Although lanthanide complexes are recently used in luminescence labeling of bio-targets, this review focuses on sensing profiles of synthetic and biological lanthanide complexes. Rational design and combinatorial screening approaches toward synthetic lanthanide complexes applicable as luminescent sensing materials are described. Iron-carrying transferrin and ferritin proteins further form lanthanide complexes working as pH indicators and protein recognition reagents.
JST, CREST and Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, 3-3-138 Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka, 558-8585, Japan. shinodas@sci.osaka-cu.ac.jp
