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Updated: Sep 18, 2025
A Bright NIR-II Fluorescence Probe for Vascular and Tumor Imaging
Published on: March 17, 2023
Finely Tuned, Meticulously Screened Renal-Clearable Zwitterionic Cyanine Dyes for Targeted NIR-II Tumor Detection,
Yufei Qin1, Yihan Xu1, Xi Gao1
1Center for Advanced Materials Research & Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Achieving clear near-infrared-II (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm) imaging requires dyes that selectively target tissues while clearing rapidly from nontarget areas to reduce background noise. Based on zwitterionic cyanine molecules, heteroatom substitutions (O, N, S) and bridging ring modification (hexene or pentene) were employed to fine-tune emission and brightness within the NIR-II range. The optimized dye, ZW800-PS, demonstrated a large Stokes shift (70 nm), high brightness (692 M-1 cm-1), rapid renal clearance, and excellent biocompatibility. Conjugation with αvβ3 integrin-targeting ligands enabled superior tumor imaging in 4T1, U87, and A549 tumor-bearing mouse models, achieving tumor-to-muscle ratios of over 5. Additionally, conjugation with prostate-specific membrane antigen ligands allowed precise prostate cancer diagnostics. The dye demonstrated exceptional potential for intraoperative navigation, allowing for precision tumor margins distinguishment and tiny residual tumorous tissues detection. Integrating with an NIR-II excitable probe enabled real-time, multitarget imaging for precise tumor resection and tissue preservation during surgery.
Insights
A novel near-infrared-II (NIR-II) dye, ZW800-PS, offers rapid clearance and high brightness for precise tumor imaging and diagnostics. Its applications range from cancer detection to intraoperative guidance, enhancing surgical outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Imaging
- Organic Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Clear near-infrared-II (NIR-II) imaging necessitates targeted, rapidly clearing dyes to minimize background noise.
- Zwitterionic cyanine molecules with heteroatom and ring modifications are explored for tunable NIR-II properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and optimize a novel zwitterionic cyanine dye (ZW800-PS) for enhanced NIR-II imaging.
- To evaluate the dye's performance in targeting specific cancer biomarkers and its utility in surgical navigation.
Main Methods:
- Chemical synthesis and modification of zwitterionic cyanine molecules.
- Characterization of photophysical properties including Stokes shift and brightness.
- In vivo studies using tumor-bearing mouse models for imaging and diagnostic evaluations.
- Conjugation with targeting ligands (αvβ3 integrin and prostate-specific membrane antigen).
Main Results:
- The optimized dye, ZW800-PS, exhibited a large Stokes shift (70 nm), high brightness (692 M⁻¹ cm⁻¹), rapid renal clearance, and good biocompatibility.
- Targeted conjugation enabled superior tumor imaging in multiple models with high tumor-to-muscle ratios (>5).
- Demonstrated potential for precise prostate cancer diagnostics and intraoperative margin delineation.
Conclusions:
- ZW800-PS is a highly effective NIR-II dye with excellent properties for sensitive tumor detection and diagnostics.
- The dye facilitates precise surgical guidance, aiding in the identification of tumor margins and residual tissues.
- Real-time, multitarget imaging capabilities suggest significant advancements in oncologic surgery and tissue preservation.
