Published online on January 18, 2020, Prof Zhang’s team summarized the application of near-infrared-II fluorescence materials on cancer surgical navigation. The research was financially supported by 5 programs including the National Natural Foundation of China, etc. Co-first authors RQ Yang (doctoral student of the Medical School of Xiamen University), KL Lou (master student of the Medical School of Xiamen University) and PY Wang (Assistant Professor of the CAS Fujian Institute of Material Structure).

Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging is an emerging noninvasive imaging modality, with unique advantages in guiding tumor resection surgery, thanks to its high sensitivity and instantaneity. In the past decade, studies on the conventional NIR window (NIR-I, 750–900 nm) have gradually focused on the second NIR window (NIR-II, 1000–1700 nm). With its reduced light scattering, photon absorption, and auto-fluorescence qualities, NIR-II fluorescence imaging significantly improves penetration depths and signal-to-noise ratios in bio-imaging. Recently, several studies have applied NIR-II imaging to navigating cancer surgery, including localizing cancers, assessing surgical margins, tracing lymph nodes, and mapping important anatomical structures. These studies have exemplified the significant prospects of this new approach. In this review, several NIR-II fluorescence agents and some of the complex applications for guiding cancer surgeries are summarized. Future prospects and the challenges of clinical translation are also discussed.

Full text: https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202001066.