AUTHOR=Zhang Lei , Jia Hang , Liu Xuqian , Zou Yaxin , Sun Jiayi , Liu Mengyu , Jia Shuangshuang , Liu Nan , Li Yanzhang , Wang Qun TITLE=Heptamethine Cyanine–Based Application for Cancer Theranostics JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology VOLUME=12 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.764654 DOI=10.3389/fphar.2021.764654 ISSN=1663-9812 ABSTRACT=
Cancer is the most common life-threatening malignant disease. The future of personalized cancer treatments relies on the development of functional agents that have tumor-targeted anticancer activities and can be detected in tumors through imaging. Cyanines, especially heptamethine cyanine (Cy7), have prospective application because of their excellent tumor-targeting capacity, high quantum yield, low tissue autofluorescence, long absorption wavelength, and low background interference. In this review, the application of Cy7 and its derivatives in tumors is comprehensively explored. Cy7 is enormously acknowledged in the field of non-invasive therapy that can “detect” and “kill” tumor cells