Molecular Optical Diagnostic Probes: Rationally Designed Quinolines with Raman-Chiral-Fluorescent Activity

Molecular theranostic agents, due to their subnanometer size, have the advantage of long blood circulation times, leading better targeting efficiency with minimal injected dosages. To that end, quinoline derivatives are attractive as drugs and being explored for cancer therapy. Therefore, structurally adapting repurposing them use in diagnosis would improve disease-site significantly. In this study, we report a strategic modification “quinoline fragment” nicotinamide demonstrate diagnostic capabilities. The molecular design strategically incorporates pyridine ring cysteine functionalization specifically at position 3, along thiol carboxyl end groups. synthesized molecules demonstrated strong fluorescence chiroptical activities. When functionalized onto gold nanostructures, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) was similar commercial probe. Raman-chiral-fluorescence optical activity is promising multimodal probes. contrast commercially available thiol, featured higher cell viability both healthy cancerous human cells potential selectively kill without negatively impacting growth surrounding ones. reported work thus showcases custom-designed functionality biocompatibility, fluorescence, chirality, activity, cancer-selective therapy, enabling wider applicability theranostics.