Shortwave infrared silver chalcogenide quantum dots for bioimaging and theranostics

Early diagnosis and precision therapy constitute a pivotal research direction in cancer theranostics. The shortwave infrared window (SWIR, 900-2500 nm) bioimaging and theranostics technology based on the SWIR probes have attracted considerable attention for their deep tissue penetration, high spatiotemporal resolution and remarkable phototherapeutic efficacy. As a representative class of SWIR probes, silver chalcogenide quantum dots feature tunable fluorescence properties and low toxity. They not only enable high-performance SWIR fluorescence imaging, but also hold great therapeutic potential, and are expected to offer novel solutions for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Herein, we systematically review the classification of silver chalcogenide quantum dots, highlight the recent advances in their applications for tumor theranostics, and discuss challenges and opportunities for advancing the biomedical translation of such multifunctional SWIR probes.