Review
Open Access
Application of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) in the urinary system disease
1 Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
2 Department of Urology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
3 School of Integrated Circuits, Nanjing University, Suzhou 215163, China
4 Department of Nanomedicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
  • Volume
  • Citation
    Cao X, Yan Y, Zhu X, Huang Z, Yang C, et al. Application of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) in the urinary system disease. Biofunct. Mater. 2025(1):0005, https://doi.org/10.55092/bm20250005. 
  • DOI
    10.55092/bm20250005
  • Copyright
    Copyright2025 by the authors. Published by ELSP.
Abstract

AIE is a unique photophysical phenomenon, and its distinctive luminescence properties have demonstrated significant potential in the biomedical field. In urinary system diseases, AIE materials, with their high quantum yield, excellent optical properties, and environmental responsiveness, have been widely applied in the early diagnosis, precise treatment, and drug delivery of urinary system cancers. This review systematically summarizes the applications of AIE materials in urinary cancers, such as bladder cancer, renal cancer, prostate cancer, and upper urinary tract cancer, including fluorescence imaging, photodynamic therapy, and drug delivery techniques. Additionally, the review explores the application of AIE materials in the diagnosis of urinary tract infections and renal lesions, as well as their advantages when combined with other imaging technologies (e.g., CT, MRI, and ultrasound). Furthermore, the article analyzes the challenges faced in clinical translation, such as biocompatibility, stability, and large-scale synthesis, while proposing future development directions, including customized molecular design and multifunctional applications combined with nanotechnology.

Keywords

aggregation-induced emission; urinary system diseases; bioimaging; photodynamic therapy; drug delivery; clinical applications

Preview