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Chemistry
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Fluorescent Chemosensors and Probes for Detection and Imaging
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Fluorescent Chemosensors and Probes for Detection and Imaging

A special issue of Chemistry (ISSN 2624-8549). This special issue belongs to the section "Medicinal Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2026) | Viewed by 2842

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Haishi Cao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, NE 68849, USA
Interests: fluorescent switch; biosensors; molecular recognition

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fluorescent sensors and probes continue to play an essential role in advancing chemical, biological, and biomedical research. Their high sensitivity, molecular selectivity, and capacity for real-time, non-invasive imaging make them indispensable for monitoring dynamic events across diverse biological systems. Recent advances in probe design, including ratiometric and activatable fluorophores, genetically encoded indicators, and environment-responsive systems, have enabled the more precise detection of analytes, including ions, metabolites, enzymes, and biomacromolecules, in complex biological environments. This Special Issue aims to highlight recent breakthroughs in the design, synthesis, and application of fluorescent sensors and probes. Contributions, including original research articles, communications, and reviews, will cover fundamental studies, innovative sensing strategies, and translational applications that highlight the growing impact of fluorescent sensing technologies across chemistry, biology, and biomedical sciences.

Dr. Haishi Cao
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • fluorescent probes
  • chemosensors
  • biosensors
  • fluorescent dyes
  • fluorescent materials
  • fluorescence spectroscopy
  • bi-oimaging
  • molecular imaging
  • optical properties
  • sensing mechanism

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 3869 KB  
Article
Influence of Morpholine Substitution on DNBS-Based 1,8-Naphthalimide Fluorescent Probes for H2S Detection
by Trevor Dvorak, Sara Fox-Belmonte, Noah Burbul and Haishi Cao
Chemistry 2026, 8(5), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemistry8050059 - 1 May 2026
Viewed by 150
Abstract
A series of morpholine-appended 1,8-naphthalimide probes (S1–S5) was developed to investigate the influence of the morpholine moiety on H2S detection. All probes exhibited characteristic absorption and emission features and responded to H2S with fluorescence enhancement, although the intensity varied [...] Read more.
A series of morpholine-appended 1,8-naphthalimide probes (S1–S5) was developed to investigate the influence of the morpholine moiety on H2S detection. All probes exhibited characteristic absorption and emission features and responded to H2S with fluorescence enhancement, although the intensity varied markedly across the series. S2 displayed the highest signal enhancement, while S5 showed minimal response, highlighting the critical role of a two-carbon spacer between the morpholine group and the fluorophore for optimal sensing. Kinetic analysis revealed that S1–S4 followed similar reaction profiles, whereas S5 reacted faster but produced a weaker signal. S2 maintained reliable performance across pH 4–9 and in DMSO-containing media and demonstrated excellent selectivity over common biothiols and other potentially interfering species. These findings provide a clear structure–activity relationship for morpholine-based fluorescent probes and inform the rational design of highly selective H2S sensors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescent Chemosensors and Probes for Detection and Imaging)
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11 pages, 1678 KB  
Article
Ratiometric Fluorescent Detection of Carbaryl Based on Molecular Intrinsic Fluorescence Enhancement and Gold Nanoclusters
by Xiujin Chen, Jingyang Jiang, Xiufang Huang and Chifang Peng
Chemistry 2026, 8(3), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemistry8030036 - 19 Mar 2026
Viewed by 399
Abstract
In this work, a ratiometric fluorescent method for carbaryl detection is reported. We found that the combination of rapid hydrolysis of carbaryl and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) emulsification could significantly enhance the intrinsic weak blue fluorescence of carbaryl. By using red fluorescent glutathione-gold nanoculsters [...] Read more.
In this work, a ratiometric fluorescent method for carbaryl detection is reported. We found that the combination of rapid hydrolysis of carbaryl and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) emulsification could significantly enhance the intrinsic weak blue fluorescence of carbaryl. By using red fluorescent glutathione-gold nanoculsters (GSH-Au NCs) as a reference signal, ratiometric detection of carbaryl within 3 min was successfully achieved. The method exhibited high sensitivity, with a linear response to carbaryl in the range from 1.0 to 70 ng/mL and an LOD of 0.05 ng/mL. The method was applied for detection of carbaryl in apple and cabbage samples, and recovery rates of 90~101% and 93~110%, respectively, were obtained. These results show that the proposed method for carbaryl detection has great potential for application in food sample monitoring. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescent Chemosensors and Probes for Detection and Imaging)
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14 pages, 3924 KB  
Article
Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Dots as Fluorescent and Colorimetric Probes for Nitrite Detection
by Aikun Liu, Xu Liu, Zixuan Huang and Yanqing Ge
Chemistry 2026, 8(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemistry8010011 - 20 Jan 2026
Viewed by 762
Abstract
Nitrite, as a widely present nitrogen oxide compound in nature, and is extensively distributed in production and daily life; precise and rapid detection of it is of great significance for ensuring human health. This study developed nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) using malic acid [...] Read more.
Nitrite, as a widely present nitrogen oxide compound in nature, and is extensively distributed in production and daily life; precise and rapid detection of it is of great significance for ensuring human health. This study developed nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) using malic acid and 3-diethylaminophenol as precursors by one-step hydrothermal treatment. The obtained N-CDs exhibited strong green fluorescence with a high quantum yield of 20.86%. More importantly, they served as a highly effective fluorescent probe for NO2− sensing, demonstrating a low detection limit of 28.33 μM and a wide linear response range of 400 to 1000 μM. The sensing mechanism was attributed to an electrostatic interaction-enhanced dynamic quenching process. Notably, the probe enabled dual-mode detection: a distinct color change from light pink to dark brown under daylight for visual semi-quantification, and quantitative fluorescence quenching. The N-CDs showed excellent selectivity over common interfering ions. Furthermore, their low cytotoxicity and good biocompatibility allowed for successful bioimaging of exogenous and endogenous NO2− fluctuations in live HeLa cells. This work presents a facile green strategy to synthesize multifunctional N-CDs that realized the sensitive, selective, and visual detection of NO2− in environmental and biological systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescent Chemosensors and Probes for Detection and Imaging)
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Graphical abstract

15 pages, 1999 KB  
Article
Construction of an Internal Standard Ratiometric Al3+ Selective Fluorescent Probe Based on Rhodamine B-Modified Naphthalimide-Grafted Chitosan Polymer
by Mei Yang, Shaobai Wen, Jun Zhang, Xiangxiang Li and Chunwei Yu
Chemistry 2025, 7(6), 193; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemistry7060193 - 3 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 800
Abstract
Most reported fluorescent Al3+ probes rely on fluorescence signal enhancement or quenching. Since the change in fluorescence intensity is the sole detection signal, various factors such as instrumental efficiency, environmental conditions, and probe concentration can interfere with the signal output. In contrast, [...] Read more.
Most reported fluorescent Al3+ probes rely on fluorescence signal enhancement or quenching. Since the change in fluorescence intensity is the sole detection signal, various factors such as instrumental efficiency, environmental conditions, and probe concentration can interfere with the signal output. In contrast, ratiometric probes, which utilize two emission bands for self-calibration, provide significant advantages by minimizing or eliminating these uncertainties. In this study, a naphthalimide-rhodamine based the transition between the cyclic and open-ring forms of rhodamine as an Al3+-selective ratiometric probe, in which chitosan was identified as an ideal bridge and biocompatibility. The design concept was that when the target metal ion was present, the fluorescence intensity of naphthalimide remained largely unchanged, serving as an internal standard. In contrast, rhodamine B was employed to label the target molecules, with its fluorescence intensity varying in accordance with the target concentration. A series of experiments were carried out to investigate the fluorometric properties of the grafted polymer P. The results demonstrated that P exhibited selective interaction with Al3+ among the various metals tested. Using the fluorescence intensity ratio (I603 nm/I538 nm) of P, a good linear relationship was achieved for Al3+ concentrations ranging from 1.0 to 35.0 μM with a detection limit of 0.33 μM was obtained. Meanwhile, we employed the standard addition method for the quantitative analysis and detection of Al3+ in commercially available bottled water and tap water, achieving an ideal recovery rate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescent Chemosensors and Probes for Detection and Imaging)
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