High Temporal‐Resolution Imaging Single Immune Cell Migration in Vivo by Ultrabright NIR‐II Organic Probes

Y Ying Chen Y Yang Yang B Baofeng Yun (Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China) Z Zuyang He (Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials and iChem, Shanghai Wusong Laboratory of Materials Science) H Hongxin Zhang (Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China) Q Qunying Jiang (College of Energy Materials and Chemistry Inner Mongolia University Hohhot P. R. China) W Wenlin Li A Aibin Liang L Lixin Wang (Department of Chemistry) B Bin‐Zhi Qian (Human Phenome Institute Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center Fudan University Shanghai P. R. China) F Fan Zhang

Abstract

ABSTRACT Given the implications of immune cell migration and cellular interaction in immune‐oncology, infectious and inflammatory diseases, there is a long‐standing interest in understanding, predicting, and ultimately manipulating immune cell migration therapeutically. However, real‐time non‐invasive in vivo immune cell tracking is considerably more challenging than static imaging, particularly when imaging highly motile cells. Here we introduce high‐brightness second near‐infrared (NIR‐II, 1000–1700 nm) window organic probes (DCPDs, brightness > 5000 M −1  cm −1 in aqueous solution), enabling non‐invasive high‐speed single immune cell imaging in the brain with a temporal resolution up to ∼50 fps. The neutrophil migration patterns in the stroke mouse brain and their interactions with infused therapeutic mesenchymal stem cells can be profiled with real temporal dynamics. This advancement facilitates fundamental studies on understanding complex cellular functions in vivo, paving the way for investigating the effect of single‐cell temporal dynamics on immune responses or disease‐related biological processes.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 38, Issue 12
Published February 01, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (11)

Y

Ying Chen

Y

Yang Yang

B

Baofeng Yun

Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China

Z

Zuyang He

Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials and iChem, Shanghai Wusong Laboratory of Materials Science

H

Hongxin Zhang

Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China

Q

Qunying Jiang

College of Energy Materials and Chemistry Inner Mongolia University Hohhot P. R. China

W

Wenlin Li

A

Aibin Liang

L

Lixin Wang

Department of Chemistry

B

Bin‐Zhi Qian

Human Phenome Institute Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center Fudan University Shanghai P. R. China

F

Fan Zhang