Multifunctional fluorescent probes "killing two birds with one stone" - recent progress and outlook

Abstract Multifunctional fluorescent probes are designed and developed for simutanously detecting multiple analytes, monitoring complex biological events, evaluating environment-related parameters in living cells, as well as in theranostic. Obviously, this feature affords the “killing two birds with one stone”-small molecule fluorescent probes with extensive capabilities compared with the single functional sensors, and surely, more attention will be paid to the former in the forthcoming future. In this review, we focused on the different functions, design principles, sensing mechanisms and biological applications of such probes. We also highlighted the challenges and future research directions in this rapidly developing field. We hope that some insights and inspiration for future research will boost the promotion and evolution of “killing two birds with one stone”-small molecule fluorescent probes.