Recent advances research and application of lignin-based fluorescent probes

Fluorescent probe is a kind of fluorescent system that can selectively combine specific substances to achieve qualitative or quantitative detection of targeted molecules. Most fluorescent probes are organic compounds containing conjugated double bond systems, which have special fluorescent properties and can be sensitive to changes in environmental characteristics. It has the advantages of simple operation and high sensitivity, therefore it is widely used in life science, environmental science and other fields. In recent years, biomass lignin-based fluorescent probes have been extensively studied and great progress has been made. Since lignin is a natural biomass material containing aromatic structures with has special optical properties, the fluorescence probes prepared by using lignin as a precursor material have improved the related properties to a certain extent. For example, lignin-based fluorescent probes have the advantages of low toxicity, good biocompatibility, good processability, and low cost. This paper reviews the preparation of lignin derivative fluorescent probes and various lignin-based carbon quantum dots (CQDs) fluorescent materials using lignin as raw materials and their applications in biochemical sensing, heavy metal ion detection, bioimaging, environmental detection, anti-counterfeiting printing, drug carriers and other fields.