基于 Cy7 类菁染料分子探针的设计策略

Cyanines, one of the most classic organic fluorophores, have find extensive applications in the fields of protein labelling, trace metal ion detection, biological relevant species sensing, in vitro and in vivo imaging, targeted cancer therapies owing to their excellent properties including large molar absorption coefficient, tunable wavelength, good solubility and biocompatibility. In recent years, biomedical researches demand deeper penetration depth for in vivo structural and functional imaging, thus the development of near infrared molecular probes based on excellent long-wavelength scaffolds has become an important research area with profound implications. Indole heptamethine cyanine (Cy7) is one of the most representative cyanine dyes. In this review, emphasis was primarily paid to the Cy7-based molecular probes since 1992. We hope this will delineate the design rationale and inspire the development of more Cy7-based probes.