A high brightness red fluorescent probe (S-BODIPY) has been developed for the sensitive and specific imaging of HClO/ClO − in vitro and in vivo. This probe exhibits some distinctive features such as excellent resistance to photobleaching, a high fluorescence brightness, high selectivity, as well as a good biocompatibility. Upon oxidation of the thioether group into sulfoxide, the probe showed a noticeable ratiometric fluorescence response toward ClO − with fast response (within 30 s) and a low detection limit (59 nM). The probe demonstrated the successful imaging of exogenous and endogenous HClO/ClO − in living HeLa cells, zebrafish, and mice with high signal-to-noise ratios. S-BODIPY allows for the real-time monitoring the level of ClO − in living cells by ratiometric fluorescence imaging, opening up exciting prospects to develop red and even near-infrared BODIPYs with high brightness and good photostability for in vivo imaging.

Theranostic systems by integrating the tumor imaging and tumor therapeutic capabilities into one platform have attracted numerous attentions from worldwide researchers. Despite the great developments, their clinical application is still in the nascent stage, owing to the unsatisfied imaging quality and limited therapeutic efficacy. Fortunately, the emerging of aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) molecules with unique fluorescence property offers an opportunity to solve the imaging problem. Besides, further utilizing the tumor microenvironments and external triggers to design the stimuli‐responsive imaging‐guided therapy could enhance the therapeutic efficacy and reduce the side effects. In this review, the advancements in stimuli‐responsive theranostic systems with AIE characteristics are summarized. Theranostic systems are first classified according to their treatment modes, and then subdivided based on various stimuli, including pH, redox, enzyme, and light. In each section, the design strategies and application examples are introduced. At last, the current state of the art, limitations, as well as prospects are also discussed.

A colorimetric and fluorescent probe ER-ClO was developed to detect cellular hypochlorite with high selectivity and sensitivity.

We first report several bright solid-state red-emissive BODIPYs with high fluorescence quantum yields for unusual high-contrast mechanohypsochromism.

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In this work, we reported an anthracene carboxyimide-based chemosensor (AC-Phos) for colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescence detection of highly toxic phosgene, which displayed rapid response (<5 min) toward phosgene with a high selectivity and a low detection limit (2.3 nM). Furthermore, a facile testing membrane with a polystyrene immobilizing chemosensor has been fabricated for real-time visualizing of gaseous phosgene.

Aberrant levels of cysteine (Cys) in living cells are closely related to some diseases; thusin situvisualization of intracellular Cys is very helpful for the investigation of physiological and pathological processes.

Impairment of the protein quality control network leads to the accumulation of unfolded and aggregated proteins. Direct detection of unfolded protein accumulation in the cells may provide the possibility for early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. Here a new platform based on a peptide‐conjugated thiol‐reactive aggregation‐induced emission fluorogen (AIEgen), named MI‐BTD‐P (or D1), for labeling and tracking unfolded proteins in cells is reported. In vitro experiments with model proteins show that the non‐fluorescent D1 only becomes highly fluorescent when reacted with the thiol group of free cysteine (Cys) residues on unfolded proteins but not glutathione or folded proteins with buried or surface exposed Cys. When the labeled unfolded proteins form aggregates, D1 fluorescence intensity is further increased, and fluorescence lifetime is prolonged. D1 is then used to measure unfolded protein loads in cells by flow cytometry and track the aggregate formation of the D1 labeled unfolded proteins using confocal microscopy. In combination with fluorescence lifetime imaging technique, the proteome at different folding statuses can be better differentiated, demonstrating the versatility of this new platform. The rational design of D1 demonstrates the outlook of incorporation of diverse functional groups to achieve maximal sensitivity and selectivity in biological samples.