The fast-growing field of photo-driven theranostics based on aggregation-induced emission. (28th February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Zhijun; Kang, Miaomiao; Tan, Hui; Song, Nan; Li, Meng; Xiao, Peihong; Yan, Dingyuan; Zhang, Liping; Wang, Dong; Tang, Ben Zhong
• Is Part Of: Chemical Society reviews. Volume 51:Number 6(2022)
• Page Start: 1983
• Page End: 2030
• Publication Date: 2022-02-28
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1039/d1cs01138c
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-0012

Abstract

Abstract : This review summarized the progression of AIEgen-based photo-driven theranostics emphasizing on design strategies for efficient photosensitization, photothermal conversion and multimodal functionalities by adjusting the excited energy dissipation. Abstract : Photo-driven theranostics, also known as phototheranostics, relying on the diverse excited-state energy conversions of theranostic agents upon photoexcitation represents a significant branch of theranostics, which ingeniously integrate diagnostic imaging and therapeutic interventions into a single formulation. The combined merits of photoexcitation and theranostics endow photo-driven theranostics with numerous superior features. The applications of aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens), a particular category of fluorophores, in the field of photo-driven theranostics have been intensively studied by virtue of their versatile advantageous merits of favorable biocompatibility, tuneable photophysical properties, unique aggregation-enhanced theranostic (AET) features, ideal AET-favored on-site activation ability and ready construction of one-for-all multimodal theranostics. This review summarised the significant achievements of photo-driven theranostics based on AIEgens, which were detailedly elaborated and classified by their diverse theranostic modalities into three groups: fluorescence imaging-guided photodynamic therapy, photoacoustic imaging-guided photothermal therapy, and multi-modality theranostics. Particularly, the tremendous advantages and individual design strategies of AIEgens in pursuit of high-performance photosensitizing output, high photothermal conversion and multimodal function capability by adjusting the excited-state energy dissipation pathways are emphasized in each section. In addition to highlighting AIEgens as promising templates for modulating energy dissipation in the application of photo-driven theranostics, current challenges and opportunities in this field are also discussed.