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Contrast Media & Molecular Imaging 2015Molecular imaging is a powerful tool to visualize and characterize biological processes at the cellular and molecular level in vivo. In most molecular imaging... (Review)
Review
Molecular imaging is a powerful tool to visualize and characterize biological processes at the cellular and molecular level in vivo. In most molecular imaging approaches, probes are used to bind to disease-specific biomarkers highlighting disease target sites. In recent years, a new subset of molecular imaging probes, known as bioresponsive molecular probes, has been developed. These probes generally benefit from signal enhancement at the site of interaction with its target. There are mainly two classes of bioresponsive imaging probes. The first class consists of probes that show direct activation of the imaging label (from "off" to "on" state) and have been applied in optical imaging and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The other class consists of probes that show specific retention of the imaging label at the site of target interaction and these probes have found application in all different imaging modalities, including photoacoustic imaging and nuclear imaging. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of bioresponsive imaging probes in order to discuss the various molecular imaging strategies. The focus of the present article is the rationale behind the design of bioresponsive molecular imaging probes and their potential in vivo application for the detection of endogenous molecular targets in pathologies such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Image Enhancement; Molecular Imaging; Molecular Probes; Photoacoustic Techniques
PubMed: 25873263
DOI: 10.1002/cmmi.1636 -
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry Mar 2020Bacterial infections remain a major threat to humanity and are a leading cause of death and disability. Antimicrobial resistance has been declared as one of the top ten... (Review)
Review
Bacterial infections remain a major threat to humanity and are a leading cause of death and disability. Antimicrobial resistance has been declared as one of the top ten threats to human health by the World Health Organization, and new technologies are urgently needed for the early diagnosis and monitoring of deep-seated and complicated infections in hospitalized patients. This review summarizes the radiotracers as applied to imaging of bacterial infections. We summarize the recent progress in the development of pathogen-specific imaging and the application of radiotracers in understanding drug pharmacokinetics as well as the local biology at the infection sites. We also highlight the opportunities for medicinal chemists in radiotracer development for bacterial infections, with an emphasis on target selection and radiosynthetic approaches. Imaging of infections is an emerging field. Beyond clinical applications, these technologies could provide unique insights into disease pathogenesis and expedite bench-to-bedside translation of new therapeutics.
Topics: Animals; Bacteria; Bacterial Infections; Drug Development; Humans; Molecular Imaging; Radioactive Tracers; Radioisotopes
PubMed: 32048838
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01623 -
The International Journal of Biological... Feb 2020The utility of positron emission tomography (PET) for the evaluation of response to immunotherapy has been considered a hot topic, particularly in the last 2 to 3 years....
The utility of positron emission tomography (PET) for the evaluation of response to immunotherapy has been considered a hot topic, particularly in the last 2 to 3 years. Different experiences have been collected in clinical practice, with 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/computed tomography (CT), particularly in patients affected by lymphoma, malignant melanoma, and lung cancer. It has been tested in different settings of disease, from the prediction to the prognosis relative to the response to immunotherapy. In the present mini-review, some evidence is reported about the role of FDG PET/CT in patient candidates to or treated with immunotherapy.
Topics: Aged; Female; Humans; Immunotherapy; Male; Molecular Imaging
PubMed: 32079465
DOI: 10.1177/1724600819899099 -
Physiological Reviews Apr 2012Molecular imaging is revolutionizing the way we study the inner workings of the human body, diagnose diseases, approach drug design, and assess therapies. The field as a... (Review)
Review
Molecular imaging is revolutionizing the way we study the inner workings of the human body, diagnose diseases, approach drug design, and assess therapies. The field as a whole is making possible the visualization of complex biochemical processes involved in normal physiology and disease states, in real time, in living cells, tissues, and intact subjects. In this review, we focus specifically on molecular imaging of intact living subjects. We provide a basic primer for those who are new to molecular imaging, and a resource for those involved in the field. We begin by describing classical molecular imaging techniques together with their key strengths and limitations, after which we introduce some of the latest emerging imaging modalities. We provide an overview of the main classes of molecular imaging agents (i.e., small molecules, peptides, aptamers, engineered proteins, and nanoparticles) and cite examples of how molecular imaging is being applied in oncology, neuroscience, cardiology, gene therapy, cell tracking, and theranostics (therapy combined with diagnostics). A step-by-step guide to answering biological and/or clinical questions using the tools of molecular imaging is also provided. We conclude by discussing the grand challenges of the field, its future directions, and enormous potential for further impacting how we approach research and medicine.
Topics: Animals; Diagnostic Imaging; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Mice; Molecular Imaging; Nanoparticles; Rats; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 22535898
DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00049.2010 -
Journal of Nuclear Medicine : Official... Oct 2020The important insights yielded by molecular imaging (MI) into relevant biologic signatures at an organ-specific and systemic level are not achievable with conventional...
The important insights yielded by molecular imaging (MI) into relevant biologic signatures at an organ-specific and systemic level are not achievable with conventional imaging methods and thus provide an essential link between preclinical and clinical research. New diagnostic probes and imaging methods revealing comprehensive functional and molecular information are being provided by MI research, several of which have found their way into clinical application. However, there are also reservations about the impact of MI and its added value over conventional, often less expensive, diagnostic imaging methods. This perspective discusses seminal research directions for the MI field that have the potential to result in added value to the patient. Emphasis is placed on MI without probes, MI based on radiotracers and small molecules, MI nano- and microsystems, and MI in context with comprehensive diagnostics. Furthermore, besides technical innovations and probes, emerging clinical indications are highlighted.
Topics: Humans; Luminescent Measurements; Molecular Imaging; Multimodal Imaging
PubMed: 32859706
DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.120.241984 -
Journal of Nuclear Medicine : Official... Mar 2018Molecular imaging is critical to personalized and precision medicine. Although singly targeted imaging probes are making an impact both clinically and preclinically,... (Review)
Review
Molecular imaging is critical to personalized and precision medicine. Although singly targeted imaging probes are making an impact both clinically and preclinically, molecular imaging strategies using bispecific probes have enabled improved visualization of cancer in recent years through synergistic targeting of two ligands. In this Focus on Molecular Imaging review, we outline how peptide-, antibody-, and nanoparticle-based platforms have affected this emerging strategy, providing examples and pointing out areas in which the greatest clinical impact may be realized.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Immunoglobulin Fragments; Molecular Imaging; Nanoparticles; Neoplasms
PubMed: 29301927
DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.117.199877 -
Contrast Media & Molecular Imaging 2018
Topics: Humans; Molecular Imaging; Nuclear Medicine; Positron-Emission Tomography; Radionuclide Imaging; Whole Body Imaging
PubMed: 30046294
DOI: 10.1155/2018/3613156 -
Cell and Tissue Research Apr 2015
Topics: Animals; Cell Biology; Cells; Humans; Molecular Imaging; Nobel Prize; Organ Specificity
PubMed: 25773453
DOI: 10.1007/s00441-015-2149-0 -
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Sep 2020Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is defined by a chronic relapsing and remitting inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, with intestinal fibrosis being a major... (Review)
Review
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is defined by a chronic relapsing and remitting inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, with intestinal fibrosis being a major complication. The etiology of IBD remains unknown, but it is thought to arise from a dysregulated and excessive immune response to gut luminal microbes triggered by genetic and environmental factors. To date, IBD has no cure, and treatments are currently directed at relieving symptoms and treating inflammation. The current diagnostic of IBD relies on endoscopy, which is invasive and does not provide information on the presence of extraluminal complications and molecular aspect of the disease. Cross-sectional imaging modalities such as computed tomography enterography (CTE), magnetic resonance enterography (MRE), positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and hybrid modalities have demonstrated high accuracy for the diagnosis of IBD and can provide both functional and morphological information when combined with the use of molecular imaging probes. This review presents the state-of-the-art imaging techniques and molecular imaging approaches in the field of IBD and points out future directions that could help improve our understanding of IBD pathological processes, along with the development of efficient treatments.
Topics: Fibrosis; Gastrointestinal Tract; Humans; Inflammation; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Intestines; Molecular Imaging; Multimodal Imaging
PubMed: 32793946
DOI: 10.1093/ibd/izaa213 -
Journal of Nuclear Medicine : Official... Nov 2013Ultrasound and combined optical and ultrasonic (photoacoustic) molecular imaging have shown great promise in the visualization and monitoring of cancer through imaging... (Review)
Review
Ultrasound and combined optical and ultrasonic (photoacoustic) molecular imaging have shown great promise in the visualization and monitoring of cancer through imaging of vascular and extravascular molecular targets. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound with molecularly targeted microbubbles can detect early-stage cancer through the visualization of targets expressed on the angiogenic vasculature of tumors. Ultrasonic molecular imaging can be extended to the imaging of extravascular targets through use of nanoscale, phase-change droplets and photoacoustic imaging, which provides further molecular information on cancer given by the chemical composition of tissues and by targeted nanoparticles that can interact with extravascular tissues at the receptor level. A new generation of targeted contrast agents goes beyond merely increasing imaging signal at the site of target expression but shows activatable and differential contrast depending on their interactions with the tumor microenvironment. These innovations may further improve our ability to detect and characterize tumors. In this review, recent developments in acoustic and photoacoustic molecular imaging of cancer are discussed.
Topics: Acoustics; Animals; Contrast Media; Humans; Molecular Imaging; Neoplasms; Photoacoustic Techniques
PubMed: 24187042
DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.112.115568