State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Jiangsu Laboratory for Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China.
Mol Imaging Biol. 2021 Apr;23(2):160-172. doi: 10.1007/s11307-020-01545-1. Epub 2020 Oct 8.
Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging (FI) has become a research hotspot because of its distinctive imaging properties: high temporal resolution and sensitivity. Especially in recent years, with the research focus of NIR FI shifting to the NIR-II region, which has better imaging performance, it is expected that NIR FI will find significant applications in the field of in vivo imaging. One of the most crucial directions for research into NIR-II FI is the promotion of novel NIR-II fluorophores with superior imaging properties. The remarkable advantages of organic NIR-II fluorophores in biosafety make them more promising than other fluorescent materials in certain applications. But serious defects in their fluorescence performance preclude particular imaging effects and limit imaging functions. In this review, we summarize and discuss the recent leading literature on overcoming the defects of organic NIR-II fluorophores, demonstrating the potential for further improving their imaging properties. In addition, we cover the functions of NIR-II FI that are promoted by the development of fluorophores, notably including its outlook on molecular imaging in vivo.
近红外（NIR）荧光成像是一种研究热点，因为它具有独特的成像特性：高时间分辨率和灵敏度。特别是近年来，随着 NIR FI 的研究重点转移到具有更好成像性能的近红外二区（NIR-II），预计 NIR FI 将在体内成像领域找到重要的应用。NIR-II FI 研究中最重要的方向之一是推广具有卓越成像性能的新型 NIR-II 荧光团。有机 NIR-II 荧光团在生物安全性方面的显著优势使它们在某些应用中比其他荧光材料更有前途。但是，它们在荧光性能方面存在严重缺陷，限制了特定的成像效果和成像功能。在这篇综述中，我们总结和讨论了克服有机 NIR-II 荧光团缺陷的最新文献，展示了进一步改善其成像性能的潜力。此外，我们还涵盖了荧光团发展所促进的 NIR-II FI 的功能，特别是包括其在体内分子成像方面的前景。
