Molecular imaging enables the visualization of the structure and function of biological systems and the molecular process in living organisms without perturbing them. Fluorescence imaging is the most versatile and widely used visualization modality owing to the high sensitivity, high resolution, and the wealth of contrast mechanisms. Fluorescence molecular imaging is an evolving field of imaging sciences that has already achieved major advances, but is also facing important challenges. Because the imaging requires exogenous probes to enhance imaging contrast or provide signal readout, the probe performance largely determines the detection limit and sensitivity. Promising probes that exhibit bright Near-IR emission, high photostability, and long fluorescence lifetime are highly desirable for biological imaging.

We invite overview and original research papers describing current and expected challenges in Fluorescent Probes for Biological Imaging along with potential solutions that will help in the development of novel fluorescent probes to be used for early diagnosis, understanding biological processes, and answering fundamental experimental questions.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Synthesis of near-IR fluorescent probes
• Two-photon emissive probes
• Metal-organic materials for fluorescence imaging
• FRET-based bioimaging and sensing
• Bright nanoparticles for specific imaging
• Recent advances in fluorescent probes for biological imaging and sensing