The Aggregates of Near‐Infrared Cyanine Dyes in Phototherapy

Cyanines in the near‐infrared region are a typical example of a classic fluorescent dye that has garnered significant attention and widespread use in the life sciences and biotechnology. Their character to form assemblies or aggregates has inspired the development of various functional cyanine dye aggregates in phototherapy. This article provides a brief summary of the strategies used to prepare these cyanine dye aggregates. The reports in this concept suggest that the self‐assembly of cyanine dyes can enhance their photostability, opening up new possibilities for their application in phototherapy. This concept may encourage researchers to explore the development of functional fluorescent dye aggregates further. Herein we highlight the design strategies for functional NIR cyanine aggregates. The remarkable properties such as enhanced photostability and promoted photothermal efficacy of these aggregates are revealed, and their applications in phototherapy are summarized.