NIR-II Fluorescent Probes for Fluorescence-Imaging-Guided Tumor Surgery

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Medical Imaging
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Second near-infrared (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging provides superior penetration depth and signal-to-background ratio.
• It is increasingly utilized for tumor diagnosis and fluorescence-imaging-guided tumor surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and update the state-of-the-art NIR-II fluorescent probes.
• To provide a comprehensive resource for developing and applying these probes in surgery.
• To expedite the clinical translation of NIR-II probes.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent advancements in NIR-II fluorescent probes.
• Categorization of probes including indocyanine green, cyanine dyes, BODIPY, AIE fluorophores, conjugated polymers, DAD dyes, carbon nanotubes, and quantum dots.

Main Results:

• Comprehensive overview of various NIR-II fluorescent probes for surgical applications.
• Identification of emerging trends and challenges, including exploration of NIR-III and higher wavelength imaging.

Conclusions:

• NIR-II fluorescence imaging is a powerful tool for tumor surgery.
• Continued development of novel probes is crucial for optimizing imaging results.
• This review serves as a guide for researchers and clinicians to advance NIR-II probe technology.