Near-Infrared Dichromic Fluorescent Carbocyanine Molecules†

Central to major advances in biochemical assays, molecularsensor technologies, and molecular optical imaging arefluorescent materials that provide high detection sensitivityformolecularprocesses.Inbiologicalopticalimaging,thelowtissueautofluorescenceandthedeeppenetrationoflightintothetissuesobservedatwavelengthsbetween650 and900nmallow the use of near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent dyes ascontrast agents in heterogeneous systems.