Abstract
The early detection and high mortality rate of tumors have become great challenges in modern medicine. Recently, innovations in nanotechnology have provided a new paradigm in tumor accurate diagnosis and treatment. As the typical type of organic nanoprobes, near-infrared (NIR) cyanine dye-based fluorescent nanoprobes retain the inherent high luminescence efficiency and good biocompatibility of cyanine dyes. Due to their unique structure and excellent optical properties, some of them have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Furthermore, cyanine dyes have exhibited dual photo-induced therapeutic functions of photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT). Notably, the high stability and tunable molecular structure of cyanine dyes allow for more stable binding to other contrast and therapeutic agents, expanding their use in biomedical diagnostics and therapeutics. To date, numerous studies have demonstrated the significant application potential of cyanine nanoprobes, garnering widespread attention from researchers. In this work, we provided a comprehensive overview of the novel applications of cyanine dye-based nanoprobes. Specifically, we discussed their unique properties and applications in fluorescence imaging, photoacoustic imaging, and multimodal tumor imaging. Additionally, we elucidate molecular design strategies, underlying mechanisms, and therapeutic applications of cyanine nanoprobes.