Indocyanine green

Where the papers sit

19 papers from the last 6 months study indocyanine green directly · updated from PubMed 10 Oct 2026

• Cancer Photothermal Theranostics

  Multifunctional ICG platforms are moving cancer work beyond imaging toward targeted photothermal treatment combined with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or cell-death activation. NIR fluorescence guides delivery and treatment, while cuproptosis and tumor-cell targeting provide mechanistic aims. Acoustic delivery, membrane-coated probes, peptide-drug conjugates, and optimized interstitial irradiation address localization and dosimetry. Hepatic uptake and lymphatic drainage remain practical determinants of translation.

  10 papers · 52.6%

• Fluorescence-Guided Surgical Staging

  ICG fluorescence is consolidating sentinel lymph node mapping as an alternative to patent blue in breast cancer, with sensitivity, specificity, and operative identification as key endpoints. Current work is extending protocols into endometrial cancer and comparing minimally invasive platforms. The field is also applying fluorescence to breast-flap viability, broadening the question from nodal staging to intraoperative tissue perfusion. Prospective validation is still needed to standardize drainage timing, platform performance, and clinical benefit.

  4 papers · 21.1%

• NIR-Activated Nanotherapy

  NIR-activated nanoparticle therapy is combining photothermal and photodynamic effects rather than relying on a single cytotoxic mechanism. In cancer, anti-CD33 targeting and curcumin–ICG delivery are being used against acute myeloid leukemia, with reactive oxygen species and cell death as recurring endpoints. Infection-responsive liposomes instead target biofilm penetration and antibacterial activity, while MnFe nanoboxes amplify endoplasmic-reticulum stress. The shared strategy is platform-based, and efficacy remains largely preclinical.

  3 papers · 15.8%

• Quantitative Perfusion Assessment

  Quantitative ICG fluorescence is shifting perfusion assessment from visual inspection toward kinetic, model-based prediction. In liver transplantation, fluorescence kinetics during hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion are being linked to graft function, while colorectal work targets anastomotic perfusion. Interpretable nonlinear machine-learning models aim to convert signal curves into clinically usable risk estimates. External validation must establish thresholds, timing, and whether prediction improves graft selection or leak prevention.

  2 papers · 10.5%