Research Projects

Organic fluorophores-based light-up probes are particularly appealing since they have reduced false-positive responses than their light-off counterparts. Fluorogens with aggregation-induced emission properties (AIEgens) have gained a lot of scientific interest over years. The modulation of these fluorophores' aggregation and de-aggregation processes offers a novel way to create light-up probes for cellular imaging and continuous monitoring of biological activities. It is scientifically demanding to develop AIEgens with long-wavelength absorption and emission for high contrast and targeted imaging. Thus, AIE N-Confused porphyrin will be designed and synthesized via linking through tetraphenylethene unit. It is expected that the targeted design, syntheses and photophysical properties of AIEE N-Confused porphyrinoids will provide dynamic photophysical and biological properties. Encapsulating the novel AIE N-Confused porphyrin in nanoparticles and testing their fluorescence imaging capabilities will further be the scientific aim of the PI.