Supramolecular Fluorescent Probes for Metal Ion Sensing and Biological Applications

The design and development of smart organic molecular probes represent a dynamic and expanding area in supramolecular chemistry with significant emphasis on the detection of biologically important analytes in both solutions and live cells. Over the past two decades, fluorescent probes have gained considerable attention for their ability to selectively recognize a wide range of biologically relevant species, including anions, cations, reactive oxygen species (ROS), thiols and gaseous molecules. Among the various fluorophore scaffolds, naphthalimide (NPI), anthracene (AN) and boranil derivatives are frequently employed due to their excellent photophysical properties. These properties include high fluorescence quantum yields, large Stokes shifts, and superior optical/thermal stability. Such features make them ideal for real-time, sensitive and selective detection/applications in biological and environmental systems. The continuous advancement in the structural design of these probes further enhances their performance and expands their utility in complex biological environments.