Scheme 1

NIR-II fluorescence imaging enables in vivo imaging of the function of the glymphatic system under different physiological and pathological conditions. a Schematic of the NIR-II tracer infusion into cisterna magna (CM) and noninvasive imaging of CSF circulation pathway through intact skin. b High-resolution detection of the patterns of anesthesia-dependent CSF distribution. c NIR-II imaging visualizes the impaired glymphatic influx and clearance function after ischemia–reperfusion injury. The schematic diagram was created by using the online software https://biorender.com