Exploring fluorescent and colorimetric probes for analyte detection: Utilizing it in live cell imaging and real-time sample analysis

Fluorescent and colorimetric probes are gaining interest in analyte detection, imaging, and real-time applications. However, it faces several challenges in achieving high sensitivity and selectivity, maintaining a strong signal-to-noise ratio, detecting analytes at extremely low concentrations, ensuring stability under different conditions and addressing issues related to cost, accessibility and instrumentation. Additionally, ensuring biological compatibility and enabling real-time monitoring are also challenges that need to overcome. We have investigated the sensing application of probe molecules towards various analytes like metal ions, anions, biomolecules, reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive sulphur species (RSS), toxic agents and nanoparticles performed by our group together with critically comparing with the existing reports. This featured article provides the impact of fluorescent and colorimetric probes in advancing analytical techniques, imaging and real-time applications that transcend traditional boundaries.