Recent advances in NIR-II fluorescence imaging-guided type-I photodynamic therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Oncology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Phototheranostics integrate imaging and therapy for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
• Conventional short-wavelength phototheranostic materials face limitations in deep-seated tumor treatment due to poor tissue penetration and tumor hypoxia.
• Long-wavelength-activated type-I photodynamic therapy (PDT) with near-infrared-II (NIR-II) fluorescence shows promise for deep tumors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review cutting-edge advances in NIR-II fluorescence imaging (FLI)-guided PDT materials.
• To emphasize molecular design strategies and their impact on phototheranostic performance.
• To discuss challenges and future prospects for NIR-II emissive photosensitizers.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent research on NIR-II FLI-guided PDT materials.
• Analysis of molecular design principles for effective photosensitizers.
• Evaluation of phototheranostic performance in preclinical studies.

Main Results:

• NIR-II FLI-guided PDT systems demonstrate enhanced tissue penetration and high detection sensitivity.
• These systems exhibit less oxygen-dependent reactive oxygen species generation, crucial for hypoxic tumor environments.
• Advanced molecular design strategies are key to optimizing phototheranostic efficacy.

Conclusions:

• NIR-II FLI-guided PDT is an ideal platform for treating deep-seated tumors.
• Further development of NIR-II emissive photosensitizers is crucial for clinical translation.
• This approach holds significant potential for advancing precision cancer therapy.