Multifunctional Probes for Multimodality Imaging of Cancer

Functional probes for cardiovascular molecular imaging

“…The predominant imaging modalities can be generally categorized as either anatomical imaging modalities like CT and ultrasound, or functional imaging modalities like PET, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), optical imaging, molecular MRI, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. From an engineering perspective, each imaging modality would benefit from an increased sensitivity and improved temporal and spatial resolution (2,4).…”

“…Anatomical imaging can provide anatomical information that is potentially altered by changes in the anatomy at the time of disease, while functional imaging modalities can determine biochemical activities of CVDs in vivo (2). Each imaging modality can be characterized by its own weaknesses and strengths.…”

“…These methods serve as a means to supervise early onset of CVDs. Since molecular differentiation is the basis of pathogenesis, traditional cardiovascular imaging technology has aimed at detecting a specific molecular target and fundamental biological development in CVDs (2). Accordingly, in recent years, molecular imaging technologies have been generally accepted in the role of rapid proliferating research interests that significantly promote the non-invasive diagnostic imaging for the conversion of anatomical description to detect specific tissue epitopes and monitor the fundamental biological developments at the cellular and subcellular level (3).…”

“…The mutual contribution among inter-disciplinary branches of science, such as molecular biology, chemistry, nanotechnology, and imaging technology, has effectively enhanced the rapid growth in the cardiovascular molecular imaging technologies and has allowed for the development of a large number of attractive new probes in the last decade. The appropriate probes should possess imaging, targeting, and therapeutic functions in order to facilitate the appropriate remedies in the battle against CVDs (2). In this section, we will first briefly describe the general working principles of molecular imaging-probe design, and then summarize the current state-of-the-art in probe-assisted cardiovascular molecular imaging.…”