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Molecular fluorophores for in vivo bioimaging in the second near-infrared window

  • Review Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

This systematic review aims to summarize the current developments of fluorescence and chemi/bioluminescence imaging based on the molecular fluorophores for in vivo imaging in the second near-infrared window.

Methods and results

By investigating most of the relevant references on the web of science and some journals, this review firstly begins with an overview of the background of fluorescence and chemi/bioluminescence imaging. Secondly, the chemical and optical properties of NIR-II dyes are discussed, such as water solubility, chemostability and photo-stability, and brightness. Thirdly, the bioimaging based on NIR-II fluorescence emission is outlined, including the in vivo imaging of polymethine dyes, donor − acceptor − donor (D − A − D) chromophores, and lanthanide complexes. Fourthly, we demonstrate the chemi/bioluminescence in vivo imaging in the second near-infrared window. Fifthly, the clinical application and translation of near-infrared fluorescence imaging are presented. Finally, the current challenges, feasible strategies and potential prospects of the fluorophores and in vivo bioimaging are discussed.

Conclusions

Based on the above literature research on the applications of molecular fluorescent and chemi/bioluminescent probes in the second near-infrared window in recent years, this review weighs the advantages and disadvantages of fluorescence and chemi/bioluminescence imaging, and NIR-II fluorophores based on polymethine dyes, D − A − D chromophores, and lanthanide complexes. Besides, this review also provides a very important guidance for expanding the imaging applications of molecular fluorophores in the second near-infrared window.

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Fig. 1
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reproduced with permission from Ding et al. [74], Li et al. [34], respectively. (b) The images have been reproduced with permission from Li et al. [35], Cosco et al. [56], respectively. (c) The images have been reproduced with permission from Wang et al. [71], Lei et al. [76], respectively. (d) The images have been reproduced with permission from Sun et al. [77], Chen et al. [73], respectively

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reproduced with permission from Antaris et al. [5], Fang et al. [85], Yang et al. [61], Ma et al. [87], respectively. (b) The images have been reproduced with permission from Zhang et al. [81], Lin et al. [84], Yang et al. [54], Fang et al. [85], respectively. (c) The image has been reproduced with permission from Antaris et al. [46]. (d) The images have been reproduced with permission from Antaris et al. [5], Antaris et al. [46], respectively

Fig. 9

reproduced with permission from Yang et al. [18]. (b) The molecular structure, UV–Vis absorption and fluorescence spectrum, and NIR-II imaging of Nd-DTPA. The images have been reproduced with permission from Li et al. [19]. (c) The molecular structure, UV–Vis absorption, fluorescence spectrum, and in vivo imaging of EB766. The images have been reproduced with permission from Wang et al. [20]

Fig. 10

reproduced with permission from Huang et al. [97]. (b) The structure, composition, chemiluminescence mechanism, and CL/FL image of NIR-II CLS. The images have been reproduced with permission from Yang et al. [24]

Fig. 11

reproduced with permission from Wang et al. [25]

Fig. 12

reproduced with permission from van Dam et al. [103] (b) The structure of OTL38, fluorescence measurements at baseline (and after receiving a dose of OTL38 using the Artemis imaging system and intraoperative detection of ovarian cancer metastases using fluorescence-based imaging. The images have been reproduced with permission from Charlotte et al. [102]

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Acknowledgements

The work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2017YFA0207303), National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC 22088101, 21725502, 51961145403, 21904023, 2210040480), and Research Program of Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (20490710600, 20YF1402200, 20JC1411700, 19490713100, 20S31903700).

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  1. State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China

    Yanling Yang

  2. Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers and iChem, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China

    Fan Zhang

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Yang, Y., Zhang, F. Molecular fluorophores for in vivo bioimaging in the second near-infrared window. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 49, 3226–3246 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-022-05688-x

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