Their Application in Bio-Sensing, Bio-Imaging (Volume II))

► Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 14514 KiB

Open AccessReview

Recent Progress of Activity-Based Fluorescent Probes for Imaging Leucine Aminopeptidase

by Ze-Jun Li, Cai-Yun Wang, Liang Xu, Zhen-Yu Zhang, Ying-Hao Tang, Tian-Yi Qin and Ya-Long Wang

Biosensors 2023, 13(7), 752; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios13070752 - 21 Jul 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3243

Abstract

Leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) is an important protease that can specifically hydrolyze Leucine residues. LAP occurs in microorganisms, plants, animals, and humans and is involved in a variety of physiological processes in the human body. In the physiological system, abnormal levels of LAP are associated with a variety of diseases and pathological processes, such as cancer and drug-induced liver injury; thus, LAP was chosen as the early biochemical marker for many physiological processes, including cancer. Considering the importance of LAP in physiological and pathological processes, it is critical that high-efficiency and dependable technology be developed to monitor LAP levels. Herein, we summarize the organic small molecule fluorescence/chemiluminescence probes used for LAP detection in recent years, which can image LAP in cancer, drug-induced liver injury (DILI), and bacteria. It can also reveal the role of LAP in tumors and differentiate the serum of cirrhotic, drug-induced liver injury and normal models. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescent Materials with Excellent Biocompatibility and Their Application in Bio-Sensing, Bio-Imaging (Volume II))

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Fluorescent Materials with Excellent Biocompatibility and Their Application in Bio-Sensing, Bio-Imaging (Volume II)

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (10 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI