Progress in modifications and applications of fluorescent dye probe

This review summarizes the labeling technology and applications of fluorescent dye probe in biology, especially the characteristics, modifications and applications of cyanine dyes. Based on the currently available modification methods of fluorescent dye probe, we discuss the studies of enhancing the water-solubility, improving the degree of biocompatibility and target-labeling, increasing the sensitivity and decreasing the toxicity of fluorescent dye. We also give a brief introduction on the modification method, that the fluorescent dye is directly introduced onto the cell surfaces by amine derivatives or azides to intensify the transferring information of aberrant cells. We suggest that fluorescent dye modified with chitosan oligosaccharide can obviously increase the degree of biocompatibility and target-labeling, and decrease the degree of toxicity.