Intelligent Theranostic Systems Enabled by Aggregation-Induced Emission in Precision Medicine

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) has emerged as a powerful tool for the design of next-generation intelligent theranostic systems. AIE luminogens (AIEgens) exhibit exceptional sensitivity and signal fidelity in complex biological environments through the restriction of intramolecular motion (RIM), which suppresses nonradiative decay and facilitates highly efficient fluorescence emission in the aggregated state. This review critically evaluates the recent integration of AIE materials into multifunctional theranostic systems, including near-infrared II (NIR-II) emissive nanoprobes for deep-tissue imaging, AIE-powered ELISA assays with femtomolar sensitivity, CRISPR-compatible detection platforms for real-time visualization of gene editing, and the emerging application of artificial intelligence (AI) for improved diagnostic accuracy and material design. Despite these breakthroughs, translational barriers—such as limited structural diversity, batch-to-batch variability, and the absence of comprehensive regulatory frameworks—still hinder clinical adoption. Addressing these obstacles through AI-driven molecular engineering, scalable synthetic methodologies, and standardized evaluation protocols will be pivotal for advancing AIE materials toward clinical implementation. This review not only consolidates recent progress but also provides a forward-looking perspective on the strategic directions and interdisciplinary collaborations necessary to translate AIE innovations from bench to bedside.