Citation: Shuang-Shuang Long, Wen-Xi Zhang, Lu Ou, Wei Liu, Fei Deng, Ke Zeng, Xu-Dong Jiang, Ying-Wu Lin. Fluorinated cationization AIE photosensitizers for dual-mode antibacterial action and bacterial imaging[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(11): 112226. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.112226 shu

Fluorinated cationization AIE photosensitizers for dual-mode antibacterial action and bacterial imaging

Shuang-Shuang Long ^{a, 1,*,} ,
Wen-Xi Zhang ^{a, 1} ,
Lu Ou ^a ,
Wei Liu ^d ,
Fei Deng ^b ,
Ke Zeng ^{c, *,} ,
Xu-Dong Jiang ^{a, *,} ,
Ying-Wu Lin ^{a, *,}

a.
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
b.
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jinggangshan University, Ji’an 343009, China
c.
College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
d.
Wind Energy Industry Business Unit, Windey Energy Technology Group Co. Ltd., Hangzhou 310000, China

sslong@usc.edu.cn

zengke0609@csu.edu.cn

jiangxudong@iccas.ac.cn

ywlin@usc.edu.cn

Received Date: 11 October 2025
Revised Date: 4 December 2025
Accepted Date: 5 December 2025
Available Online: 6 December 2025

Figures(4)

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-based photosensitizers have emerged as promising candidates for image-guided antibacterial therapy. However, achieving efficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation under hypoxic infection conditions while maintaining broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report two cationic triphenylamine-armed D–A–D’ type AIE photosensitizers, BTBH and BTBF, rationally designed to optimize their electronic structures and photophysical properties. Both photosensitizers exhibit strong selectivity toward bacteria and efficiently produce ROS through synergistic type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ photodynamic pathways. Notably, compared with the fluorine-free BTBH, the fluorinated analogue BTBF shows greater ROS-generating capacity. Moreover, BTBF demonstrates intrinsic dark toxicity by disrupting bacterial membranes, which, together with its photodynamic activity, enables a synergistic dual-mode antibacterial effect, resulting in superior antibacterial efficiency and broad-spectrum antimicrobial performance. This work highlights a fluorination strategy for sensitive bacterial detection and highly effective antibacterial therapy, providing a promising platform for theranostic applications against bacterial infections.
- Photodynamic therapy,
- Antimicrobial,
- Aggregation-induced emission,
- Type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ ROS,
- Cationization photosensitizer,
- Fluorination
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沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院沈阳 110142