Visualizing pulmonary pathologies using smart molecular fluorescent probes

초록

Lung diseases attract a significant global public health concern, presenting substantial challenges in terms of accurate and expeditious diagnosis. This is primarily due to the intricate pathological mechanisms involved, which encompass multidimensional processes. However, conventional diagnostic techniques are deficient in their ability to detect early-stage lesions at the molecular level. Moreover, these techniques generally lack the capacity for dynamic monitoring, thus failing to satisfy clinical requirements. The utilization of small-molecule fluorescent probes has become a pivotal strategy in the field of biomedical research, owing to their remarkable sensitivity, specificity, and ability to facilitate in vivo dynamic imaging. These probes have emerged as a crucial tool for elucidating the complex pathological processes underlying various medical conditions. Statistical evidence demonstrates that the quantity of scholarly publications concerning small-molecule fluorescent probes in the domain of lung diseases has undergone exponential growth in recent years. This has established the field as a vital area of biomedical research, emphasizing the urgent need for development to address the challenges of early diagnosis. Therefore, this review systematically summarizes the current research progress of small-molecule fluorescent probes across five distinct lung disease models, namely lung cancer, lung injury, pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia, and asthma. The main focus of this study is to summarize the applications of fluorescent probes with different design strategies in the detection of biomarkers for lung diseases. Finally, this paper discusses the current limitations of fluorescent probes used for the diagnosis of lung diseases and proposes new perspectives for developing fluorescent probes that are more suitable for future clinical trials. The objective of these methodologies is to facilitate early diagnosis, dynamic navigation, and treatment outcome prediction for lung diseases. It is anticipated that these approaches will yield innovative solutions for the prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases.

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