Themed collection Chemosensors and Molecular Logic

Fluctuations favour state B = (B,B′) based on kinetic asymmetry combined with moderate dissipation rather than state A = (A,A′) in which the absolute amount of dissipation is greater but where there is no kinetic asymmetry.

Intracellular temperature can be measured using fluorescent polymeric thermometers via their temperature-dependent fluorescence signals.

We highlight recent progress from our labs for the development of fluorescent glycoprobes for sensing ions/lectins and targeted detection of intracellular species, including the construction of their 2D material composites for targeted fluorescence imaging and theranostics.

Molecular logic gates, now with more than two decades of collective exploration, are poised for practical applications.

Fluorescent chemosensors for ions and neutral analytes have been widely applied in many diverse fields such as biology, physiology, pharmacology, and environmental sciences.

Fluorescent i-motif based sensors as promising tools for cellular pH-sensing and bioimaging.

Extending the versatile fluorescent PET sensing/switching system causes ‘off–on’ signalling when a ligand binds to its appropriate protein.

A colorimetric and ratiometric probe with a push–pull chromophore dicyanoisophorone system, AuP, has been developed for the detection of Au(III) species with highly sensitive and selective response to real-water samples and living tissues of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Pattern recognition of RNA with small molecules (PRRSM) reveals the impact of environmental conditions on the differentiation of RNA structures.

Multiple logic gates such as OR, TRANSFER, INH, NOT, and YES operations were achieved on a single triple-chromophore fluorescent probe by using biothiols and fluorescence signal patterns as the multiple inputs and outputs.

Dipeptide-based amidothiourea (azapeptides) bearing folded β-turn structures were employed to build beacon-like fluorescent sensors signalled by pyrene exciplex or excimer dual emission to allow highly sensitive ratiometric fluorescence sensing of an anion able to bind to the structural moiety placed within the turn structure.

Two boronate fluorescent probes have been developed for the detection of peroxynitrite (TCFB1 and TCFB2).

A stable Eu(III) complex is reported that binds reversibly to ATP and ADP, providing a ratiometric luminescent signal that enables the kinase-catalysed conversion of ATP to ADP to be monitored in real-time.

A naphthalimide-based solid state luminescent probe has been designed and synthesized for the detection of Al³⁺ ions in solution as well as in the solid state with its versatile applications as materials and as a bio-imaging tool for the detection of Al³⁺ ions under in vitro and in vivo milieu.

Sensitive and selective fluoride indicators consisting of a boronate ester receptor motif, conjugated to an azulene reporter motif, are described. These exhibit a colour change visible to the naked eye when exposed to fluoride.

A novel 4-amino-1,8-naphthalimide derived Tröger's base ligand L has been synthesised and subsequently used in the formation of two new supramolecular coordination polymers TB-Co-CP and TB-Cd-CP.

Ruthenium(II) tris(bipyridyl) protein surface mimetics are used for protein sensing in an array format.

Robust 1,8-naphthalimide cross-coupling methodology unlocks access to derivatives with interesting photophysical properties and diverse applications.

The first example of a molecular logic gate based on selenourea/anion host–guest interaction that performs a ternary logic operation using an ¹H-NMR easy to read response output is described here.

A novel fluorescent probe for ClO⁻ is developed by the combination of a new ClO⁻ responsive unit and the aggregation induced-emission feature of tetraphenylethylene.

¹O₂ oxidation of a non-fluorescent sulfoxide forms a fluorescent sulfone, with significant (>50-fold) increase in emission. The oxidation occurs via intramolecular oxygen atom transfer from a reactive persulfoxide intermediate. This represents a new, mechanistically-distinct approach to fluorescent ¹O₂ detection.

A naphthalimide-based chemosensing motif capable of turning on the fluorescence emission in solution and in vitro is reported.

Being colour coordinated allows turn on detection of nitroaromatics by combining molecular recognition with resonant enhancement of the Raman spectra.

The development of biocompatible two-photon fluorophores with a large absorption cross-section is challenging, despite the presence of theoretical guidelines.

A fluorescent probe enables two-photon ratiometric imaging of endogenous hypochlorous acid, a reactive oxygen species, in cells and tissues.

Dibenzazepinyl ureas act as probes to allow conformational analysis of screw-sense preference in dynamic foldamers by both NMR and CD spectroscopy.

Two fluorescein-based chemosensors have been developed for the rapid and selective fluorescence detection of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) under excitation by visible light.

We developed a fast and selective near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe for the targeted tracing of endogenous NO which possesses vital features including a significant turn-on NIR response, high specificity, and a fast response.

With this research we have developed a bodipy based system as the first “turn-on” fluorescence system for the detection hydroxylamine.

Chiral boronate ensembles showed enantioselective aggregation behaviors for chiral diamines and cinchona alkaloids, enabling the fluorescent recognition of their chirality.

A novel ferrocene-based substrate for the ratiometric electrochemical detection of β-galactosidase was designed and synthesised, exhibiting high sensitivity for β-gal.

An AIE-based ratiometric fluorescent test strip was developed for portable point-of-use detection of gaseous phosgene.

We show that supramolecular core–glycoshell nanodots are capable of targeted imaging and photodynamic therapy of liver and triple-negative breast cancer cells.

Two kinds of fluorescent BMP32C10-based cryptands 1 and 2 have been developed.

The synthesis of a bis-glycosyl diarylethene derivative by click chemistry for the water-compatible photochromism and operation of molecular logic gates is reported.

A designed molecule provides a fluorescent signal according to a combinatorial logic array comprised of three-input AND, three-input INHIBIT and two-input OR logic gates.

Mellitic triimide derivatives act as supramolecular gelators, which enable the detection of aromatic molecules as a gel–sol phase transition.

Two 2-nitroimidazole-1,8-naphthalimide conjugates, 1 and 2, have been synthesised as fluorescence probes for the detection of reductive stress in HeLa cells.

A selenium-containing pillar[5]arene-based macrocyclic amphiphile was prepared. This amphiphile self-assembled in water to form vesicles with redox responsiveness. Then, these pillar[5]arene-based vesicles were used in the controlled release of DOX.

A luminescent europium probe has been discovered that binds selectively to drug-site I in human serum albumin, signalled by a ‘switching on’ of europium emission, and accompanied by strong induced circularly polarised luminescence.

An easy-to-prepare chemosensor assay based on molecular self-assemblies of 3-nitrophenylboronic acid and catechol dyes can detect metal ions qualitatively and quantitatively.

A 1,8-naphthalimide-derived SNAP-tag fluorogenic probe can specifically and rapidly label proteins in live cells without requiring a wash procedure.

An amidine-based small molecule two-photon fluorescent probe for monitoring vesicle transport from the ER to lysosome in live cells was reported.

The first dual-targeted (both cancer cells and mitochondria) fluorescent probe for sensing mitochondrial hypochlorite was presented and applied in cell imaging.

A versatile continuous colorimetric assay for AMACR is reported.

A two-photon fluorescent probe based on an ESIPT fluorophore bearing AIE characteristics was utilized to detect H₂S.

The end-to-end assembly and disassembly of gold nanorods were realized via HS-β-CD recognition and controllable by both UV light irradiation and guest competition.

An amphiphilic imidazolium-based self-assembled probe forms aggregates and selectively recognizes aqueous ATP among other bioactive anions with a significant enhancement in fluorescence emission.

Graphene oxide enhances the imaging ability of a cell-impermeable peptide probe that targets microtubules, enabling the dynamic tracking of mitosis in live cells.

Modification of a BODIPY dye with a Lewis acidic antimony group affords a fluorescent fluoride and cyanide sensor.

Four novel bis-boronic acid compounds were synthesised via copper catalysed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reactions.

We highlight the prominent role of hydrophilicity in the preferential cellular uptake process of biotinylated fluorescent probes.

The Bull–James boronic acid assembly is used simultaneously as a chiral auxiliary for kinetic resolution and as a chiral shift reagent for in situ enantiomeric excess (ee) determination by ¹H NMR spectroscopy.

An BODIPY probe for detection and imaging of Mg²⁺ without interference from Ca²⁺ is described.

A fluorescent combinatorial Na⁺, H⁺ logic gate is demonstrated that could represent a class of probes for investigating antiporters in biological systems.

A series of semi-specific peptides reported in the literature to bind various epitopes on cell surfaces were used in a differential sensing array to pattern cell line identity.

Fluorescence detection of nucleotide phosphates with a polyfluorene–polythiophene diblock copolymer is demonstrated, accompanied by determination of the sensor mechanism.

To address carbohydrates that are commonly used in biomedical applications with low binding affinities for boronic acid based detection systems, two chemical modification methods were utilized to increase sensitivity.

The stereoelectronic properties affecting hydrogen bond strength are investigated with a series of diphenylacetylene-based molecular balances.

A new strategy is suggested to fine-tune the detection range by controlling the ionic density of CPEs in the MBA/CPE-based ATP assay.

Relay recognition of copper(II) ions and biothiols via a fluorescence “on–off–on” cascade has been realized in 100% aqueous solution when excited by the visible light.

Reaction-based indicator displacement assay for the optical cycle-monitoring of hydrogen peroxide.

We show that low-dimensional materials enhance the conjugation between fluorogenic phenylboronic acids and saccharides.