ZnII Complexes for Bioimaging and Correlated Applications

Zinc is a biocompatible element that exists as the second most abundant transition metal ion and an indispensable trace element in the human body. Compared to traditional metal-organic complexes systems, d10 metal ZnII complexes not only exhibit a large Stokes shift and good photon stability but also possess strong emission and low cytotoxicity with a relatively small molecular weight. The use of ZnII complexes has emerged in the last decade as a versatile and convenient tool for numerous biological applications, including bioimaging, molecular and protein recognition, as well as photodynamic therapy. Herein, we review recent developments involving ZnII metal complexes applied as specific subcellular compartment imaging probes and their correlated utilizations.