Recent Progress in Ratiometric Fluorescent Probes Based on Excitation Energy Transfer Mechanism

Abstract

Excitation energy transfer (EET) is one of the vital photophysical phenomenons, which is widely used in many applications, such as the design of ratiometric fluroesent probes, molecular beacon, DNA analysis, and so on. The process of energy transfer from donor to acceptor can be regulated by two factors: the spatial distance between donor and acceptor, and the spectral overlaps between donor emission and acceptor absorption, which results that there is a wide variety in the ratio at two different wavelengths of ratiometric fluorescent probes. In this review, noticeable EET systems with different donor fluorophore, connection form and energy transfer efficiency between donor and acceptor, and the modulation of spatial distance or spectral overlap are summarized. Finally, as a promising tool, the future developing prospects of EET fluorescent probes in bioimaging and medical diagnostics are discussed and highlighted.