Wash-free fluorescence detection and bioimaging has attracted increasing attention as it can largely simplify the analytical procedure, significantly shorten the detection time, and effectively avoid the possible interference and the analyte loss caused by the washing step. The development of fluorescent probes with wash-free signal switches is thus much desired. Fluorogens with aggregation-induced emission characteristics (AIEgens) are non-emissive when dissolved in solution, but exhibit strong emission in the aggregated state, thus providing a great opportunity for the design and construction of wash-free fluorescence technologies by directly manipulating the intramolecular motion. In this review, we will discuss the latest progress of AIEgens for application in wash-free detection and bioimaging by presenting several seminal examples of environmental monitoring, food safety inspection, clinical diagnostics, cellular microenvironmental monitoring, organelle imaging, in vivo visualization and microbial detection. The design strategies and responsive mechanisms of AIEgens for wash-free signal switches will be highlighted, and the current challenges and further directions in this field will be elaborated and discussed.

中文翻译：

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AIEgens的免洗检测和生物成像

免洗荧光检测和生物成像已引起越来越多的关注，因为它可以大大简化分析过程，大大缩短检测时间，并有效避免可能的干扰和由洗涤步骤引起的分析物损失。因此，非常需要开发具有免洗信号开关的荧光探针。具有聚集诱导发射特性的荧光素（AIEgens）溶解在溶液中时不会散发出光，但在聚集状态下显示出强发射，因此通过直接操纵分子内运动为免洗荧光技术的设计和构建提供了巨大的机会。在这篇评论中体内可视化和微生物检测。AIEgens用于免洗信号开关的设计策略和响应机制将得到重点介绍，并将阐述和讨论该领域的当前挑战和进一步的方向。