Advanced Near-Infrared Light for Monitoring and Modulating the Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Cell Functions in Living Systems.

Light-based technique, including optical imaging and photoregulation, has become one of the most important tools for both fundamental research and clinical practice, such as cell signal sensing, cancer diagnosis, tissue engineering, drug delivery, visual regulation, neuromodulation, and disease treatment. In particular, low energy near-infrared (NIR, 700-1700 nm) light possesses lower phototoxicity and higher tissue penetration depth in living systems as compared with ultraviolet/visible light, making it a promising tool for in vivo applications. Currently, the NIR light-based imaging and photoregulation strategies have offered a possibility to real-time sense and/or modulate specific cellular events in deep tissues with subcellular accuracy.