allows for quicker (up to 30 min) detection of LNs than that through NIR-II imaging.
Combining the advantages of dual NIR-II and PA modalities allows us to achieve
complementary information and improve the accuracy of disease diagnosis.
Although RENPs have been widely used in bioimaging for diagnostics, the
optical efficiency of these RENPs is, however, quite low (<0.5%), and there is
ample scope for this to be improved to maximize the full potential benefits of RENPbased bioimaging. For example, hybrid organic–inorganic nanocrystals incorporating the contrast agent ICG demonstrate a large Stokes shift (>200 nm) with multiple
narrow band emissions in the NIR-II range. The ICG not only enhances the NIR-II
brightness by $fourfold but also produces a broad excitation band at
700–860 nm [26].
4 QDs
The semiconductor nanocrystals, quantum dots (QDs), exhibit unique sizedependent optical and electronic properties originating from quantum size effect
[65–70]. QDs have proven to be powerful tools for bioimaging and bioanalysis
Fig. 14 Distinct focal luminescence is visualized away from the injection site near the animal’s
axillary and brachial lymph nodes. After dissection, X-IR signal could be traced to the local lymph
nodes draining from the injection site (Reprinted (adapted) with permission from Ref. [60],
Copyright 2015, American Chemical Society)
Advancements of Second Near-Infrared Biological Window Fluorophores:. . .
101
Combining the advantages of dual NIR-II and PA modalities allows us to achieve
complementary information and improve the accuracy of disease diagnosis.
Although RENPs have been widely used in bioimaging for diagnostics, the
optical efficiency of these RENPs is, however, quite low (<0.5%), and there is
ample scope for this to be improved to maximize the full potential benefits of RENPbased bioimaging. For example, hybrid organic–inorganic nanocrystals incorporating the contrast agent ICG demonstrate a large Stokes shift (>200 nm) with multiple
narrow band emissions in the NIR-II range. The ICG not only enhances the NIR-II
brightness by $fourfold but also produces a broad excitation band at
700–860 nm [26].
4 QDs
The semiconductor nanocrystals, quantum dots (QDs), exhibit unique sizedependent optical and electronic properties originating from quantum size effect
[65–70]. QDs have proven to be powerful tools for bioimaging and bioanalysis
Fig. 14 Distinct focal luminescence is visualized away from the injection site near the animal’s
axillary and brachial lymph nodes. After dissection, X-IR signal could be traced to the local lymph
nodes draining from the injection site (Reprinted (adapted) with permission from Ref. [60],
Copyright 2015, American Chemical Society)
Advancements of Second Near-Infrared Biological Window Fluorophores:. . .
101