Recent Advances in Applied Fluorescent Polymeric Gels

Fluorescent polymeric gels (FPGs) are soft luminescent materials in which the fluorophore is the source of photoluminescence and the three-dimensional polymeric network is the fundamental matrix; thus, they have features of both fluorescent materials and gels. Furthermore, the tunable space in the gel network allows for control of the optical behaviors of the fluorophores, which are normally sensitive to the microenvironment. Therefore, FPGs can be considered a superior platform for developing functional materials and have stimulated great interest as candidate substances in multiple application areas to date. Herein, an overview of the recent development of FPGs with diverse applications is provided. Fabrication methods are illustrated from the perspective of the relationship between the fluorophore and the polymeric network. Advanced applications of FPGs in various areas including biomedical, environmentally-related, and informationally-related applications and bioinspired materials are comprehensively reviewed. In addition, the current challenges and future development tendencies are also discussed.