Molecularly near-infrared fluorescent theranostics for in vivo tracking tumor-specific chemotherapy

In this review, we summary the design concepts and strategies of NIR fluorescent theranostics for the sense-release in living systems. In particular, molecularly NIR fluorescent theranostic prodrug is elucidated to address current challenges of real-time bioimaging and tumor-specific chemotherapy for personalized treatment. [Display omitted] Molecularly near-infrared (NIR) theranostics, combining in vivo sensing and tumor-specific therapeutic capability within one molecular system, have received considerable attention in recent years. Compared with the visible fluorescence imaging, NIR imaging (emission wavelength at 650–900 nm) possesses unique advantages including the minimum photodamage to biological samples, deep penetration, and low interference from auto-fluorescence. In over past decades, there has been an explosive development in the design of molecular imaging contrasts and imaging-guided therapeutics. In this review, we have sumarried the strategies of the NIR theranostics for imaging and tumor-specific chemotherapy applications in living systems. It is noted that the molecularly NIR theranostic design strategy could address current challenges of real-time in vivo sense-and-release for the intelligent biosensing and personalized treatment.