nano-scale aggregation state could be key mechanism of fluorescence response of chemosensor

Precise molecular recognition mode between organic fluorophore-based chemosensor and target molecule has been presumed as the major origin of fluorescence turn-on phenomena. Recently, several research groups found nano-scale aggregation state is another key mechanism of fluorescence turn-on, even for the reknowned carbohydrate chemosensor. Our group envisioned neutral and hydrophobic dansyl fluorophore has great potential as chemosensor based on nano-aggregate state since they showed remarkable solvent dependent self-aggregation and fluorescence quenching. We prepared the first diversity-oriented fluorescence library of dansyl scaffold and found unique chemosensor for a steroid, progesterone. [link]