Development of tetraphenylethylene-based fluorescent oligosaccharide probes for detection of influenza virus

Noncancerous disease-targeting AIEgens

Noncancerous diseases include a wide plethora of medical conditions beyond cancer and are a major cause of mortality around the world. Despite progresses in clinical research, many puzzles about these diseases remain unanswered, and new therapies are continuously being sought. The evolution of bio-nanomedicine has enabled huge advancements in biosensing, diagnosis, bioimaging, and therapeutics. The recent development of aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) has provided an impetus to the field of molecular bionanomaterials. Following aggregation, AIEgens show strong emission, overcoming the problems associated with the aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) effect. They also have other unique properties, including low background interferences, high signal-to-noise ratios, photostability, and excellent biocompatibility, along with activatable aggregation-enhanced theranostic effects, which help them achieve excellent therapeutic effects as an one-for-all multimodal theranostic platform. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the overall progresses in AIEgen-based nanoplatforms for the detection, diagnosis, bioimaging, and bioimaging-guided treatment of noncancerous diseases. In addition, it details future perspectives and the potential clinical applications of these AIEgens in noncancerous diseases are also proposed. This review hopes to motivate further interest in this topic and promote ideation for the further exploration of more advanced AIEgens in a broad range of biomedical and clinical applications in patients with noncancerous diseases.

Assessing Differential Binding of Aggregation-Induced Emission-Based Luminogens to Host Interacting Surface Proteins of SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Virus-An in silico Approach

Early detection of asymptomatic cases through mass screening is essential to constrain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission. However, the existing diagnostic strategies are either resource-intensive, time-consuming, or less sensitive, which limits their use in the development of rapid mass screening strategies. There is a clear pressing need for simple, fast, sensitive, and economical diagnostic strategy for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) screening even in resource-limited settings. In the current work, we assessed the in silico feasibility of directly labeling virus surface proteins using fluorogenic molecules with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) property. Here, we present the results for binding of two such AIE probes, phosphonic acid derivative of tetraphenyl ethylene (TPE-P) and sulfonic acid derivative of tetraphenyl ethylene (TPE-S), to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein based on in silico docking studies. Our results show that both TPE-P and TPE-S bind to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-binding, and N-terminal domains of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Molecular dynamic simulations have revealed specific nature of these interactions. We also show that TPE-P and TPE-S bind to hemagglutinin protein of influenza virus, but the interaction strength was found to be different. This difference in interaction strength may affect the emission spectrum of aforementioned AIE probes. Together, these results form a basis for the development of AIE-based diagnostics for differential detection of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses. We believe that these in silico predictions certainly aid in differentially labeling of the both viruses toward the development of rapid detection by AIE probes.

Aggregation-Induced Emission-Based Platforms for the Treatment of Bacteria, Fungi, and Viruses

The prevention and control of pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and viruses is a herculean task for all the countries since they greatly threaten global public health. Rapid detection and effective elimination of these pathogens is crucial for the treatment of related diseases. It is urgently demanded to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to combat bacteria, fungi, and viruses-induced infections. The emergence of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogens (AIEgens) is a revolutionary breakthrough for the treatment of many diseases, including pathogenic infections. In this review, the main focus is on the applications of AIEgens for theranostic treatment of pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Due to the AIE characteristic, AIEgens are promising fluorescent probes for the detection of bacteria, fungi, and viruses with excellent sensitivity and photostability. Moreover, AIEgen-based theranostic platforms can be fabricated by introducing bactericidal moieties or designing AIE photosensitizers and AIE photothermal agents. The current strategies and ongoing developments of AIEgens for the treatment of pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and viruses will be discussed in detail.

Optical Biosensors for Diagnostics of Infectious Viral Disease: A Recent Update

The design and development of biosensors, analytical devices used to detect various analytes in different matrices, has emerged. Biosensors indicate a biorecognition element with a physicochemical analyzer or detector, i.e., a transducer. In the present scenario, various types of biosensors have been deployed in healthcare and clinical research, for instance, biosensors for blood glucose monitoring. Pathogenic microbes are contributing mediators of numerous infectious diseases that are becoming extremely serious worldwide. The recent outbreak of COVID-19 is one of the most recent examples of such communal and deadly diseases. In efforts to work towards the efficacious treatment of pathogenic viral contagions, a fast and precise detection method is of the utmost importance in biomedical and healthcare sectors for early diagnostics and timely countermeasures. Among various available sensor systems, optical biosensors offer easy-to-use, fast, portable, handy, multiplexed, direct, real-time, and inexpensive diagnosis with the added advantages of specificity and sensitivity. Many progressive concepts and extremely multidisciplinary approaches, including microelectronics, microelectromechanical systems (MEMSs), nanotechnologies, molecular biology, and biotechnology with chemistry, are used to operate optical biosensors. A portable and handheld optical biosensing device would provide fast and reliable results for the identification and quantitation of pathogenic virus particles in each sample. In the modern day, the integration of intelligent nanomaterials in the developed devices provides much more sensitive and highly advanced sensors that may produce the results in no time and eventually help clinicians and doctors enormously. This review accentuates the existing challenges engaged in converting laboratory research to real-world device applications and optical diagnostics methods for virus infections. The review's background and progress are expected to be insightful to the researchers in the sensor field and facilitate the design and fabrication of optical sensors for life-threatening viruses with broader applicability to any desired pathogens.

Cu(I)-Catalyzed Click Chemistry in Glycoscience and Their Diverse Applications

Copper(I)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between organic azides and terminal alkynes, commonly known as CuAAC or click chemistry, has been identified as one of the most successful, versatile, reliable, and modular strategies for the rapid and regioselective construction of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles as diversely functionalized molecules. Carbohydrates, an integral part of living cells, have several fascinating features, including their structural diversity, biocompatibility, bioavailability, hydrophilicity, and superior ADME properties with minimal toxicity, which support increased demand to explore them as versatile scaffolds for easy access to diverse glycohybrids and well-defined glycoconjugates for complete chemical, biochemical, and pharmacological investigations. This review highlights the successful development of CuAAC or click chemistry in emerging areas of glycoscience, including the synthesis of triazole appended carbohydrate-containing molecular architectures (mainly glycohybrids, glycoconjugates, glycopolymers, glycopeptides, glycoproteins, glycolipids, glycoclusters, and glycodendrimers through regioselective triazole forming modular and bio-orthogonal coupling protocols). It discusses the widespread applications of these glycoproducts as enzyme inhibitors in drug discovery and development, sensing, gelation, chelation, glycosylation, and catalysis. This review also covers the impact of click chemistry and provides future perspectives on its role in various emerging disciplines of science and technology.

Imaging, Identification and Inhibition of Microorganisms Using AIEgens

Microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, are ubiquitous in nature. Some are extremely beneficial to life on Earth, whereas some cause diseases and disrupt normal human physiology. Pathogenic microorganisms can also undergo mutations and develop resistance to antimicrobial agents, which complicates diagnostic and therapeutic regimens. This calls for continuing efforts to develop new strategies and tools that can provide fast, sensitive and accurate diagnosis, as well as effective treatment of ever-evolving infectious diseases. Aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) have shown promise in imaging, identification and inhibition of various microbial species. Compared to conventional organic fluorophores, AIEgens can offer improved photostability, and have found utilities in imaging microorganisms. AIEgens have been shown to detect microbial viability and differentiate among different microbial strains. Theranostic AIEgens that integrate imaging and killing of microbes have also been developed. This review highlights examples in the literature where AIEgens have been employed as molecular probes in the imaging, discrimination and killing of bacteria, viruses and fungi.

Fibrous testing papers for fluorescence trace sensing and photodynamic destruction of antibiotic-resistant bacteria

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria needs rapid identification and efficient destruction routes. This study proposes testing paper derived from electrospun fibrous mats and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) probes for trace sensing and simultaneous destruction of antibiotic-resistant E. coli. Aptamers are conjugated on fibers for selective capture of E. coli, and the capture capability can be regenerated via rinsing with salt solution. Hydroxyl tetraphenylethene (TPE) is linked with two cephalosporin molecules to construct TPE-Cep probes, and the fluorescence emission is turned on specifically in the presence of β-lactamase, which is a critical marker for screening resistant bacteria. Fibrous mats are lit up only in the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and the fluorescence intensity changes could be statistically fitted into an equation for quantitative analysis. Fibrous strips display apparent color changes from blue to green for a visual readout of bacterial levels, and the limit of detection (LOD) is much lower than those of previous paper substrates. In addition, the TPE-Cep probes could produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) under room light illumination to kill the captured bacteria. Thus, the integration of aptamer-grafted electrospun fibers and functional AIE probes provides potential for selective capture, trace imaging and photodynamic destruction of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Insights and Perspectives Regarding Nanostructured Fluorescent Materials toward Tackling COVID-19 and Future Pandemics

The COVID-19 outbreak has exposed the world's preparation to fight against unknown/unexplored infectious and life-threatening pathogens. The unavailability of vaccines, slow or sometimes unreliable real-time virus/bacteria detection techniques, insufficient personal protective equipment (PPE), and a shortage of ventilators and many other transportation equipments have further raised serious concerns. Material research has been playing a pivotal role in developing antimicrobial agents for water treatment and photodynamic therapy, fast and ultrasensitive biosensors for virus/biomarkers detection, as well as for relevant biomedical and environmental applications. It has been noticed that these research efforts nowadays primarily focus on the nanomaterials-based platforms owing to their simplicity, reliability, and feasibility. In particular, nanostructured fluorescent materials have shown key potential due to their fascinating optical and unique properties at the nanoscale to combat against a COVID-19 kind of pandemic. Keeping these points in mind, this review attempts to give a perspective on the four key fluorescent materials of different families, including carbon dots, metal nanoclusters, aggregation-induced-emission luminogens, and MXenes, which possess great potential for the development of ultrasensitive biosensors and infective antimicrobial agents to fight against various infections/diseases. Particular emphasis has been given to the biomedical and environmental applications that are linked directly or indirectly to the efforts in combating COVID-19 pandemics. This review also aims to raise the awareness of researchers and scientists across the world to utilize such powerful materials in tackling similar pandemics in future.

Visualization of Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization by Aggregation-Induced Emission Technology

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) technology has been demonstrated to be a facile approach for in-situ monitoring atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). A series of tertraphenyl ethylene (TPE)-containing α-bromo compounds were synthesized and applied as ATRP initiators. The photoluminescent (PL) emission of the polymerization system is proved to be sensitive to the local viscosity owing to the AIE characteristics of TPE. Linear relationships between the resulting molecular weight M_n and PL intensity were observed in several polymerization systems with different monomers, indicating the variability of this technique. Compared to physical blending, the chemical bonding of the TPE group in the chain end has higher sensitivity and accuracy to the polymer segments and the surrounding environment. This work promoted the combination of the AIE technique and controlled living radical polymerization, and introduced such an optical research platform to the ATRP polymerization process.

Fluorescent glycoconjugates and their applications

Fluorescent glycoconjugates are discussed for their applications in biology in vitro, in cell assays and in animal models. Advantages and limitations are presented for each design using a fluorescent core conjugated with glycosides, or vice versa.

Biomacromolecule-Functionalized AIEgens for Advanced Biomedical Studies

The advances in bioinformatics and biomedicine have promoted the development of biomedical imaging and theranostic systems to respectively extend the endogenous biomarker imaging with high contrast and enhance the therapeutic effect with high efficiency. The emergence of biomacromolecule-functionalized aggregation-induced emitters (AIEgens), utilizing AIEgens, and biomacromolecules (nucleic acids, peptides, glycans, and lipids), displays specific targeting ability to cancer cell, improved biocompatibility, reduced toxicity, enhanced therapeutic effect, and so forth. This review summarizes the rational design of biomacromolecule-functionalized AIEgens and their biomedical applications in recent ten years, including high-resolution optical imaging of cell, tissue, and small animal model with low background; the biomarker detection for early diagnosis and prognosis; the delivery and monitoring of prodrugs; image-guide photodynamic therapy and its combination with chemotherapy. Through illustrating their functional mechanisms and application, it is hoped that this review would open up a completely new train of research thought for attracted researchers in various fields.

AIE-based theranostic systems for detection and killing of pathogens

Pathogenic bacteria, fungi and viruses pose serious threats to the human health under appropriate conditions. There are many rapid and sensitive approaches have been developed for identification and quantification of specific pathogens, but many challenges still exist. Culture/colony counting and polymerase chain reaction are the classical methods used for pathogen detection, but their operations are time-consuming and laborious. On the other hand, the emergence and rapid spread of multidrug-resistant pathogens is another global threat. It is thus of utmost urgency to develop new therapeutic agents or strategies. Luminogens with aggregation-induced emission (AIEgens) and their derived supramolecular systems with unique optical properties have been developed as fluorescent probes for turn-on sensing of pathogens with high sensitivity and specificity. In addition, AIE-based supramolecular nanostructures exhibit excellent photodynamic inactivation (PDI) activity in aggregate, offering great potential for not only light-up diagnosis of pathogen, but also image-guided PDI therapy for pathogenic infection.

Recent trends in click chemistry as a promising technology for virus-related research

Click chemistry involves reactions that were originally introduced and used in organic chemistry to generate substances by joining small units together with heteroatom linkages (C-X-C). Over the last few decades, click chemistry has been widely used in virus-related research. Using click chemistry, the virus particle as well as viral protein and nucleic acids can be labeled. Subsequently, the labeled virions or molecules can be tracked in real time. Here, we reviewed the recent applications of click reactions in virus-related research, including viral tracking, the design of antiviral agents, the diagnosis of viral infection, and virus-based delivery systems. This review provides an overview of the general principles and applications of click chemistry in virus-related research.

Progress and Trends in AIE-Based Bioprobes: A Brief Overview

Luminescent bioprobes are powerful analytical means for biosensing and optical imaging. Luminogens featured with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) attributes have emerged as ideal building blocks for high-performance bioprobes. Bioprobes constructed with AIE luminogens have been identified to be a novel class of FL light-up probing tools. In contrast to conventional bioprobes based on the luminophores with aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) effect, the AIE-based bioprobes enjoy diverse superiorities, such as lower background, higher signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity, better accuracy, and more outstanding resistance to photobleaching. AIE-based bioprobes have been tailored for a vast variety of purposes ranging from biospecies sensing to bioimaging to theranostics (i.e., image-guided therapies). In this review, recent five years' advances in AIE-based bioprobes are briefly overviewed in a perspective distinct from other reviews, focusing on the most appealing trends and progresses in this flourishing research field. There are altogether 11 trends outlined, which have been classified into four aspects: the probe composition and form (bioconjugtes, nanoprobes), the output signal of probe (far-red/near-infrared luminescence, two/three-photon excited fluorescence, phosphorescence), the modality and functionality of probing system (dual-modality, dual/multifunctionality), the probing object and application outlet (specific organelles, cancer cells, bacteria, real samples). Typical examples of each trend are presented and specifically demonstrated. Some important prospects and challenges are pointed out as well in the hope of intriguing more interests from researchers working in diverse areas into this exciting research field.

Sugared biomaterial binding lectins: achievements and perspectives

Lectins, a distinct group of glycan-binding proteins, play a prominent role in the immune system ranging from pathogen recognition and tuning of inflammation to cell adhesion or cellular signalling. The possibilities of their detailed study expanded along with the rapid development of biomaterials in the last decade. The immense knowledge of all aspects of glycan-lectin interactions both in vitro and in vivo may be efficiently used in bioimaging, targeted drug delivery, diagnostic and analytic biological methods. Practically applicable examples comprise photoluminescence and optical biosensors, ingenious three-dimensional carbohydrate microarrays for high-throughput screening, matrices for magnetic resonance imaging, targeted hyperthermal treatment of cancer tissues, selective inhibitors of bacterial toxins and pathogen-recognising lectin receptors, and many others. This review aims to present an up-to-date systematic overview of glycan-decorated biomaterials promising for interactions with lectins, especially those applicable in biology, biotechnology or medicine. The lectins of interest include galectin-1, -3 and -7 participating in tumour progression, bacterial lectins from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA-IL), E. coli (Fim-H) and Clostridium botulinum (HA33) or DC-SIGN, receptors of macrophages and dendritic cells. The spectrum of lectin-binding biomaterials covered herein ranges from glycosylated organic structures, calixarene and fullerene cores over glycopeptides and glycoproteins, functionalised carbohydrate scaffolds of cyclodextrin or chitin to self-assembling glycopolymer clusters, gels, micelles and liposomes. Glyconanoparticles, glycan arrays, and other biomaterials with a solid core are described in detail, including inorganic matrices like hydroxyapatite or stainless steel for bioimplants.

Tetraphenylethylene-based glycoclusters with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties as high-affinity ligands of bacterial lectins

TPE-based glycoclusters are fluorescent through aggregation induced emission (AIE) in water.

Glyconanomaterials for biosensing applications

Nanomaterials constitute a class of structures that have unique physiochemical properties and are excellent scaffolds for presenting carbohydrates, important biomolecules that mediate a wide variety of important biological events. The fabrication of carbohydrate-presenting nanomaterials, glyconanomaterials, is of high interest and utility, combining the features of nanoscale objects with biomolecular recognition. The structures can also produce strong multivalent effects, where the nanomaterial scaffold greatly enhances the relatively weak affinities of single carbohydrate ligands to the corresponding receptors, and effectively amplifies the carbohydrate-mediated interactions. Glyconanomaterials are thus an appealing platform for biosensing applications. In this review, we discuss the chemistry for conjugation of carbohydrates to nanomaterials, summarize strategies, and tabulate examples of applying glyconanomaterials in in vitro and in vivo sensing applications of proteins, microbes, and cells. The limitations and future perspectives of these emerging glyconanomaterials sensing systems are furthermore discussed.

Synthesis and piezochromic luminescence study of a coumarin hydrozone compound

A novel coumarin hydrozone compound which exhibits piezochromic luminescence upon grinding was prepared.

Intriguingly tuning the fluorescence of AIEgen using responsive polyelectrolyte microspheres

We successfully synthesized counterion-sensitive TPE–METAC polyelectrolyte microspheres and tuned its fluorescence and size by ClO₄⁻, PF₆⁻ and TFSI⁻.

Analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry: an update for 2009-2010

This review is the sixth update of the original article published in 1999 on the application of MALDI mass spectrometry to the analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates and brings coverage of the literature to the end of 2010. General aspects such as theory of the MALDI process, matrices, derivatization, MALDI imaging, arrays and fragmentation are covered in the first part of the review and applications to various structural typed constitutes the remainder. The main groups of compound that are discussed in this section are oligo and polysaccharides, glycoproteins, glycolipids, glycosides and biopharmaceuticals. Many of these applications are presented in tabular form. Also discussed are medical and industrial applications of the technique, studies of enzyme reactions and applications to chemical synthesis.

Electrospun fibrous mats with conjugated tetraphenylethylene and mannose for sensitive turn-on fluorescent sensing of Escherichia coli

A rapid and sensitive detection of microbes in water and biological fluids is a key requirement in water and food safety, environmental monitoring, and clinical diagnosis and treatment. In the current study, electrospun polystyrene-co-maleic anhydride (PSMA) fibers with conjugated mannose and tetraphenylethylene (TPE) were developed for Escherichia coli (E. coli) detection, taking advantage of the high grafting capabilities of ultrafine fibers and the highly porous structure of the fibrous mat to entrap bacterial cells. The specific binding between mannose grafts on PSMA fibers and FimH proteins from the fimbriae of E. coli led to an efficient "turn-on" profile of TPE due to the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect. Poly(ethylene glycol) diamine was used as hydrophilic tethers to increase the conformational mobility of mannose grafts, indicating a more sensitive change in the fluorescence intensity against bacteria concentrations, a lower fluorescence background of fibers without bacteria incubation, and a sufficient space for bacteria binding, compared with the use of hexamethylenediamine or poly(ethylene imine) as spacers for mannose grafting. The addition of bovine serum albumin, glucose, or both of them into bacteria suspensions showed no significant changes in the fluorescence intensity of fibrous mats, indicating the anti-interference capability against these proteins and saccharides. An equation was drafted of the fluorescence intensities of fibrous mats against E. coli concentrations ranging from 10(2) to 10(5) CFU/mL. The test strip format was established on mannose-conjugated PSMA fibers after exposure to E. coli of different concentrations, providing a potential tool with a visual sensitivity of bacteria concentrations as low as 10(2) CFU/mL in a matter of minutes. This strategy may offer a capacity to be expanded to exploit electrospun fibrous mats and other carbohydrate-cell interactions for bioanalysis and biosensing of pathogenic bacteria.

Bi- to tetravalent glycoclusters presenting GlcNAc/GalNAc as inhibitors: from plant agglutinins to human macrophage galactose-type lectin (CD301) and galectins

Emerging insights into the functional spectrum of tissue lectins leads to identification of new targets for the custom-made design of potent inhibitors, providing a challenge for synthetic chemistry. The affinity and selectivity of a carbohydrate ligand for a lectin may immensely be increased by a number of approaches, which includes varying geometrical or topological features. This perspective leads to the design and synthesis of glycoclusters and their testing using assays of physiological relevance. Herein, hydroquinone, resorcinol, benzene-1,3,5-triol and tetra(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethene have been employed as scaffolds and propargyl derivatives obtained. The triazole-containing linker to the α/β-O/S-glycosides of GlcNAc/GalNAc presented on these scaffolds was generated by copper-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition. This strategy was used to give a panel of nine glycoclusters with bi-, tri- and tetravalency. Maintained activity for lectin binding after conjugation was ascertained for both sugars in solid-phase assays with the plant agglutinins WGA (GlcNAc) and DBA (GalNAc). Absence of cross-reactivity excluded any carbohydrate-independent reactivity of the bivalent compounds, allowing us to proceed to further testing with a biomedically relevant lectin specific for GalNAc. Macrophage galactose(-binding C)-type lectin, involved in immune defence by dendritic cells and in virus uptake, was produced as a soluble protein without/with its α-helical coiled-coil stalk region. Binding to ligands presented on a matrix and on cell surfaces was highly susceptible to the presence of the tetravalent inhibitor derived from the tetraphenylethene-containing scaffold, and presentation of GalNAc with an α-thioglycosidic linkage proved favorable. Cross-reactivity of this glycocluster to human galectins-3 and -4, which interact with Tn-antigen-presenting mucins, was rather small. Evidently, the valency and spatial display of α-GalNAc residues is a key factor to design potent and selective inhibitors for this lectin.

Multivalent glycoconjugate syntheses and applications using aromatic scaffolds

Glycan-protein interactions are of utmost importance in several biological phenomena. Although the variety of carbohydrate residues in mammalian cells is limited to less than a dozen different sugars, their spatial topographical presentation in what is now associated as the "glycocodes" provides the fundamental keys for specific and high affinity "lock-in" recognition events associated with a wide range of pathologies. Toward deciphering our understanding of these glycocodes, chemists have developed new creative tools that included dendrimer chemistry in order to provide monodisperse multivalent glycoconjugates. This review provides a survey of the numerous aromatic architectures generated for the multivalent presentation of relevant carbohydrates using covalent attachment or supramolecular self-assemblies. The basic concepts toward their controlled syntheses will be described using modern synthetic procedures with a particular emphasis on powerful organometallic methodologies. The large variety of dendritic aromatic scaffolds, together with a brief survey of their unique biophysical and biological properties will be critically reviewed. The distinctiveness of the resulting multivalent glycoarchitectures, encompassing glycoclusters, glycodendrimers and molecularly defined self-assemblies, in forming well organized cross-linked lattices with multivalent carbohydrate binding proteins (lectins) together with their photophysical, medical, and imaging properties will also be briefly highlighted. The topic will be presented in increasing order of aromatic backbone complexities and will end with fullerenes together with self-assembled nanostructures, thus complementing the various scaffolds described in this special thematic issue dedicated to multivalent glycoscience.

One-step preparation of fluorescent inorganic–organic hybrid material used for explosive sensing

As a fluorescent inorganic–organic hybrid polymer, TPE-CP is prepared through one-step polycondensation and used for explosive sensing.