Nano-Agents for NIR-II Photoacoustic Imaging.

Photoacoustic imaging (PAI), an intriguing imaging technology, is increasingly being utilized in both basic and clinical medical research. PAI in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II) offers a series of notable advantages, enhanced depth penetration, diminished tissue autofluorescence, elevated maximum allowable exposure, and reduced background noise, which are not available in the first near-infrared window (NIR-I). These attributes underscore the considerable potential of NIR-II window for PAI in the realm of biomedical applications. This review centers on elucidating the significance of the NIR-II window for PAI, presenting an overview of NIR-II PAI contrast agents, and spotlighting the latest advancements in NIR-II PAI with an emphasis on their biomedical uses. Furthermore, prospective problems and opportunities for NIR-II PA contrast agents are highlighted. This article is categorized under: Diagnostic Tools > In Vitro Nanoparticle-Based Sensing.