Recent advances in enzyme‐activated dual‐locked probes for biological applications

Enzymes catalyze reactions involved in diverse physiological, pathological, and pharmacological processes. By employing the optical probe, fluorescence imaging enables non‐invasive, real‐time detection and assessment of disease states based on enzymatic activity. However, most enzyme‐activated probes are single‐locked probes that respond to a single biomarker. In comparison to single‐locked probes, enzyme‐activated dual‐locked probes can effectively minimize the occurrence of false‐positive signals, circumvent the problem of low specificity associated with biologically active substances, and facilitate precise imaging. This review systematically summarizes the design and application of dual‐locked probes in disease diagnosis, with the aim of providing inspiration for researchers in the field.