Recent progress on near‐infrared fluorescence heptamethine cyanine dye‐based molecules and nanoparticles for tumor imaging and treatment

Abstract

Recenly, near‐infrared fluorescence heptamethine cyanine dyes have shown satisfactory values in bioengineering, biology, and pharmacy especially in cancer diagnosis and treatment, owing to their excellent fluorescence property and biocompatibility. In order to achieve broad application prospects, diverse structures, and chemical properties of heptamethine cyanine dyes have been designed to develop novel functional molecules and nanoparticles over the past decade. For fluorescence and photoacoustic tumor imaging properties, heptamethine cyanine dyes are equipped with good photothermal performance and reactive oxygen species production properties under near‐infrared light irradiation, thus holding great promise in photodynamic and/or photothermal cancer therapies. This review offers a comprehensive scope of the structures, comparisons, and applications of heptamethine cyanine dyes‐based molecules as well as nanoparticles in tumor treatment and imaging in current years. Therefore, this review may drive the development and innovation of heptamethine cyanine dyes, significantly offering opportunities for improving tumor imaging and treatment in a precise noninvasive manner.This article is categorized under: Diagnostic Tools > In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease

Innovative Cyanine-Based Fluorescent Dye for Targeted Mitochondrial Imaging and Its Utility in Whole-Brain Visualization

“…Asymmetric cyanine dyes are highly favored over symmetric ones for several reasons. , They produce brighter, more sensitive signals and better absorption and emission characteristics. Their longer wavelengths make them less susceptible to background interference and improve light penetration into biological samples.…”

“…Their longer wavelengths make them less susceptible to background interference and improve light penetration into biological samples. Furthermore, asymmetric cyanine dyes have large Stokes shifts, which reduces background noise and enhances discrimination between excitation and emission lights. , As a result, we have developed a series of new fluorescent dyes, such as Cy5-PEG2, based on the asymmetric cyanine structure.…”

“…Cyanine dyes are highly beneficial in bioimaging due to their distinct optical properties. , They possess strong fluorescence, high quantum yields, and good photostability, making them ideal for various imaging techniques. By fluorescently labeling biomolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, cyanine dyes allow for easy visualization and tracking of these molecules within living cells and tissues.…”

“…The use of fluorescent dyes in bioimaging has significantly transformed the field, particularly with the introduction of cyanine derivatives. Cyanine-based fluorescent dyes are designed to emit light when excited by a specific wavelength, making them valuable tools for biological imaging . We are currently focused on expanding the library of these derivatives to develop improved dyes that possess enhanced properties, such as increased brightness and biocompatibility.…”

Targeting and Imaging Mitochondria with a Novel Cyanine-based Fluorescent Dye and Its Application to Whole Brain Imaging

“…Cyanine-based fluorescent dyes are designed to emit light when excited by a specific wavelength, making them valuable tools for biological imaging. 3 We are currently focused on expanding the library of these derivatives to develop improved dyes that possess enhanced properties such as increased brightness and biocompatibility.…”