With　the　increasing　recognition　of　the　diverse　roles　and　significance　of　oxidative　species　in　the　pathogenesis　of　many　diseases,　a　tremendous　amount　of　work　on　the　development　of　oxidative-species-responsive　materials　has　been　conducted　for　1)　detecting　oxygen　metabolites　or　diagnosis　of　oxidative-stress-relevant　diseases,　2)　reducing　oxidative　stress　in　the　disease　sites,　and/or　3)　delivering　therapeutic　and　diagnostic　agents.　In　this　review,　we　first　discuss　the　distinct　features　and　biological　functions　of　each　oxidative　species.　Then　the　selectivity　and　sensitivity　of　chemical　linkers/groups　to　specific　oxidative　species　and　the　underlying　chemistry　of　their　particular　interactions　are　systematically　elucidated.　Their　potential　biomedical　applications　are　also　highlighted.　We　expect　that　this　comprehensive　review　will　provide　more　insights　for　the　design　and　development　of　oxidative-species-selective　materials　for　more　effective　diagnostic　and　therapeutic　applications.　©　2020　Wiley-VCH　GmbH