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

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 11681

Special Issue Editors


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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

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

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
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

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Keywords

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

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 2783 KiB  
Article
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 702
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 [...] Read more.
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
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11 pages, 2636 KiB  
Article
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 706
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 [...] Read more.
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
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22 pages, 7349 KiB  
Article
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 939
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 [...] Read more.
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
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12 pages, 5510 KiB  
Article
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 1 | Viewed by 1269
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 [...] Read more.
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
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13 pages, 2413 KiB  
Article
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 2 | Viewed by 1836
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 [...] Read more.
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
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Review

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16 pages, 8840 KiB  
Review
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 3 | Viewed by 2833
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 [...] Read more.
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
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25 pages, 14514 KiB  
Review
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 4 | Viewed by 2619
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 [...] Read more.
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
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