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A Bright NIR-II Fluorescence Probe for Vascular and Tumor Imaging
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Boosted Energy Migration System in NIR-IIc Rare-Earth Nanoprobe for Deep-Tissue Multiplexed Bioimaging
Zhizheng Song1,2, Zhiguo Fang3, Jingrun Yang4
1CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|August 4, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed bright rare-earth nanoprobes (YbEr:Tm) for deep-tissue bioimaging. These probes enable enhanced near-infrared imaging and novel applications like in vivo multiplexing and subcutaneous information encryption.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Optics
- Nanotechnology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Rare-earth nanoparticles are promising for deep-tissue bioimaging in the NIR-IIc window (>1700 nm).
- Current limitations include suboptimal luminescence brightness and low detector quantum efficiency (QE).
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance rare-earth nanoprobe brightness for improved deep-tissue bioimaging.
- To demonstrate novel applications in dynamic multiplexed imaging and information encryption.
Main Methods:
- Development of a dual-sensitizer rare-earth nanoprobe (YbEr:Tm) utilizing Er-Er energy migration.
- Characterization of nanoprobe emission enhancement and spatial resolution in biological tissue.
- Demonstration of dynamic multiplexed in vivo bioimaging and an implantable optical cipher.
Main Results:
- A 43.5-fold enhancement in Tm3+ emission in the NIR-IIc window was achieved.
- 180 µm spatial resolution was obtained through 1.5 cm of thoracic muscle with a low-QE detector.
- The first dynamic multiplexed NIR-IIc in vivo bioimaging and a three-plex NIR-IIc optical cipher were successfully demonstrated.
Conclusions:
- The YbEr:Tm nanoprobes significantly improve brightness for deep-tissue NIR-IIc bioimaging.
- This technology enables advanced applications including multiplexed imaging and secure subcutaneous information encryption.
