Revolutionizing breast cancer detection: Advances in fluorescent probe technology

With the increasing incidence of breast cancer globally, there is an urgent demand for enhanced diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. This comprehensive review explores advancements in fluorescent probe technology for breast cancer imaging and early diagnosis. Fluorescent probes offer unparalleled sensitivity and specificity in detecting cancer biomarkers, enabling early diagnosis and delineation of tumor margins during surgery. We categorize these probes into molecular, nano, ratiometric, the second near-infrared window (NIR-II), and multifunctional varieties, each with unique capabilities for targeting specific cancer markers. This review highlights recent innovations in probe design, emphasizing their applications in pathogenesis studies, drug development, precision medicine, and fluorescence-guided surgery. Despite their promising clinical potential, challenges such as safety, biomarker targeting accuracy, system compatibility, and clinical translation persist. Addressing these hurdles is crucial for the integration of fluorescent probes into standard cancer care, aiming to improve treatment outcomes and patient quality of life.