Molecule fluorescent probes for adenosine triphosphate imaging in cancer cells and in vivo

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the primary energy source for all forms of work in cells, which is closely associated with cancers. Detection of ATP in specific intracellular compartment is crucial to precisely understand many biological processes. In recent years, a number of molecule fluorescent probes have been developed for sensing ATP in living organisms. However, there has not been a review that systematically summarizes the applications of fluorescent ATP probes in cancer cells according to the organelle-targeting ability of the probes. This review highlights fluorescent ATP probes based on small molecules and water-soluble conjugated polymers that have been successfully used to image ATP in specific areas of cancer cells and in vivo. These probes are classified according to their organelle-targeting abilities of the probes and the sensing mechanisms of fluorescent ATP probes are also emphasized.