Real-Time Fluorometric Assay for Acetylcholinesterase Activity and Inhibitor Screening through the Pyrene Probe Monomer–Excimer Transition

A choline labeled pyrene probe (<b>Py-Ch</b>) was designed and synthesized. Poly(vinylsulfonate) (PVS) could induce <b>Py-Ch</b> aggregation. The aggregation and deaggregation process could be finely controlled by the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzymatic hydrolysis of <b>Py-Ch</b>. The resulting excimer–monomer transition provided a facile way for real-time AChE activity fluorometric assay and inhibitor screening