Citation: Lizhuang Zhong, Ming Liu, Shilong Su, Dongxin Zeng, Jing Hu, Zhiqian Guo. Engineering stimuli-responsive block copolymers for multimodal bioimaging[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(1): 111512. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111512 shu

Engineering stimuli-responsive block copolymers for multimodal bioimaging

Lizhuang Zhong ^a ,
Ming Liu ^{a, *,} ,
Shilong Su ^a ,
Dongxin Zeng ^a ,
Jing Hu ^{a, b, *,} ,
Zhiqian Guo ^{c, *,}

a.
School of Perfume and Aroma Technology, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai 201418, China
b.
School of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
c.
Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa, Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Institute of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China

mingliu@sit.edu.cn

hujing@ecust.edu.cn

guozq@ecust.edu.cn

Received Date: 13 May 2025
Revised Date: 24 June 2025
Accepted Date: 25 June 2025
Available Online: 25 June 2025

Figures(7)

The diagnostic efficacy of contemporary bioimaging technologies remains constrained by inherent limitations of conventional imaging agents, including suboptimal sensitivity, off-target biodistribution, and inherent cytotoxicity. These limitations have catalyzed the development of intelligent stimuli-responsive block copolymers-based bioimaging agents, which was engineered to dynamically respond to endogenous biochemical cues (e.g., pH gradients, redox potential, enzyme activity, hypoxia environment) or exogenous physical triggers (e.g., photoirradiation, thermal gradients, ultrasound (US)/magnetic stimuli). Through spatiotemporally controlled structural transformations, stimuli-responsive block copolymers enable precise contrast targeting, activatable signal amplification, and theranostic integration, thereby substantially enhancing signal-to-noise ratios of bioimaging and diagnostic specificity. Hence, this mini-review systematically examines molecular engineering principles for designing pH-, redox-, enzyme-, light-, thermo-, and US/magnetic-responsive polymers, with emphasis on structure-property relationships governing imaging performance modulation. Furthermore, we critically analyze emerging strategies for optical imaging, US synergies, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Multimodal bioimaging has also been elaborated, which could overcome the inherent trade-offs between resolution, penetration depth, and functional specificity in single-modal approaches. By elucidating mechanistic insights and translational challenges, this mini-review aims to establish a design framework of stimuli-responsive block copolymers-based for high fidelity bioimaging agents and accelerate their clinical translation in precise diagnosis and therapy.
- Stimuli-responsive,
- Block copolymers,
- Molecular engineering,
- Multimodal bioimaging,
- Diagnosis and therapy
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