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Nanobiophotonics is an emerging field at the intersection of nanoscience, photonics, and biotechnology. Harnessing interactions of light with nanostructures enables new types of bioimaging, sensing, and light-activated therapy which can make a major impact on nanomedicine. Low penetration through tissue limits the use of visible light in nanomedicine. Near infrared (NIR) light (~ 780-1100 nm) can penetrate significantly further, enabling free-space delivery into deep tissues. This review focuses on interactions of NIR light with nanostructures to produce three effects: direct photoactivation, photothermal effects, and photochemical effects. Applications of direct photoactivation include bioimaging and biosensing using NIR-emitting quantum dots, materials with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in the NIR, and upconverting nanoparticles. Two key nanomedicine applications using photothermal effects are photothermal therapy (PTT), and photoacoustic (PA) imaging. For photochemical effects, we present the latest advances in in-situ upconversion and upconverting nanostructures for NIR activation of photodynamic therapy (PDT). From the Clinical Editor Nanobiophotonics is a relatively new field applying light for the interactions with nanostructures, which can be used in bioimaging, sensing, and therapy. As near infrared (NIR) light (~780-1100 nm) can have better tissue penetration, its clinical potential is far greater. In this review, the authors discussed the latest research on the applications of NIR light in imaging and therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Near-infrared (NIR) light-mediated two-photon microscopy has become a promising tool for early cancer therapy. However, exploring novel two-photon probe with high biocompatibility and high photostability to resist photobleaching, remains a key challenge for performing in vivo bioimaging. Herein, a novel two-photon luminescence (TPL) probe named two-dimensional rhenium disulfide (ReS 2) nanosheets was firstly reported for performing intracellular bioimaging. Under the illumination of low power NIR femtosecond laser, the prepared ReS 2 nanosheets exhibited strong NIR photon absorption, generating a strong TPL band at 640 nm. In addition, in vitro TPL imaging showed that, ReS 2 nanosheets possessed excellent photostability, enabling to resist photobleaching. More importantly, ReS 2 nanosheets functionalized by polyethylene glycol (PEG) showed negligible cytotoxicity, suitable to perform intracellular TPL imaging. With prolonged 6-hour incubation time, the TPL intensity of PEG-ReS 2 nanosheets in three kinds of living cells such as esophageal cancer cells (KYSE150), pancreatic cancer cells (4T1) and HeLa cells, were significantly enhanced by almost 4, 11, and 17 times, respectively. In view of their photothermal effects, the PEG-ReS 2 nanosheets could work as an excellent TPL probe for monitoring photothermal therapy and evaluating therapeutic outcomes. This study highlights great potential of PEG-ReS 2 nanosheets as a TPL biosensor for intracellular optical imaging and cancer therapy. • A novel TPL nanoprobe named 2D rhenium disulfide (ReS 2) nanosheets was prepared. • The proposed probe showed excellent photostability, enabling to resist photobleaching. • The proposed probe exhibited negligible cytotoxicity, enabling to perform in vivo bioimaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]