Recent progress in utilizing near-infrared J-aggregates for imaging and cancer therapy

Abstract

J-Aggregates are an interesting class of fluorophore aggregates, which are formed by highly ordered assembled organic dyes. They have intriguing optical properties, including narrow and red-shifted absorption and emission bands and increased absorption coefficients with respect to the monomers. Near-infrared (NIR) J-aggregates that combine the advantages of NIR spectroscopy and unique J-aggregation properties of organic dyes have attracted considerable attention in many areas, especially in biomedical applications. They have improved light absorptivity, and have been used as effective biological imaging (fluorescence or photoacoustic) and therapeutic agents (PDT or PTT) to obtain high-quality imaging or effective phototherapy in vivo. This review focuses on the development of NIR J-aggregates that have been utilized as imaging or therapeutic agents in biological systems, and also aims to inspire a wide range of biomedical applications.