Neutral merocyanine dyes: for in vivo NIR fluorescence imaging of amyloid-β plaques

Two neutral merocyanine-based near-infrared fluorescent probes were for the first time developed through rational engineering of the classical cationic cyanine scaffold IR-780 for in vivo imaging of amyloid-β plaques. In vivo NIRF imaging revealed that the probe could penetrate the blood–brain barrier and efficiently differentiate the living transgenic and wild-type mice.