Clusteroluminogenic polymers: Applications in biology and medicine (Review article)

The current state of research on unconventional luminescence of nonconjugated polymers, which arises as a result of spatial conjugation due to the overlapping of electronic orbitals of atoms in aggregates formed at high concentrations of substances in solutions or in the solid state, is considered. The manifold applications of clusteroluminogenic polymers in the realms of biology and medicine take center stage. This includes the utilization of clusteroluminescence for monitoring and visualizing dynamic reactions, exploring pathways in biomedical research and targeted drug delivery, facilitating real-time monitoring, as well as imaging and tracking. The emphasis is placed on their pivotal role in combination therapy and theranostics.