The ability to gain spatiotemporal information, and in some cases achieve spatiotemporal control, in the context of drug delivery makes theranostic fluorescent probes an attractive and intensely investigated research topic. This interest is reflected in the steep rise in publications on the topic that have appeared over the past decade. Theranostic fluorescent probes, in their various incarnations, generally comprise a fluorophore linked to a masked drug, in which the drug is released as the result of certain stimuli, with both intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli being reported. This release is then signaled by the emergence of a fluorescent signal. Importantly, the use of appropriate fluorophores has enabled not only this emerging fluorescence as a spatiotemporal marker for drug delivery but also has provided modalities useful in photodynamic, photothermal, and sonodynamic therapeutic applications. In this review we highlight recent work on theranostic fluorescent probes with a particular focus on probes that are activated in tumor microenvironments. We also summarize efforts to develop probes for other applications, such as neurodegenerative diseases and antibacterials. This review celebrates the diversity of designs reported to date, from discrete small-molecule systems to nanomaterials. Our aim is to provide insights into the potential clinical impact of this still-emerging research direction.

中文翻译：

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治疗诊断荧光探针

在药物输送的背景下获得时空信息并在某些情况下实现时空控制的能力使得治疗诊断荧光探针成为一个有吸引力且深入研究的研究课题。这种兴趣反映在过去十年中有关该主题的出版物的急剧增加。各种形式的治疗诊断荧光探针通常包含与掩蔽药物连接的荧光团，其中药物由于某些刺激而释放，同时报告了内在和外在刺激。然后通过荧光信号的出现来指示这种释放。重要的是，使用适当的荧光团不仅使这种新兴的荧光成为药物递送的时空标记，而且还提供了可用于光动力、光热和声动力治疗应用的模式。在这篇综述中，我们重点介绍了治疗诊断荧光探针的最新工作，特别关注在肿瘤微环境中激活的探针。我们还总结了开发用于其他应用的探针的努力，例如神经退行性疾病和抗菌药物。这篇综述赞扬了迄今为止报道的设计的多样性，从离散的小分子系统到纳米材料。我们的目标是深入了解这一新兴研究方向的潜在临床影响。