Redox-responsive fluorescent AIE bioconjugate with aggregation enhanced retention features for targeted imaging reinforcement and selective suppression of cancer cells

Considering the distinctions of cancer cell microenvironments, smart systems with stimulus-triggered features have become increasingly popular nowadays. These smart systems are regarded as efficient approaches for targeted cancer cell imaging and selective tumoricidal therapy. On account of the highly reductive micro-environment in tumor tissues, a redox-responsive fluorescent AIE bioprobe based on a disulfide bond is designed and synthesized. This AIE bioprobe possesses excellent water dispersibility and nano-size stability under physiological conditions. Under the reductive microenvironment of tumor cells, the water dispersibility of the AIE probe becomes worse owing to the cleavage of carboxyl groups. The dispersibility alteration further induces the aggregation of AIE nanoparticles and enhances intracellular retention, allowing for targeted imaging reinforcement and selective suppression of cancer cells.