Supramolecular-platform-assisted selective recognition of uric acid with high sensitivity microenvironment modulation of a self-assembled probe.

This report demonstrates a unique route for translating a non-responsive fluorophore into a responsive one to optically recognize uric acid (UA) in physiological-mimicking conditions. The explicit 'turn ON-turn OFF' fluorescence switching upon sequential disaggregation-reaggregation of the self-aggregated 3,3'-bisindolyl(phenyl)methane molecules materializes a straightforward, trouble-free supramolecular UA sensing platform.