Single- and multi-modal molecular probes with second near-infrared activatable optical signals for disease diagnosis and theranostics
Optical imaging in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II, 1000–1700 nm) enables real-time visualization of deep tissues with a higher signal-to-noise ratio than that enabled by visible and first NIR (NIR-I, 700–1000 nm) imaging owing to reduced tissue scattering and lower tissue autofluorescence....
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| Published in | Chemical Society reviews Vol. 54; no. 16; pp. 7561 - 769 |
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| Main Authors | , , |
| Format | Journal Article |
| Language | English |
| Published |
England
Royal Society of Chemistry
11.08.2025
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| Subjects | |
| Online Access | Get full text |
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| Summary: | Optical imaging in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II, 1000–1700 nm) enables real-time visualization of deep tissues with a higher signal-to-noise ratio than that enabled by visible and first NIR (NIR-I, 700–1000 nm) imaging owing to reduced tissue scattering and lower tissue autofluorescence. Its imaging capability can be further enhanced by integrating other imaging modalities, providing complementary biological information in living subjects. In parallel, activatable molecular probes have been designed to change signals only in the presence of biomarkers of interest, offering higher detection sensitivity and specificity than traditional “always-on” probes. These probes can also act as delivery vehicles for therapeutics, providing opportunities for precise imaging-guided therapy. This review highlights the recent advances in the development of single- and multi-modal molecular probes with NIR-II activatable optical signals for disease detection and theranostics. We begin by introducing the probe's design strategies, focusing on molecular mechanisms that enable activatable NIR-II optical signal output and biomarker specificity. Next, strategies to optimize the probe's performance in terms of improving its optical properties and overcoming biological barriers are discussed. Subsequently, the diagnostic and theranostic applications of these probes are detailed with representative examples across various
in vivo
disease models and
in vitro
tissue biopsy. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future perspectives for improving their diagnostic accuracy and precision theranostic capabilities in this emerging field.
This review highlights the recent advances in single- and multi-modal molecular probes with NIR-II activatable optical signals for disease diagnosis and theranostics. |
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| Bibliography: | Minghui Wang received his master's degree in Analytical Chemistry from Anhui University, China, in 2024. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Biomedical Engineering under the supervision of Professor Yan Zhang at Huazhong University of Science and Technology. His research focuses on the development of activatable optical probes for disease theranostics. Shuaige Bai received his master's degree in pharmaceutical chemistry from Central South university, China, in 2024. He is currently pursuing his PhD degree in Biomedical Engineering under the supervision of Prof. Yan Zhang at Huazhong University of Science and Technology. His research interests focus on the construction of novel activatable afterglow optical probes for theranostics. Dr Yan Zhang is a professor at the College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China. Her current research interests focus on the design of activatable optical and multimodal probes for disease diagnosis and theranostics. ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 14 ObjectType-Review-3 content type line 23 |
| ISSN: | 0306-0012 1460-4744 1460-4744 |
| DOI: | 10.1039/d5cs00502g |