Deferasirox (ExJade): An FDA-Approved AIEgen Platform with Unique Photophysical Properties

Deferasirox,
ExJade, is an FDA-approved iron chelator used for
the treatment of iron overload. In this work, we report several fluorescent
deferasirox derivatives that display unique photophysical properties,
i.e., aggregation-induced emission (AIE), excited state intramolecular
proton transfer, charge transfer, and through-bond and through-space
conjugation characteristics in aqueous media. Functionalization of
the phenol units on the deferasirox scaffold afforded the fluorescent
responsive pro-chelator ExPhos, which enabled the detection of the
disease-based biomarker alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The diagnostic
potential of these deferasirox derivatives was supported by bacterial
biofilm studies.