Fluorescent sensors for discriminative detection of multiple targets in pathological processes.

[Display omitted] • Fluorescent sensors that can simultaneously detect multiple targets are described. • The applications of these sensors in pathological processes are summarized. • Both molecular sensors and nanosensors are outlined. • Sequential sensors are separately described. The visualization of diseases is a crucial goal for clinicians as it aids in accurate diagnosis and clinical surgery. In recent years, fluorescence sensors that exhibit optical changes in response to biological events have been considered as an alternative or complementary tool for disease diagnosis and surgery. Particularly, sensors that can differentiate between two or more targets in different emission channels are preferred as they provide more information about the interplay of relevant targets in a specific pathological process. This enables a deeper understanding of pathogenesis investigation and superior accuracy in disease diagnosis. This review provides an informative summary of the development of fluorescent sensors for multiple targets in different emission channels. The review introduces sensors based on molecular and nano platforms, emphasizing their optical changes and bioimaging applications. Importantly, the achievements, challenges, and perspectives in this field will be highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]