The development of probes for biomolecular imaging and diagnostics is a very active research area. Among the different imaging modalities, optics emerged since it is a noninvasive and cheap imaging technique allowing real time imaging. In vitro, this technique is very useful however in vivo, fluorescence suffers from low signal-to-noise ratio due to tissue autofluorescence under constant excitation. To address this limitation, novel types of optical nanoprobes are actually being developed and among them, persistent luminescence nanoparticles (PLNPs), with long lasting near-infrared (NIR) luminescence capability, allows doing optical imaging without constant excitation and so without autofluorescence. This review will begin by introducing the physical phenomenon associated to the long luminescence decay of such nanoprobes, from minutes to hours after ceasing the excitation.Then we will show how this property can be used to develop in vivoimaging probes and also more recently nanotheranostic agents. Finally, preliminary data on their biocompatibility will be mentioned and we will conclude by envisioning on the future applications and improvements of such nanomaterials.