title: Targeted multimodal imaging modalities.
abstract: Molecular imaging non-invasively visualizes and characterizes the biologic functions and mechanisms in living organisms at a molecular level. In recent years, advances in imaging instruments, imaging probes, assay methods, and quantification techniques have enabled more refined and reliable images for more accurate diagnoses. Multimodal imaging combines two or more imaging modalities into one system to produce details in clinical diagnostic imaging that are more precise than conventional imaging. Multimodal imaging offers complementary advantages: high spatial resolution, soft tissue contrast, and biological information on the molecular level with high sensitivity. However, combining all modalities into a single imaging probe involves problems yet to be solved due to the requirement of high dose contrast agents for a component of imaging modality with low sensitivity. The introduction of targeting moieties into the probes enhances the specific binding of targeted multimodal imaging modalities and selective accumulation of the imaging agents at a disease site to provide more accurate diagnoses. An extensive list of prior reports on the targeted multimodal imaging probes categorized by each modality is presented and discussed. In addition to accurate diagnosis, targeted multimodal imaging agents carrying therapeutic medications make it possible to visualize the theranostic effect and the progress of disease. This will facilitate the development of an imaging-guided therapy, which will widen the application of the targeted multimodal imaging field to experiments in vivo.
authors: Research Institute of Advanced Materials (RIAM), Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Gwanak-ro 1, Gwanak, Seoul 151-744, Republic of Korea.
authors: Seung Yong
authors: SY
authors: Lee
authors: Research Institute of Advanced Materials (RIAM), Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Gwanak-ro 1, Gwanak, Seoul 151-744, Republic of Korea.
authors: Seong Ik
authors: SI
authors: Jeon
authors: Research Institute of Advanced Materials (RIAM), Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Gwanak-ro 1, Gwanak, Seoul 151-744, Republic of Korea.
authors: Seulhee
authors: S
authors: Jung
authors: Research Institute of Advanced Materials (RIAM), Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Gwanak-ro 1, Gwanak, Seoul 151-744, Republic of Korea.
authors: In Jae
authors: IJ
authors: Chung
authors: Research Institute of Advanced Materials (RIAM), Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Gwanak-ro 1, Gwanak, Seoul 151-744, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: chahn@snu.ac.kr.
authors: Cheol-Hee
authors: CH
authors: Ahn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Active targeting; Imaging probes; Molecular imaging; Multimodality; Targeting moieties