Near-infrared luminescent nanomaterials for in-vivo optical imaging

Optical imaging using unspecific contrast agents as well as targeted and disease-specific agents play a vital role in preclinical research. Moreover, optical imaging is on the verge of establishing itself as a clinically relevant imaging modality. Also in-vitro diagnostical procedures rely to a large degree on optical labels to report disease-specific events. Materials that fulfill the basic requirements of this market are being used today, with cyanine dyes and semiconductor quantum dots being excellent examples. Other materials are being tested in laboratories throughout the world. Design rules suitable to develop new optical labels for in-vivo near-infrared optical imaging procedures have been formulated by us, and we have developed synthesis routes that lead to nano particles with small diameter, narrow size distribution, high quantum yield, and with stable surfaces required for bioconjugation to disease-specific ligands.