Molecular Fluorophores for Deep-Tissue Bioimaging

Fluorescence imaging has made tremendous inroads toward understanding the complexity of biological systems, but in vivo deep-tissue imaging remains a great challenge due to the optical opacity of biological tissue. Recent improvements in laser and detector manufacturing have allowed the expansion of nonlinear and linear fluorescence imaging to the underexplored "tissue-transparent" second near-infrared (NIR-II; 1000-1700 nm) window, opening up new opportunities for optical access deep inside opaque tissue. Molecular fluorophores have historically played a major role in fluorescence bioimaging. It is increasingly important to design new molecular fluorophores to fully unlock the potential of NIR-II imaging techniques. In this outlook, we give an overview of the novel molecular fluorophores developed for deep-tissue bioimaging in the past five years and discuss their pros and cons in applications. Guidelines for designing new molecular fluorophores with the desirable properties are also provided.