Specific Light-Up Bioprobes with Aggregation-Induced Emission Characteristics for Protein Sensing

A general strategy for the construction of aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-based light-up probes that are specific to target proteins, such as integrin αvβ3, and caspase-3/7, is described. The optical properties of the probes were examined and the detection principles were elucidated. The probes were demonstrated to be useful for the detection of integrin αvβ3, real-time monitoring of cell apoptosis, and screening of apoptosis-related drugs.