Recent advances in organic phosphorescent materials for bioimaging

Organic room temperature phosphorescent (RTP) materials, characterized by their prolonged luminescence lifetime and superior biocompatibility, exhibit significant potential for applications in bioimaging. Through the application of time resolved techniques, the interference caused by tissue autofluorescence can be substantially minimized, enabling high signal-to-background ratio imaging. Furthermore, these materials serve as promising candidates for temperature sensing probes and photodynamic therapy agents. Although research on RTP materials has expanded rapidly in recent years, a comprehensive review covering organometallic and pure organic phosphorescent materials for bioimaging remains limited. This paper systematically summarizes recent advancements in both organometallic and pure organic phosphorescent materials used in bioimaging and critically discusses the challenges they encounter, aiming to provide valuable insights for future developments in this field.