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Updated: Oct 5, 2025
A Bright NIR-II Fluorescence Probe for Vascular and Tumor Imaging
Published on: March 17, 2023
Molecular fluorophores for in vivo bioimaging in the second near-infrared window
1State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
Purpose:
This systematic review aims to summarize the current developments of fluorescence and chemi/bioluminescence imaging based on the molecular fluorophores for in vivo imaging in the second near-infrared window.
Methods And Results:
By investigating most of the relevant references on the web of science and some journals, this review firstly begins with an overview of the background of fluorescence and chemi/bioluminescence imaging. Secondly, the chemical and optical properties of NIR-II dyes are discussed, such as water solubility, chemostability and photo-stability, and brightness. Thirdly, the bioimaging based on NIR-II fluorescence emission is outlined, including the in vivo imaging of polymethine dyes, donor - acceptor - donor (D - A - D) chromophores, and lanthanide complexes. Fourthly, we demonstrate the chemi/bioluminescence in vivo imaging in the second near-infrared window. Fifthly, the clinical application and translation of near-infrared fluorescence imaging are presented. Finally, the current challenges, feasible strategies and potential prospects of the fluorophores and in vivo bioimaging are discussed.
Conclusions:
Based on the above literature research on the applications of molecular fluorescent and chemi/bioluminescent probes in the second near-infrared window in recent years, this review weighs the advantages and disadvantages of fluorescence and chemi/bioluminescence imaging, and NIR-II fluorophores based on polymethine dyes, D - A - D chromophores, and lanthanide complexes. Besides, this review also provides a very important guidance for expanding the imaging applications of molecular fluorophores in the second near-infrared window.
