Nanoprobes with aggregation-induced emission for theranostics

Theranostics is the integration of diagnosis and therapy, which significantly reduces side effects, and saves time and cost. During the past few years, nanoprobes (NPs) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) have been developed for theranostic applications with excellent performance superior to the conventional type. In this review, we summarize the latest advancement of AIE NPs in theranostic applications. Especially, we focus on the design of multifunctional AIE molecules with both strong emission and high efficiency for the generation of reactive oxygen species and photothermal conversion, and the use of these agents to prepare NPs for more translational biomedical applications via image-guided phototherapy. Challenges, opportunities, and perspectives for the future of this field are also discussed at the end of this review.