Fluorescent sensors have been significantly developed in recent decades, emerging as powerful tools for simple, sensitive, and real-time monitoring both in vitro and in vivo environments. These sensors, which can be based on organic molecules, nanoparticles, proteins, or combinations of these, which comprise a recognition or reaction site for the target analyte and a signaling chromophore for readout of the associated emission changes. The recent period has seen expansive growth in the diversity of concepts, strategies, and interdisciplinary technologies employed in the design and construction of fluorescent sensors. These advances make it possible to monitor a wide array of analytes, such as ions, biomolecules, and proteins across various disciplines including biology, pharmacology, and environmental science.
This Research Topic aims to provide a specialized academic platform to showcase the latest innovations in fluorescent sensors and their broad applications. These applications range from basic biological and physiological studies to more complex areas such as clinical diagnostics, precision medicine, inhibitor screening, drug discovery, environmental monitoring, and food safety. The goal is to foster a synthesis of knowledge among researchers dedicated to developing optically activated materials to push the boundaries of biophotonics further.
To gather further insights in these dynamic research areas, we welcome contributions in various formats including original research, communications, reviews, and perspectives. Contributions may focus on, but are not limited to, the following themes:
o Strategies for Designing Reaction-Based Fluorescent Sensors
o Fluorescence-Based Probes for Tracing Disease Biomarkers
o Enzyme Activity-Based Fluorogenic Probes and Their Applications
o Fluorogenic Sensors for Biological Reactive Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Sulfur Species
o Fluorescent Probes for Environmental Monitoring and Food Safety
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
- Editorial
- FAIR² Data
- Mini Review
- Opinion
- Original Research
- Perspective
- Review
Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.
Keywords: Fluorescent sensors, fluorescence imaging, applications, semiquantitative analysis, analytes tracing, enzyme activity, disease biomarkers, clinical diagnostics, inhibitor screening, drug discovery, precision medicine, environmental monitoring, food safety
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
