Dye aggregates-containing nanoparticles and uses thereof

A composition comprising a polymer nanocapsule and a dye, wherein the polymer nanocapsule encapsulates the dye, and

• wherein the polymer nanocapsule has an average hydrodynamic diameter of about 50 nm to about 200 nm and comprises a block copolymer selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) block copolymer, poly(lactide-co-glycolic acid)-block-polyethylene glycol (PLGA-b-PEG), a biodegradable PLGA-b-PEG, poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PEO-b-PCL), polyanhydride-block-PEG copolymers, zwitterionic poly(carbobetaine) and zwitterionic poly(sulfobetaine)-containing block copolymers, poly(trimethylene carbonate)-block-poly(L-gluatamic acid), poly(ethylene glycol-block-L-aspartic acid), poly(ethylene oxide)-block-polypropylene oxide copolymers, and any combination thereof;
• and
• wherein the dye is a dye aggregate and is selected from the group consisting of a polymethine dye, cyanine dye, hemicyanine dye, streptocyanine dye, mercocyanine dye, oxonol dye, styryl dye, diarylmethine dye, triarylmethine dye, rylene, squaraine, perylene bismide dye or aza-analog thereof, indocyanine green (ICG), Congo Red, IR783, Briliant Blue G, rhodamine 6G, and any combination thereof.