Methylene Blue: An FDA-Approved NIR-II Fluorogenic Probe with Extremely Low pH Responsibility for Hyperchlorhydria Imaging

Abstract

Methylene blue (MB) is an FDA (Food and Drug Administration)-approved contrast agent with donor−acceptor (D− A) structure integrated with carbonyl-containing nitrogen-heterocycles. MB can be converted into MBH (protonated MB) by protonation, which not only induces the fluorescence emission redshifted from the first near-infrared window (NIR-I, 650−950 nm) to the second near-infrared window (NIR-II, 1000−1700 nm) but also achieves ACQ-to-AIE conversion. MB has been successfully demonstrated in hyperacidemia imaging with an extremely low pH value (<1).