Synthesis and Design of Aggregation‐Induced Emission Surfactants: Direct Observation of Micelle Transitions and Microemulsion Droplets

The direct visualization of micelle transitions is a long‐standing challenge owing to the intractable aggregation‐caused quenching of light emission in the micelle solution. Herein, we report the synthesis of a surfactant with a tetraphenylethene (TPE) core and aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) characteristics. The transition processes of surfactant micelles and the microemulsion droplets (MEDs) formed by the surfactant with a TPE core were clearly visualized by a high‐contrast fluorescence imaging method. The fluorescence intensity of the MEDs decreased as the size of MEDs increased as a result of weakening of the restriction of intramolecular rotation (RIR). The results of this study deepen our understanding of micelle‐transition processes and provide solid evidence in favor of the hypothesis that the AIE phenomenon has its origin in the RIR of fluorophores in the aggregate state.     

Bio‐/Chemosensors and Imaging with Aggregation‐Induced Emission Luminogens

Aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) luminogens show abnormal fluorescent behavior; they are non‐emissive in solution, but they become strongly emissive after aggregation. Sensing and imaging are the major applications of AIE luminogens. By properly manipulating the aggregation and deaggregation of AIE molecules, various bio‐/chemosensors have been developed. Moreover, AIE molecules with targeting groups have been devised for imaging of organelles and cancer cells. In this account, we report our recent work on the application of AIE luminogens for the construction of bio‐/chemosensors and imaging.

     

High‐Performance Quinoline‐Malononitrile Core as a Building Block for the Diversity‐Oriented Synthesis of AIEgens

In vivo fluorescent monitoring of physiological processes with high‐fidelity is essential in disease diagnosis and biological research, but faces extreme challenges due to aggregation‐caused quenching (ACQ) and short‐wavelength fluorescence. The development of high‐performance and long‐wavelength aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) fluorophores is in high demand for precise optical bioimaging. The chromophore quinoline‐malononitrile (QM) has recently emerged as a new class of AIE building block that possesses several notable features, such as red to near‐infrared (NIR) emission, high brightness, marked photostability, and good biocompatibility. In this minireview, we summarize some recent advances of our established AIE building block of QM, focusing on the AIE mechanism, regulation of emission wavelength and morphology, the facile scale‐up and fast preparation for AIE nanoparticles, as well as potential biomedical imaging applications.     

Mapping Live Cell Viscosity with an Aggregation‐Induced Emission Fluorogen by Means of Two‐Photon Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging

Intracellular viscosity is a crucial parameter that indicates the functioning of cells. In this work, we demonstrate the utility of TPE‐Cy, a cell‐permeable dye with aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) property, in mapping the viscosity inside live cells. Owing to the AIE characteristics, both the fluorescence intensity and lifetime of this dye are increased along with an increase in viscosity. Fluorescence lifetime imaging of live cells stained with TPE‐Cy reveals that the lifetime in lipid droplets is much shorter than that from the general cytoplasmic region. The loose packing of the lipids in a lipid droplet results in low viscosity and thus shorter lifetime of TPE‐Cy in this region. It demonstrates that the AIE dye could provide good resolution in intracellular viscosity sensing. This is also the first work in which AIE molecules are applied in fluorescence lifetime imaging and intracellular viscosity sensing.     

Self‐Assembly of Aggregation‐Induced‐Emission Molecules

The last decade has witnessed rapid developments in aggregation‐induced emission (AIE). In contrast to traditional aggregation, which causes luminescence quenching (ACQ), AIE is a reverse phenomenon that allows robust luminescence to be retained in aggregated and solid states. This makes it possible to fabricate various highly efficient luminescent materials, which opens new paradigms in a number of fields, such as imaging, sensing, medical therapy, light harvesting, light‐emitting devices, and organic electronic devices. Of the various important features of AIE molecules, their self‐assembly behavior is very attractive because the formation of a well‐defined emissive nanostructure may lead to advanced applications in diverse fields. However, due to the nonplanar topology of AIEgens, it is not easy for them to self‐assemble into well‐defined structures. To date, some strategies have been proposed to achieve the self‐assembly of AIEgens. Herein, we summarize the most recent approaches for the self‐assembly of AIE molecules. These approaches can be sorted into two classes: 1) covalent molecular design and 2) noncovalent supramolecular interactions. We hope this will inspire more excellent work in the field of AIE.     

Franck–Condon Blockade and Aggregation‐Modulated Conductance in Molecular Devices Using Aggregation‐Induced Emission‐Active Molecules

We report an effective modulation of the quantum transport in molecular junctions consisting of aggregation‐induced‐emission(AIE)‐active molecules. Theoretical simulations based on combined density functional theory and rate‐equation method calculations show that the low‐bias conductance of the junction with a single tetraphenylethylene (TPE) molecule can be completely suppressed by strong electron–vibration couplings, that is, the Franck‐Condon blockade effect. It is mainly associated with the low‐energy vibration modes, which is also the origin of the fluorescence quenching of the AIE molecule in solution. We further found that the conductance of the junction can be lifted by restraining the internal motion of the TPE molecule by either methyl substitution on the phenyl group or by aggregation, a mechanism similar to the AIE process. The present work demonstrates the correlation between optical processes of molecules and quantum transport in their junction, and thus opens up a new avenue for the application of AIE‐type molecules in molecular electronics and functional devices.     

Aggregation‐Induced Emission: Recent Advances in Materials and Biomedical Applications

The concept of aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) has opened new opportunities in many research fields. Motivated by the unique feature of AIE fluorogens (AIEgens), during the past decade, many AIE molecular probes and AIE nanoparticle (NP) probes have been developed for sensing, imaging and theranostic applications with excellent performance outperforming conventional fluorescent probes. This Review summarizes the latest advancement of AIE molecular probes and AIE NP probes and their emerging biomedical applications. Special focus is to reveal how the AIE probes are evolved with the development of new multifunctional AIEgens, and how new strategies have been developed to overcome the limitations of traditional AIE probes for more translational applications via fluorescence imaging, photoacoustic imaging and image‐guided photodynamic/photothermal therapy. The outlook discusses the challenges and future opportunities for AIEgens to advance the biomedical field.     

具有聚集诱导发光性质的近红外荧光染料

聚集诱导发光(AIE)现象的发现为解决传统有机荧光分子在高浓度和聚集形态下存在的荧光猝灭问题提供了最佳方案,并实现了在光电器件、化学传感、生物成像和靶向治疗等众多领域的广泛应用.随着对AIE 发光机理研究的不断深入,AIE 分子体系得到了极大的扩展.其中,一类具有给体-受体结构的AIE分子能够显著降低分子能隙,使发光分...     

Quantum chemical insights into the aggregation induced emission phenomena: A QM/MM study for pyrazine derivatives

There have been intensive studies on the newly discovered phenomena called aggregation induced emission (AIE), in contrast to the conventional aggregation quenching. Through combined quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics computations, we have investigated the aggregation effects on the excited state decays, both via radiative and nonradiative routes, for pyrazine derivatives 2,3‐dicyano‐5,6‐diphenylpyrazine ( DCDPP ) and 2,3‐dicyanopyrazino phenanthrene ( DCPP ) in condensed phase. We show that for DCDPP there appear AIE for all the temperature, because the phenyl ring torsional motions in gas phase can efficiently dissipate the electronic excited state energy, and get hindered in aggregate; while for its “locked”‐phenyl counterpart, DCPP , theoretical calculation can only give the normal aggregation quenching. These first‐principles based findings are consistent with recent experiment. The primary origin of the exotic AIE phenomena is due to the nonradiative decay effects. This is the first time that AIE is understood based on theoretical chemistry calculations for aggregates, which helps to resolve the present disputes over the mechanism. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Photoactivatable Aggregation‐Induced Emission Fluorophores with Multiple‐Color Fluorescence and Wavelength‐Selective Activation

Photoactivatable (caged) fluorophores are widely used in chemistry, materials, and biology. However, the development of such molecules exhibiting photoactivable solid‐state fluorescence is still challenging due to the aggregation‐caused quenching (ACQ) effect of most fluorophores in their aggregate or solid states. In this work, we developed caged salicylaldehyde hydrazone derivatives, which are of aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) characteristics upon light irradiation, as efficient photoactivatable solid‐state fluorophores. These compounds displayed multiple‐color emissions and ratiometric (photochromic) fluorescence switches upon wavelength‐selective photoactivation, and were successfully applied for photopatterning and photoactivatable cell imaging in a multiple‐color and stepwise manner.     

Recent Advances in Aggregation-Induced Emission Active Materials for Sensing of Biologically Important Molecules and Drug Delivery System

The emergence and development of aggregation induced emission (AIE) have attracted worldwide attention due to its unique photophysical phenomenon and for removing the obstacle of aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) which is the most detrimental process thereby making AIE an important and promising aspect in various fields of fluorescent material, sensing, bioimaging, optoelectronics, drug delivery system, and theranostics. In this review, we have discussed insights and explored recent advances that are being made in AIE active materials and their application in sensing, biological cell imaging, and drug delivery systems, and, furthermore, we explored AIE active fluorescent material as a building block in supramolecular chemistry. Herein, we focus on various AIE active molecules such as tetraphenylethylene, AIE-active polymer, quantum dots, AIE active metal-organic framework and triphenylamine, not only in terms of their synthetic routes but also we outline their applications. Finally, we summarize our view of the construction and application of AIE-active molecules, which thus inspiring young researchers to explore new ideas, innovations, and develop the field of supramolecular chemistry in years to come.     

A Freezing‐Induced Turn‐On Imaging Modality for Real‐Time Monitoring of Cancer Cells in Cryosurgery

Cryosurgery has attracted much attention for the treatment of tumors owing to its clear advantages. However, determining the volume of frozen tissues in real‐time remains a challenge, which greatly lowers the therapeutic efficacy of cryosurgery and hinders its broad application for the treatment of cancers. Herein, we report a freezing‐induced turn‐on strategy for the selective real‐time imaging of frozen cancer cells. As a type of aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) fluorogen, TABD‐Py molecules interact specifically with ice crystals and form aggregates at the ice/water interface. Consequently, bright fluorescent emission appears upon freezing. TABD‐Py molecules are enriched mostly in the cancer cells and exhibit high biocompatibility as well as low cytotoxicity; therefore, a freezing‐induced turn‐on imaging modality for cryosurgery is developed, which will certainly maximize the therapeutic efficacy of cryosurgery in treating tumors.     

Theoretical study on the aggregation-induced emission mechanism of anthryl-tetraphenylethene

Since the concept of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) was proposed by Benzhong Tang's research group in 2001, the exploration of the mechanism of AIE and the development of new high-performance AIE materials have been the focus and goal of this field. On the basis of a large number of experiment results, AIE mechanism has been well explained by lots of works, such as restricted intramolecular motion (RIM), J-aggregate et al. As tetraphenylethlene (TPE) molecules are stacked, the rotation of the benzene ring rotor is blocked, and the energy attenuation is released in the form of radiation, showing the AIE effect. In order to further explore the AIE effect of TPE, we performed electronic structure, spectrum simulation, and AIE mechanism calculations of the anthryl-tetraphenylethene (TPE-an) monomer and dimer in the gas phase, tetrahydrofuran (THF), and aqueous solutions at the B3LYP/6-31G** level. The calculation results show that TPE-an molecule is in a propeller-like configuration, and its fluorescence intensity is weak; compared with the monomer, the fluorescence intensity of the dimer increases by 87% in aqueous solution; the fluorescence intensity in the gas phase, THF solution, and aqueous solution gradually enhances with the increase of the degree of aggregation, which are consistent with the experimental results. The enhancement of fluorescence intensity is caused by the change of molecular structure caused by aggregation. This detailed AIE luminescence mechanism will provide theoretical guidance for AIE material design.     

Perspective: Aggregation-induced emission as an emerging strategy for exploring pharmacokinetics of oral polysaccharides

Clinical application of polysaccharides is severely limited by their various pending and controversial pharmacokinetics problems. Thus, it is urgent to develop accurate detection methods for polysaccharides and their metabolites. Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) is a unique photophysical phenomenon of propeller-shaped molecules. Currently, AIE has been successfully used to realize visualization for gelation process of polysaccharides, and accurate monitoring of spatiotemporal drug release of doxorubicin. In particular, authors found that aggregation event always happens during the pharmacokinetic process. Therefore, it is proposed that AIE can be a promising method for accurate detection of polysaccharides as well as elucidation of their bioavailability.     

Aggregation‐Induced Emission and Aggregation‐Promoted Photo‐oxidation in Thiophene‐Substituted Tetraphenylethylene Derivative

Aggregation‐induced emission combined with aggregation‐promoted photo‐oxidation has been reported only in two works quite recently. In fact, this phenomenon is not commonly observed for AIE‐active molecules. In this work, a new tetraphenylethylene derivative (TPE‐4T) with aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) and aggregation‐promoted photo‐oxidation was synthesized and investigated. The pristine TPE‐4T film exhibits strong bluish‐green emission, which turns to quite weak yellow emission after UV irradiation. Interestingly, after solvent treatment, the weakly fluorescent intermediate will become bright‐yellow emitting. Moreover, the morphology of the TPE‐4T film could be regulated by UV irradiation. The wettability of the TPE‐4T microcrystalline surface is drastically changed from hydrophobic to hydrophilic. This work contributes a new member to the aggregation induced photo‐oxidation family and enriches the photo‐oxidation study of tetraphenylethylene derivatives.     

Self‐Assembly of Highly Stable Zirconium(IV) Coordination Cages with Aggregation Induced Emission Molecular Rotors for Live‐Cell Imaging

The self‐assembly of highly stable zirconium(IV)‐based coordination cages with aggregation induced emission (AIE) molecular rotors for in vitro bio‐imaging is reported. The two coordination cages, NUS‐100 and NUS‐101, are assembled from the highly stable trinuclear zirconium vertices and two flexible carboxyl‐decorated tetraphenylethylene (TPE) spacers. Extensive experimental and theoretical results show that the emissive intensity of the coordination cages can be controlled by restricting the dynamics of AIE‐active molecular rotors though multiple external stimuli. Because the two coordination cages have excellent chemical stability in aqueous solutions (pH stability: 2–10) and impressive AIE characteristics contributed by the molecular rotors, they can be employed as novel biological fluorescent probes for in vitro live‐cell imaging.     

An Intracellular H2O2‐Responsive AIEgen for the Peroxidase‐Mediated Selective Imaging and Inhibition of Inflammatory Cells

Inflammatory cells have gained widespread attention because inflammatory diseases increase the risk for many types of cancer. Therefore, it is urgent and important to implement detection and treatment methods for inflammatory cells. Herein, we constructed a theranostic probe with aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) characteristics, in which tetraphenylethene (TPE) was modified with two tyrosine (Tyr) moieties. Owing to the H₂O₂‐dependent, enzyme‐catalyzed dityrosine formation, Tyr‐containing TPE ( TT ) molecules crosslink through dityrosine linkages to induce the formation of hydrophobic aggregates, activating the AIE process in inflammatory cells that contain H₂O₂ and overexpress myeloperoxidase. The emission turn‐on resulting from the crosslinking of TT molecules could be used to distinguish between inflammatory and normal cells. Moreover, the massive TT aggregates induced mitochondria damage and cell apoptosis. This study demonstrates that the H₂O₂‐responsive peroxidase‐activated AIEgen holds great promise for inflammatory‐cell selective imaging and inhibition.     

Structural and Theoretical Insights into the AIE Attributes of Phosphindole Oxide: The Balance Between Rigidity and Flexibility

Multiple intramolecular motions consume the excited‐state energy of luminogenic molecules upon photoexcitation and lower the emission efficiency. The low frequency rotational motion of aromatic rings can be facilely restricted by steric constraint in the condensed phase, but the high frequency bond stretching motion can hardly be suppressed by aggregation. In this work, three phosphorus‐containing heterocycles, 1,2,3,4,5‐pentaphenylphosphole‐1‐oxide (PPPO), 1,2,3‐triphenylphosphindole‐1‐oxide (TPPIO), and 1,2,3‐triphenylphosphindole (TPPI), were synthesized and characterized. Their optical properties, crystal‐packing manners, electronic features, and fluorescence dynamics were systematically investigated, and theoretical calculations were performed to decipher structure–property relationships. The results reveal that these luminogens are weak emitters in solutions but show strong emission in aggregates, exhibiting obvious aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) features. The aggregation‐insensitive stretching motion, which is dominant in PPPO, is lowered in TPPIO, enabling TPPIO to fluoresce much more efficiently than PPPO in aggregates. The stretching motion is even more lowered in TPPI, but its relatively planar conformation suffers emission quenching due to strong π–π stacking interactions in aggregates. Therefore, a twisted molecular conformation consisting of a rigid stator and a rotatable periphery is demonstrated to be a rational design for more efficient AIE luminogens.     

Multiple Hydrogen Bonds Promoted ESIPT and AIE‐active Chiral Salicylaldehyde Hydrazide

The simpler, the better! A series of simple and highly fluorescent salicylaldehyde hydrazide molecules (41 samples) have been designed and prepared. Even though these soft materials contain a very small π‐conjugated system, they can go through multiple intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonds promoted excited‐state intramolecular proton‐transfer (ESIPT) to display strong blue, green, yellow, and orange aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) with large Stokes shifts (up to 184 nm) and high fluorescence quantum yields (Ф up to 0.20). Unusual mechanochromic fluorescence enhancements are also found in some solid samples. Through coordination, hydrogen and halogen bonds, these flexible molecules can be used as Mg²⁺ (Ф up to 0.46) probes, universal anion (Ф up to 0.14) and unprotected amino acids (Ф up to 0.16) probes, and chiral diamine (enantiomeric selectivity and Ф up to 0.36 and 0.062, respectively) receptors. Combining their advantages of AIE and biocompatibility, these low cytotoxic dyes have potential application in living cell imaging. Furthermore, the effects of different functional groups on the molecule arrangement, ESIPT, AIE, probe, and chiral recognition properties are also examined, which provide a simple and bright paradigm for the design of multiple‐stimuli‐responsive smart materials.     

Modulation of Aggregation‐Induced Emission and Electroluminescence of Silole Derivatives by a Covalent Bonding Pattern

The deciphering of structure–property relationships is of high importance to rational design of functional molecules and to explore their potential applications. In this work, a series of silole derivatives substituted with benzo[b]thiophene (BT) at the 2,5‐positions of the silole ring are synthesized and characterized. The experimental investigation reveals that the covalent bonding through the 2‐position of BT (2‐BT) with silole ring allows a better conjugation of the backbone than that achieved though the 5‐position of BT (5‐BT), and results in totally different emission behaviors. The silole derivatives with 5‐BT groups are weakly fluorescent in solutions, but are induced to emit intensely in aggregates, presenting excellent aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) characteristics. Those with 2‐BT groups can fluoresce more strongly in solutions, but no obvious emission enhancements are found in aggregates, suggesting they are not AIE‐active. Theoretical calculations disclose that the good conjugation lowers the rotational motions of BT groups, which enables the molecules to emit more efficiently in solutions. But the well‐conjugated planar backbone is prone to form strong intermoelcular interactions in aggregates, which decreases the emission efficiency. Non‐doped organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) are fabricated by using these siloles as emitters. AIE‐active silole derivatives show much better elecroluminescence properties than those without the AIE characterisic, demonstrating the advantage of AIE‐active emitters in OLED applications.