The introduction of environment-responsive probes has greatly improved the accuracy of fluorescence bioimaging in evaluating drug nanocarriers. This review highlights the key roles of Förster resonance energy transfer, aggregation-induced emission, and aggregation-caused quenching in advancing nanomedicine. These technologies have enhanced our understanding of nanocarrier pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and intracellular behavior, providing valuable insights for optimizing drug delivery systems. Their integration into imaging platforms has enabled precise monitoring of nanocarriers in complex biological environments. This review outlines detailed progress in the use of environment-responsive probes, emphasizing their importance in improving the design and effectiveness of nanomedicines. Looking forward, advances in probe engineering and multimodal imaging, combined with computational tools, are expected to drive the development of more targeted, efficient, and personalized therapeutic strategies.

Nanocarrier  /  Drug delivery  /  Fluorescence bioimaging  /  Environment-responsive  /  Förster resonance energy transfer  /  Aggregation-induced emission  /  Aggregation-caused quenching  /  In vivo fate