Diketopyrrolopyrrole Fluorescent Probes, Photophysical and Biological Applications

Biological applications of fluorescent probes are rapidly increasing in the supramolecular chemistry research field. Several organic dyes are being utilized currently in developing and advancing this attractive research area, of which diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) organic dyes show an exceptional photophysical features (high-fluorescence quantum yield (FQY), good photochemical and thermal stability) that are essential properties for biological applications. Great efforts have been made in recent years towards developing novel fluorescent DPPs by different chemists for such applications, and some positive results have been reported. As a result, this review article gives an account of the progress that has so far been made very recently, mainly within the last decade, in that we selectively focus on and discuss more from 2015 to present on some recent scholarly achievements of fluorescent DPPs: quantum yield, aggregation-induced emission (AIE), solid-state emission, bio-imaging, cancer/tumor therapy, mitochondria staining and some polymeric fluorescent DPPs. Finally, this review article highlights researchers working on luminescent DPPs and the future prospects in some key areas towards designing DPP-based fluorescent probes in order to boost their photophysical and biological applications more effectively.