NIR-II bioimaging of small organic molecule

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Imaging
• Organic Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Clinical imaging lacks sufficient definition and depth for early diagnosis.
• Near-infrared II (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging (FI) offers superior performance over traditional NIR-I.
• NIR-II imaging reduces scattering and absorption, enabling deeper penetration and higher signal-to-background ratios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in NIR-II organic small molecule fluorophores.
• To discuss methods for enhancing quantum yield and water solubility of these probes.
• To explore applications in fluorescence imaging, photoacoustic imaging, and image-guided surgery.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on NIR-II organic small molecule fluorophores.
• Analysis of strategies to improve probe performance (quantum yield, water solubility).
• Examination of applications in various advanced imaging modalities.

Main Results:

• Small organic molecule fluorophores show promise due to biocompatibility and pharmacokinetics.
• Established methods exist for enhancing quantum yield and water solubility.
• These fluorophores are applicable in FI, photoacoustic imaging (PAI), and image-guided surgery (IGS).

Conclusions:

• NIR-II organic small molecule fluorophores are a rapidly developing area in biomedical imaging.
• Further development holds significant potential for improving diagnostic and surgical capabilities.
• Continued research is crucial for optimizing these probes for clinical translation.