Small Molecular NIR-II Fluorophores for Cancer Phototheranostics

Summary

Phototheranostics integrates deep-tissue imaging with phototherapy (containing photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy), holding great promise in early diagnosis and precision treatment of cancers. Recently, second near-infrared (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging exhibits the merits of high accuracy and specificity, as well as real-time detection. Among the NIR-II fluorophores, organic small molecular fluorophores have shown superior properties in the biocompatibility, variable structure, and tunable emission wavelength than the inorganic NIR-II materials. What's more, some small molecular fluorophores also display excellent cytotoxicity when illuminated with the NIR laser. This review summarizes the progress of small molecular NIR-II fluorophores with different central cores for cancer phototheranostics in the past few years, focusing on the molecular structures and phototheranostic performances. Furthermore, challenges and prospects of future development toward clinical translation are discussed.

Graphical Abstract

Public Summary

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  Phototheranostics combines diagnostic imaging with phototherapy, showing broad applications in the early diagnosis and precise treatment of tumors

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  Small molecular NIR-II fluorophores with good biocompatibility, tunable structure, high imaging quality, and excellent phototoxicity, have shown great potential for cancer phototheranostics

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  Small molecular NIR-II fluorophores with different central cores for cancer phototheranostics are summarized, highlighting the design strategies and phototheranostic performances

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  Challenges and prospects of future development toward clinical translation are discussed