Bioorthogonally activated probes for precise fluorescence imaging.

Over the past two decades, bioorthogonal chemistry has undergone a remarkable development, challenging traditional assumptions in biology and medicine. Recent advancements in the design of probes tailored for bioorthogonal applications have met the increasing demand for precise imaging, facilitating the exploration of complex biological systems. These state-of-the-art probes enable highly sensitive, low background, imaging of biological species and events within live organisms, achieving resolutions comparable to the size of the biomolecule under investigation. This review provides a comprehensive examination of various categories of bioorthogonally activated fluorescent labels. It highlights the intricate design and benefits of bioorthogonal chemistry for precise imaging, while also discussing future prospects in this rapidly evolving field.