Small-molecule fluorescent probes based on covalent assembly strategy for chemoselective bioimaging

Fluorescent probes have been widely studied and applied in environment and health analysis, where among them small molecular covalent assembly probes are a novel type of reaction probes with many advantages, including no background interference, remarkable colorimetric change, rapid response, high sensitivity, and strong fluorescent signal. During the past decade, significant contributions have been made globally to both the application and mechanism of covalent assembly probes. In this review, we summarize the recent development of covalent assembly probes, classifying them based on different analytes, such as anions, metal ions, small biological molecules, reactive oxidative spices (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), nerve agent mimics, and enzymes, and introduce their detection mechanism in detail. Furthermore, the perspective on the next generation of covalent-assembly probes toward biomolecules imaging is presented.

Automated summary

Fluorescent probes have been extensively studied and applied in environment and health analysis. Covalent assembly probes, as a novel type of reaction probes, have many advantages. Significant contributions have been made in both the application and mechanism of covalent assembly probes over the past decade. This review summarizes the recent development of covalent assembly probes, classifies them based on different analytes, and introduces their detection mechanism in detail.