Phenothiazine-based fluorescent probes: Molecular engineering, multifunctional applications, and future horizons in biosensing and environmental monitoring

IF 4.2 3区工程技术 Q2 CHEMISTRY, APPLIED

Dyes and Pigments Pub Date : 2025-09-12 DOI:10.1016/j.dyepig.2025.113224

Xiaoyu Tang, Rongbin Yang, Yifeng Han

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Phenothiazine (PTZ)-based fluorescent probes have emerged as a transformative platform in chemical sensing and bioimaging, offering unparalleled advantages in selectivity, sensitivity, and versatility. Over the past four years (2022–2025), significant advancements in molecular engineering have expanded their applications across diverse fields, from elucidating redox biology to monitoring environmental pollutants. This review systematically summarizes the design principles, mechanisms, and applications of PTZ-based probes, focusing on four key areas: (1) Reactive oxygen and sulfur species detection, including HOCl, H₂O₂, ·OH, H₂S, and biothiols, where PTZ's electron-rich sulfur atom enables selective oxidation or nucleophilic reactions; (2) Environmental pollutant sensing, such as toxic amines, heavy metals (Hg²⁺, CN⁻), and explosives (picric acid), leveraging PTZ's tunable photophysics and analyte-specific reactivity; (3) Lipid droplet (LD) imaging, exploiting PTZ's polarity-sensitive emission for tracking metabolic disorders; and (4) Emerging applications, including formaldehyde and chlorine dioxide detection. We highlight how PTZ's structural flexibility, large Stokes shifts (>100 nm), and resistance to photobleaching address limitations of conventional fluorophores. Furthermore, innovations such as organelle-targeted probes, dual-modal theranostic systems, and aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active designs are critically evaluated. This work not only consolidates recent breakthroughs but also provides strategic insights for developing next-generation PTZ-based sensors with enhanced biocompatibility, multi-analyte detection capabilities, and clinical translation potential.

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基于吩噻嗪的荧光探针：分子工程，多功能应用，以及生物传感和环境监测的未来前景

基于吩噻嗪（PTZ）的荧光探针已成为化学传感和生物成像的变革平台，在选择性，灵敏度和多功能性方面具有无与伦比的优势。在过去的四年（2022-2025）中，分子工程的重大进展已经将其应用扩展到各个领域，从阐明氧化还原生物学到监测环境污染物。本文系统地总结了基于PTZ的探针的设计原理、机制和应用，重点介绍了四个关键领域：(1)检测活性氧和硫化物，包括HOCl、H2O2、·OH、H2S和生物硫醇，其中PTZ富含电子的硫原子可以进行选择性氧化或亲核反应；(2)环境污染物传感，如有毒胺，重金属（Hg2+, CN−）和爆炸物（苦味酸），利用PTZ的可调光物理和分析物特异性反应性；(3)脂滴（LD）成像，利用PTZ的极性敏感发射来跟踪代谢紊乱；(4)新兴应用，包括甲醛和二氧化氯检测。我们强调PTZ的结构灵活性，大斯托克斯位移（> 100nm）和抗光漂白性如何解决传统荧光团的局限性。此外，诸如细胞器靶向探针、双峰治疗系统和聚集诱导发射（AIE）活性设计等创新也得到了严格的评估。这项工作不仅巩固了最近的突破，而且为开发下一代基于ptz的传感器提供了战略见解，该传感器具有增强的生物相容性，多分析物检测能力和临床转化潜力。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Dyes and Pigments 工程技术-材料科学：纺织

CiteScore

8.20

自引率

13.30%

发文量

933

审稿时长

33 days

期刊介绍： Dyes and Pigments covers the scientific and technical aspects of the chemistry and physics of dyes, pigments and their intermediates. Emphasis is placed on the properties of the colouring matters themselves rather than on their applications or the system in which they may be applied. Thus the journal accepts research and review papers on the synthesis of dyes, pigments and intermediates, their physical or chemical properties, e.g. spectroscopic, surface, solution or solid state characteristics, the physical aspects of their preparation, e.g. precipitation, nucleation and growth, crystal formation, liquid crystalline characteristics, their photochemical, ecological or biological properties and the relationship between colour and chemical constitution. However, papers are considered which deal with the more fundamental aspects of colourant application and of the interactions of colourants with substrates or media. The journal will interest a wide variety of workers in a range of disciplines whose work involves dyes, pigments and their intermediates, and provides a platform for investigators with common interests but diverse fields of activity such as cosmetics, reprographics, dye and pigment synthesis, medical research, polymers, etc.