The ability to detect, visualize, and quantify biologically significant molecules with high sensitivity and selectivity is fundamental to advancing our understanding of complex biological systems. Molecular sensors, often referred to as the “chemical eyes” of modern bioscience, have emerged as essential tools in chemical biology, diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and therapeutic development. These sensors enable real-time monitoring of vital biological processes, detection of disease biomarkers, and high-resolution imaging of cellular events. For example, pH-sensitive probes allow mapping of intracellular and organelle-specific acidity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) sensors provide insights into oxidative stress and redox signaling, and viscosity-responsive probes enable the study of molecular crowding and biophysical changes in cellular environments. Such sensors are central to connecting chemical dynamics with physiological and pathological processes.
The goal of this Research Topic is to bring together innovative research and comprehensive reviews focused on the development and application of next-generation molecular sensors for the recognition, visualization, and quantification of biologically significant molecules. We aim to showcase strategies in sensor design that enhance selectivity, sensitivity, responsiveness, and biocompatibility. This includes pH sensors for probing intracellular and subcellular environments, ROS-responsive probes for monitoring oxidative stress and cellular signaling, and viscosity-sensitive sensors to study dynamic changes in cellular and subcellular microenvironments. We also welcome contributions on activatable or stimulus-responsive sensors that provide real-time readouts in complex biological systems. By highlighting both fundamental insights and practical applications, this collection seeks to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and accelerate progress in diagnostics, live-cell imaging, therapeutic monitoring, and molecular-level analysis.
We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:
• Design and synthesis of molecular sensors for biologically relevant analytes
• Fluorescent, colorimetric, chemiluminescent, and photoacoustic sensors for monitoring cellular processes
• Sensors for pH, reactive oxygen species (ROS), viscosity, and other dynamic physiological parameters
• Activatable or stimulus-responsive sensors for real-time monitoring in complex biological environments
• Applications in chemical biology, diagnostics, therapeutic monitoring, and cellular imaging
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
- 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: Chemical sensing, Bioimaging, Biological analytes, Molecular sensors, Smart materials
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.
