title: Advances in imaging probes and optical microendoscopic imaging techniques for early in vivo cancer assessment.
abstract: A new chapter in the history of medical diagnosis happened when the first X-ray technology was invented in the late 1800s. Since then, many non-invasive and minimally invasive imaging techniques have been invented for clinical diagnosis to research in cellular biology, drug discovery, and disease monitoring. These imaging modalities have leveraged the benefits of significant advances in computer, electronics, and information technology and, more recently, targeted molecular imaging. The development of targeted contrast agents such as fluorescent and nanoparticle probes coupled with optical imaging techniques has made it possible to selectively view specific biological events and processes in both in vivo and ex vivo systems with great sensitivity and selectivity. Thus, the combination of targeted molecular imaging probes and optical imaging techniques have become a mainstay in modern medicinal and biological research. Many promising results have demonstrated great potentials to translate to clinical applications. In this review, we describe a discussion of employing imaging probes and optical microendoscopic imaging techniques for cancer diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC), Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.
authors.forename: Numfon
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khemthongcharoen
authors.affiliation: National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC), Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.
authors.forename: Romuald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jolivot
authors.affiliation: National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC), Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.
authors.forename: Santi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rattanavarin
authors.affiliation: National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC), Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand; Advanced Imaging Research (AIR) Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. Electronic address: wibool@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Wibool
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Piyawattanametha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015335:Molecular Probes; D053758:Nanoparticles; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D015335:Molecular Probes
keywords: Cancer; Confocal; MEMS; Microendoscope; Molecular imaging; Multispectral confocal; Nanoparticles; Optical imaging; Theranostic; Two-photon