Phosphole-Based Fluorescent Biomaterials for Imaging and Therapy

Phospholes are emerging as distinctive conjugated scaffolds for organic fluorescent materials owing to their unique structural characteristics that are different from many commonly studied heterocyclic frameworks. Recently, phosphole-derived skeletons have garnered significant attention as a remarkable electron-accepting moiety, which has achieved substantial advancements in the application of fluorescent biomaterials because of their physicochemical traits, especially in the aspects of stability and versatility. In this context, this review summarizes the progress in phosphole-based fluorescent biomaterials over the past decade (2015-2024). It begins with an overview of the currently developed phosphole-based scaffolds specifically designed for biological applications, illustrating their unique structures and favorable properties. Representative examples are then showcased to demonstrate their potential in various biological scenarios with a primary focus on bioimaging and therapy. Last, challenges and prospects in this field are presented. This review could serve as a consolidated and valuable reference for the future exploration and innovation of bioimaging and therapy platforms.