Nanophases of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have recently emerged as a novel structural form attracting increasing attention in the modernization of TCM. They are typically formed through the self-assembly of multiple components during decoction or extraction processes, possessing both intrinsic therapeutic activity and imaging potential, thereby providing a new class of carriers for bioimaging applications. This review systematically summarizes the structural basis and signal sources of TCM nanophases in bioimaging, and highlights their advantages, including intrinsic imaging capability, favorable biocompatibility, and multicomponent synergistic responsiveness. Furthermore, their applications are discussed in depth, particularly in the visualization of action mechanisms of TCM formulas, the investigation of tissue distribution related to meridian tropism, the quantitative visualization of TCM syndromes, and imaging-guided theranostics. Meanwhile, key challenges in this field are analyzed from several perspectives, including the correlation between imaging signals and pharmacological effects, the decoding of multicomponent synergistic interactions, the mismatch between imaging resolution and meridian structures, and quality consistency. Looking forward, with the integration of high-resolution imaging technologies and interdisciplinary analytical approaches, TCM nanophases are expected to promote the development of emerging concepts such as panoramic molecular imaging of TCM, facilitating the transition of TCM research from empirical description to visualization and quantification, and providing new technical strategies for the modern scientific interpretation of TCM theories.

traditional Chinese medicine nanophase  /  bioimaging  /  molecular imaging  /  syndrome differentiation  /  meridian distribution  /  theranostics