Chapter 23 - Near-Infrared II Optical Imaging

Abstract

Second near-infrared (NIR-II) window (1000–1700nm) imaging is a highly promising noninvasive imaging technique for preclinical research due to the reduced scattering, minimal absorption, and negligible autofluorescence, affording high resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio images at deep tissue depths. In this chapter, very recent progress achieved in NIR-II fluorescence imaging is introduced by highlighting NIR-II fluorophores, including small molecule dyes, quantum dots, rare earth doped nanoparticles, single-walled carbon nanotubes, and semiconducting polymer-based nanoparticles,. In addition, together with advances in multifunctional imaging allowing for efficient provision of comprehensive information, recently developed NIR-II fluorophore-based multimodal imaging and therapy are also summarized. In addition to the use of NIR-II emission, NIR-II light is also an attractive excitation source for imaging and therapy. Moreover, smart NIR-II biosensing and biomedical imaging are being rapidly developed, and their design, photochemical mechanisms, and biomedical applications are discussed. Future perspectives and opportunities for NIR-II imaging are presented in this chapter.