Twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) based fluorescent probes and imaging agents

Yueci Wu; Han Min Wang; Xi Le Hu; Yi Zang; Jia Li; Hai Hao Han; Xiao Peng He; Simon E. Lewis; Hanafy M. Ismail; Tony D. James

doi:10.1039/d3cs01118f

Twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) based fluorescent probes and imaging agents

Yueci Wu, Han Min Wang, Xi Le Hu, Yi Zang, Jia Li, Hai Hao Han, Xiao Peng He, Simon E. Lewis, Hanafy M. Ismail, Tony D. James

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

1 Citation (SciVal)

Abstract

Twisted Intramolecular charge transfer (TICT)-based fluorescent probes are crucial in chemical sensing due to their sensitivity and specificity. These probes undergo conformational changes upon interacting with target analytes, resulting in measurable fluorescence responses. Their environment-dependent emission characteristics make them ideal for detecting variations in solvent polarity, microviscosity, and specific chemical species. Recent advances have expanded their applications to organic optoelectronics and non-linear optics. This review discusses the design principles, mechanisms, and applications of TICT-based probes, emphasizing their role in detecting cations, anions, and neutral molecules. We describe their advantages, such as fluorescence turn-on or turn-off responses and potential for ratiometric detection, which inherently corrects for interferences. Challenges in developing these probes, including fluorescence quantum yield and photostability, are also addressed. Potential directions for future research are highlighted, including the need for improved biocompatibility and multimodal imaging capabilities, with the aim of enhancing their utility in environmental monitoring, biomedical research, and clinical diagnostics.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	12080-12141
Number of pages	62
Journal	Chemical Society Reviews
Volume	54
Issue number	24
Early online date	21 Nov 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1039/d3cs01118f
Publication status	Published - 21 Dec 2025

Data Availability Statement

No primary research results, software or code have been included and no new data were generated or analysed as part of this review.

Funding

Y. W. wishes to thank the University of Bath and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. T. D. J. wishes to thank the University of Bath and the Open Research Fund of the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Normal University (2020ZD01) for support. S. E. L. thanks EPSRC for funding (EP/W036193/1). X.-P. H and H.-H. H. are grateful to the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 22377135, 22107029, 92253306, and 22477030), the Key R&D Program of Shandong (no. 2024CXPT028), the Shandong Laboratory Program (SYS202205), the Taishan Scholars Program (no. tsqn202312305), the Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by Chinese Chemical Society, the Fundamental Research Projects of Science & Technology Innovation and development Plan in Yantai City (no. 2023JCYJ059), the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (grant no. 24DX1400200), the International Cooperation Program of Shanghai Science and Technology (no. 23490711600), the Shanghai Oriental Talents youth Program (no. QNKJ2024010), the Shanghai Xuhui District Hospital Local Cooperation Project (23XHYD-20), the Open Funding Project of the State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology (KF 2402), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (222201717003), the Programme of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities (B16017), the Open Funding Project of the State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P.R. China, the Ministry of Education Key Laboratory on signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver Cancer (Naval Medical University) (grant. 2023-MEKLLC-MS/ZD-00*), and the State Key Laboratory of Drug Research (SKLDR-2025-KF-09).

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Chemistry

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10.1039/d3cs01118fLicence: CC BY

_Chem_Soc_Rev___2025_54_12080___Final published version, 16.6 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) based fluorescent probes and imaging agents",

abstract = "Twisted Intramolecular charge transfer (TICT)-based fluorescent probes are crucial in chemical sensing due to their sensitivity and specificity. These probes undergo conformational changes upon interacting with target analytes, resulting in measurable fluorescence responses. Their environment-dependent emission characteristics make them ideal for detecting variations in solvent polarity, microviscosity, and specific chemical species. Recent advances have expanded their applications to organic optoelectronics and non-linear optics. This review discusses the design principles, mechanisms, and applications of TICT-based probes, emphasizing their role in detecting cations, anions, and neutral molecules. We describe their advantages, such as fluorescence turn-on or turn-off responses and potential for ratiometric detection, which inherently corrects for interferences. Challenges in developing these probes, including fluorescence quantum yield and photostability, are also addressed. Potential directions for future research are highlighted, including the need for improved biocompatibility and multimodal imaging capabilities, with the aim of enhancing their utility in environmental monitoring, biomedical research, and clinical diagnostics.",

author = "Yueci Wu and Wang, \{Han Min\} and Hu, \{Xi Le\} and Yi Zang and Jia Li and Han, \{Hai Hao\} and He, \{Xiao Peng\} and Lewis, \{Simon E.\} and Ismail, \{Hanafy M.\} and James, \{Tony D.\}",

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doi = "10.1039/d3cs01118f",

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AU - Han, Hai Hao

AU - He, Xiao Peng

AU - Lewis, Simon E.

AU - Ismail, Hanafy M.

AU - James, Tony D.

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Twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) based fluorescent probes and imaging agents

Abstract

Data Availability Statement

Funding

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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Non-Benzenoid Fluorophores to Enable New Imaging Modalities

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