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Updated: Mar 3, 2026
A Bright NIR-II Fluorescence Probe for Vascular and Tumor Imaging
Published on: March 17, 2023
Near Infrared Fluorescence Imaging in Nano-Therapeutics and Photo-Thermal Evaluation
Mukti Vats1, Sumit Kumar Mishra2, Mahdieh Shojaei Baghini3
1Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 410210, India. muktivatsiitb@gmail.com.
Abstract:
The unresolved and paramount challenge in bio-imaging and targeted therapy is to clearly define and demarcate the physical margins of tumor tissue. The ability to outline the healthy vital tissues to be carefully navigated with transection while an intraoperative surgery procedure is performed sets up a necessary and under-researched goal. To achieve the aforementioned objectives, there is a need to optimize design considerations in order to not only obtain an effective imaging agent but to also achieve attributes like favorable water solubility, biocompatibility, high molecular brightness, and a tissue specific targeting approach. The emergence of near infra-red fluorescence (NIRF) light for tissue scale imaging owes to the provision of highly specific images of the target organ. The special characteristics of near infra-red window such as minimal auto-fluorescence, low light scattering, and absorption of biomolecules in tissue converge to form an attractive modality for cancer imaging. Imparting molecular fluorescence as an exogenous contrast agent is the most beneficial attribute of NIRF light as a clinical imaging technology. Additionally, many such agents also display therapeutic potentials as photo-thermal agents, thus meeting the dual purpose of imaging and therapy. Here, we primarily discuss molecular imaging and therapeutic potentials of two such classes of materials, i.e., inorganic NIR dyes and metallic gold nanoparticle based materials.
Insights
Accurately defining tumor margins during surgery is crucial. This study explores inorganic near-infrared (NIR) dyes and gold nanoparticles for enhanced bio-imaging and targeted cancer therapy.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Accurate tumor margin delineation is a critical challenge in cancer surgery and therapy.
- Current methods lack sufficient precision for distinguishing tumor from healthy tissue.
- Developing effective imaging agents with desirable properties like water solubility and biocompatibility is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore molecular imaging and therapeutic applications of novel materials for cancer detection and treatment.
- To address the need for advanced contrast agents that enable precise surgical navigation.
- To investigate the potential of inorganic NIR dyes and gold nanoparticles in dual-modal imaging and therapy.
Main Methods:
- Review and discussion of inorganic near-infrared (NIR) dyes for molecular imaging.
- Analysis of metallic gold nanoparticle-based materials for theranostic applications.
- Focus on optimizing design considerations for effective imaging agents with enhanced properties.
Main Results:
- Near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) light offers high specificity for tissue-scale imaging due to minimal auto-fluorescence and light scattering.
- Exogenous contrast agents utilizing NIRF light provide molecular imaging capabilities.
- Certain NIRF agents possess photothermal therapeutic potential, enabling combined imaging and treatment.
Conclusions:
- Inorganic NIR dyes and gold nanoparticles show significant promise for advanced cancer imaging and targeted therapy.
- These materials can be engineered for improved water solubility, biocompatibility, and tissue-specific targeting.
- The development of such agents facilitates precise surgical guidance and offers dual therapeutic benefits.
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