Application of optical probes for imaging analysis under cadmium-selenium stress in the environment and biosystems: a review.

Selenium and cadmium are trace elements widely present in the environment, and their stress mechanisms in vivo involve multiple aspects, such as oxidative stress, metabolic disruption, and apoptosis, among other aspects. However, traditional detection methods limit their use in studying dynamic processes in vivo. Fluorescence imaging technology, owing to its high sensitivity and real-time visualization advantages, has become an important tool for investigating the interaction of selenium and cadmium in living biosystems. Therefore, this work systematically reviews the toxic mechanisms of selenium and cadmium and their accumulation behaviors within organisms, with emphasis on the design of strategies for the construction of fluorescent probes and their imaging applications in plant roots, leaves, and animals. It further analyzes the current challenges of probes in terms of selectivity, biocompatibility, and tissue penetration and explores future development prospects such as multimodal imaging, AI-assisted analysis, and microfluidic integration, aiming to provide new ideas and strategies for environmental toxicology and food safety monitoring.