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Optimized theranostic strategies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) remain almost absent from bench to clinic. Current probes and drugs attempting to prevent β‐amyloid (Aβ) fibrosis encounter failures due to the blood–brain barrier (BBB) penetration challenge and blind intervention time window. Herein, we design a near‐infrared (NIR) aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) probe, DNTPH, via balanced hydrophobicity‐hydrophilicity strategy. DNTPH binds selectively to Aβ fibrils with a high signal‐to‐noise ratio. In vivo imaging revealed its excellent BBB permeability and long‐term tracking ability with high‐performance AD diagnosis. Remarkably, DNTPH exhibits a strong inhibitory effect on Aβ fibrosis and promotes fibril disassembly, thereby attenuating Aβ‐induced neurotoxicity. DNTPH treatment significantly reduced Aβ plaques and rescued learning deficits in AD mice. Thus, DNTPH serves as the first AIE in vivo theranostic agent for real‐time NIR imaging of Aβ plaques and AD therapy simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Advantages of lipid droplets-specific targeting AIE probes over conventional analogues were summarized. • Design insights into lipid droplets-specific targeting AIE probes were summarized. • In vitro lipid droplets imaging and biological applications of AIE probes were summarized. • In vivo lipid droplets imaging and biological applications of AIE probes were summarized. • Future outlooks surrounding the applications of AIE probes for lipid droplets were summarized. Lipid droplets (LDs) are organelles that have evolved to store intracellular neutral lipids and maintain cellular energy homeostasis. Once considered as inert fat particles, they have recently gained much attention. Along with the rapid development of research, LDs are captivating increasingly concern since being established to be dynamic and mobile, which is closely linked to metabolic disorders and diseases such as obesity, diabetes and cancer. Therefore, the development of reliable imaging tools that enable specific recognition and in-depth study of LDs is of great significance. Traditional dyes used for LDs fluorescence imaging may suffer from drawbacks of low signal-to-noise ratio, self-decomposition and aggregation-caused quenching phenomena, which severely hinder further studies and advances. In recent years, LDs targetable probes with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) property have arouse considerable interests because they offer an alternative solution for overcoming the aforementioned deficiencies. Typically, AIE fluorescence probes share multitude advantages in terms of excellent brightness as aggregates, large Stocks shifts, good photo-stability and high signal-to-noise ratio. In this review, the importance of LDs is introduced, and then the research progress of representative AIE fluorescence probes for LDs imaging and biological applications at cell, tissue and in vivo levels are separately discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Penetration of AIEgen-based nanomaterials across biological barriers were summarized. • Detection and diagnosis of brain diseases with AIEgens were summarized. • Bioimaging of the brain structure in health and disease were summarized. • Therapeutics for specific diseases in the brain using AIEgens were summarized. • Future outlooks surrounding the applications of AIEgens in the brain were summarized. The brain is the central control hub of the whole body. Hence, the consequences of brain diseases can be lethal. Despite the progress in fundamental and clinical research, several key obstacles remain to be addressed. As an emerging science, aggregation-induced emission (AIE) has attracted great interest in the past few years owing to the overwhelming advantages of AIE luminogens (AIEgens), including their emission wavelength, quantum yield, spatial resolution, photosensitivity, photostability, signal-to-noise ratio, and biocompatibility. Herein, we provide a comprehensive summary of AIEgen applications in brain science, including health evaluation, disease detection, diagnosis, imaging, and therapeutics. The review has been summarized into five sections: i) Penetration of AIEgen-based nanomaterials across biological barriers; ii) Detection and diagnosis of brain diseases with AIEgen; iii) Bioimaging of the brain structure in health and disease with AIEgen; iv) Therapeutics for specific diseases in the brain using AIEgen; v) Future outlooks surrounding the applications of AIEgens in the brain. We hope that this review will promote a deeper understanding of the use of AIEgens in the neuroscience community and inspire additional research aimed at improving the current situation in the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]