Self-assembled NIR-II Fluorophores with Ultralong Blood Circulation for Cancer Imaging and Image-guided Surgery

Complete excision of the last remaining 1-2% of tumor tissue without collateral damage remains particularly challenging. Herein, we report thiophenthiadiazole (TTD)-derived fluorophores L6-PEG(nk) (n = 1, 2, 5) as new-generation NIR-II (1000-1700 nm) probes with exceptional nonfouling performance and significantly high fluorescence quantum yields in water. L6-PEG(2k) can self-assemble into vesicular micelles and exhibited minimal immunogenicity, low binding affinities, ultralong blood circulation (t(1/2) = 59.5 h), and a supercontrast ratio in vivo. Most importantly, L6-PEG(2k) achieved excellent in vivo CT-26 and U87MG tumor targeting and accumulation (>20 d) through intraperitoneal or intravenous injection. A subcutaneous U87MG tumor and orthotopic brain glioma were successfully resected under NIR-II FIGS in our animal model via intraperitoneal injection in an extended time window 48 144 h). This study highlights the potential of using L6-PEG(2K) as self-assembling molecular probes with long-circulation persistence for routine preoperative tumor assessment and precise intraoperative image-guided resection.

Automated summary

This study presents a new generation NIR-II probe, L6-PEG(2k), with exceptional fluorescence performance and long circulation time, enabling tumor targeting and accumulation in vivo, providing image guidance for precise surgery.