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.

A Molecular Imaging Primer: Modalities, Imaging Agents, and Applications

National Cell Bank, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran 1316943551, Iran, Cardiovascular Research Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029, United States, Department of General, Organic, and Biomedical Chemistry, NMR and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, University of Mons, Avenue Maistriau, 19, B-7000 Mons, Belgium, Institute for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran 14588, Iran, Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming University, No 155, Sec. 2, LiNong Street, Taipei 112, Taiwan, Nanotechnology Toxicology Consulting & Training, Inc., Nova Scotia, Canada, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie Medical School, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology (INSAT), University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7ER, U.K., Nanotechnology Research Centre, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Magnetic resonance imaging tracking of stem cells in vivo using iron oxide nanoparticles as a tool for the advancement of clinical regenerative medicine.

Recent trends in antibody-based oncologic imaging.

Functional nanoparticles for molecular imaging guided gene delivery

Neuroimaging of Parkinson's disease: Expanding views.

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression is associated with several key features of cancer development and growth. Therefore, EGFR is a very promising biological target for tumor diagnosis and anticancer therapy. Characterization of EGFR expression is important for clinicians to select patients for EGFR-targeted therapy and evaluate therapeutic effects.Purpose: To investigate whether near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent dye Cy5.5-labeled anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody Erbitux can characterize EGFR expression level in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer xenografts using an in vivo NIR imaging method.Material and Methods: A fluorochrome probe was designed by coupling Cy5.5 to Erbitux through acidylation, and the fluorescence property of the Erbitux-Cy5.5 conjugate was characterized by fluorospectroscopy. Flow cytometry and laser confocal microscopy were used to test the EGFR specificity of the antibody probe in vitro. Erbitux-Cy5.5 was also injected intravenously into immune-deficient mic...

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Characterizing breast cancer xenograft epidermal growth factor receptor expression by using near-infrared optical imaging.

Purpose
The aim of this study is to monitor endostatin gene expression and therapy using transferrin receptor (TfR) as reporter gene and transferrin conjugate of ultrasmall supramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (Tf–USPIO) as magnetic resonance (MR) reporter probe.

MR Reporter Gene Imaging of Endostatin Expression and Therapy

Purpose
99 mTcN-MPO ([99 mTcN(mpo)(PNP5)]+: mpo = 2-mercaptopyridine oxide and PNP5 = N-ethoxyethyl-N,N-bis[2-(bis(3-methoxypropyl)phosphino)ethyl]amine) is a cationic 99 mTc-nitrido complex, which has favorable biodistribution and myocardial uptake with rapid liver clearance in Sprague Dawley rats. The objective of this study was to compare the biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of 99 mTcN-MPO and 99 mTc-Sestamibi in normal dogs, and to evaluate the potential of 99 mTcN-MPO as a myocardial perfusion agent in canines with acute myocardial infarction.

Evaluation of (99) (m)TcN-MPO as a new myocardial perfusion imaging agent in normal dogs and in an acute myocardial infarction canine model: comparison with (99) (m)Tc-sestamibi.

N-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]-18F-5-fluoropicolinamide PET/CT is a feasible technique for visualizing and detecting the long-term activity of implanted retinal pigment epithelium cells for the treatment of Parkinson disease in vivo.

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Intrastriatal Transplantation of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells for the Treatment of Parkinson Disease: In Vivo Longitudinal Molecular Imaging with 18F-P3BZA PET/CT

Renfei Li

Papers

Characterizing breast cancer xenograft epidermal growth factor receptor expression by using near-infrared optical imaging.

MR Reporter Gene Imaging of Endostatin Expression and Therapy

Evaluation of (99) (m)TcN-MPO as a new myocardial perfusion imaging agent in normal dogs and in an acute myocardial infarction canine model: comparison with (99) (m)Tc-sestamibi.

Intrastriatal Transplantation of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells for the Treatment of Parkinson Disease: In Vivo Longitudinal Molecular Imaging with 18F-P3BZA PET/CT

intrastriatal Transplantation of r etinal Pigment epithelial cells for the Treatment of Parkinson Disease: In Vivo Longitudinal