Exploiting the Photo-Physical Properties of Metal Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals for Bioimaging

Perovskite nanomaterials have recently been exploited for bioimaging applications due to their unique photo-physical properties, including high absorbance, good photostability, narrow emissions, and nonlinear optical properties. These attributes outperform conventional fluorescent materials such as organic dyes and metal chalcogenide quantum dots and endow them with the potential to reshape a wide array of bioimaging modalities. Yet, their full potential necessitates a deep grasp of their structure-attribute relationship and strategies for enhancing water stability through surface engineering for meeting the stringent and unique requirements of each individual imaging modality. This review delves into this evolving frontier, highlighting how their distinctive photo-physical properties can be leveraged and optimized for various bioimaging modalities, including visible light imaging, near-infrared imaging, and super-resolution imaging.