Aggregation induced emission-bacteriophage bioconjugates

An aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-bacteriophage bioconjugate comprising a bacteriophage covalently bonded to at least one aggregation-induced emission luminogen (AIEgen) via a linker, wherein the at least one AIEgen has the Formula 4:

• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein
• R3 is the linker represented by the formula:
• *—(CR42)nJ-**, wherein n is a whole number selected from 1-10;
• J is —(C═O)—, —NH—, —S—, —N-succinimidyl, or phenol, and R4 for each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl;
• or
• two instances of R4 taken together with the carbon or carbons to which they are covalently bonded form a 3-7 membered cycloalkyl, wherein * represents the site of covalent attachment to the AIEgen having, Formula 4;
• and ** represents the site of covalent attachment of the bacteriophage;
• each of R5 and R6 is independently selected front the group consisting of hydrogen, halide, cyano, nitro, —OR, —SR, —N(R)2, —(C═O)R, —(C═O)OR, —(C═O)N(R)2, —N(R)(C═O)R, —O(C═O)R, —N(R)(C═O)OR, —O(C═O)N(R)2, —SO2R, —SO2N(R)2, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heteroaryl, and R8;
• R8 represents a moiety having the structure:
• wherein R9 for each instance, is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halide, cyano, nitro, —OR, —SR, —N(R)2, —(C═O)R, —(C═O)OR, —(C═O)N(R)2, —N(R)(C═O)R, —O(C═O)R, —N(R)(C═O)OR, —O(C═O)N(R)2, —SO2R, —SO2N(R)2, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted aralkyl, heterocycloalkyl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl;
• R for each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted aralkyl, heterocycloalkyl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl;
• or two instances of R taken together with the atom or atoms to which they are covalently bonded form a 3-7 membered cycloalkyl or 3-7 membered heterocycloalkyl;
• andZ for each occurrence is independently a pharmaceutical acceptable anion.