Selective photothermal inactivation of cells labeled with near-infrared croconaine dye.

Photothermal inactivation of cells caused by laser heating of a near-infrared croconaine dye is more effective when the dye is located inside the cell. The cell inactivation is spatially confined - laser irradiation of a mixed population of two different cell lines produces selective inactivation of the cells labeled with croconaine dye and does not harm adjacent unlabeled cells.