A macrophage uptaking near-infrared chemical probe CDnir7 for in vivo imaging of inflammationElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental procedures, spectroscopic data, cell image data. See DOI: 10.1039/c4cc02038c

Visualization of macrophages in live animals has been of great interest for a better understanding of inflammation. We developed a near infrared (NIR) probe CDnir7 that can selectively detect macrophages and visualize inflammation in vivo using the IVIS spectrum, Fluorescence Molecular Tomography (FMT) and Multi-Spectral Optoacoustic Tomography (MSOT). Using DOFLA, a novel fluorescent NIR macrophages probe, CDnir7 was developed and its in vivo imaging of macrophages is demonstrated in the inflammation animal model. Upon tail vein injection, CDnir7 accesses and detects the change of macrophages with near infrared fluorescence imaging.