Aggregation-Induced Emission Fluorescent Gels: Current Trends and Future Perspectives

Topics in Current Chemistry volume 379, Article number: 9 (2021) Cite this article

Abstract

The development of fluorescent gels, if not the current focus, is at the center of recent efforts devoted to the invention of a new generation of gels. Fluorescent gels have numerous properties that are intrinsic to the gel structure, with additional light-emitting properties making them attractive for different applications. This review focuses on current studies associated with the development of fluorescent gels using aggregation-induced emission fluorophores (AIEgens) to ultimately suggest new directions for future research. Here, we discuss major drawbacks of the methodologies used frequently for the fabrication of fluorescent gels using traditional fluorophores compared to those using AIEgens. The fabrication strategies to develop AIE-based fluorescent gels, including physical mixing, soaking, self-assembly, noncovalent interactions, and permanent chemical reactions, are discussed thoroughly. New and recent findings on developing AIE-active gels are explained. Specifically, physically prepared AIE-based gels including supramolecular, ionic, and chemically prepared AIE-based gels are discussed. In addition, the intrinsic fluorescent properties of natural gels, known as clustering-triggered fluorescent gel, and new and recent relevant findings published in peer-reviewed journals are explained. This review also revealed the biomedical applications of AIE-based fluorescent hydrogels including drug delivery, biosensors, bioimaging, and tissue engineering. In conclusion, the current research situation and future directions are identified.

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Acknowledgment

Javad Tavakoli is grateful for the support of the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) with a Chancellor's Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (CPDRF) for the research work.

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  1. Centre for Health Technologies, School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia

    Javad Tavakoli

  2. Institute for NanoScale Science and Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, 5042, Australia

    Amin Jamshidi Ghahfarokhi & Youhong Tang

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  1. Javad Tavakoli
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  2. Amin Jamshidi Ghahfarokhi
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Correspondence to Youhong Tang.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection “Aggregation Induced Emission”; edited by Youhong Tang and Ben Zhong Tang.

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Tavakoli, J., Ghahfarokhi, A.J. & Tang, Y. Aggregation-Induced Emission Fluorescent Gels: Current Trends and Future Perspectives. Top Curr Chem (Z) 379, 9 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41061-020-00322-6

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Keywords

  • Fluorescent gels
  • Hydrogels
  • Aggregation-induced emission
  • AIE polymers
  • Biomedical applications