Stimuli-Responsive Aggregation-Induced Emission Materials for Tumor Theranostics: Design Strategies and Biomedical Applications.

Abstract

Smart-responsive aggregation-induced emission (AIE) materials have emerged as promising bio-nanomaterials for tumor diagnosis and therapy due to their enhanced fluorescence in aggregated states, overcoming the aggregation-caused quenching of traditional fluorophores. These materials enable the construction of efficient imaging and therapeutic platforms in complex biological environments. Stimuli-responsive AIE systems can be categorized into pH-, redox-, thermo-, enzyme-responsive, and externally triggered types. Despite significant progress in AIE-based tumor imaging and therapy, critical challenges in their rational design and biomedical application remain insufficiently addressed. This review summarizes recent advances in stimuli-responsive AIE materials for tumor theranostics, focusing on their design strategies, functional mechanisms, and representative applications. Current limitations and future perspectives are also discussed to guide the development of next-generation AIE-based platforms.