title: Nuclear and optical dual-labelled imaging agents. Design and challenges.
abstract: Over the last two decades, molecular imaging has been established as a valuable technology, aiming at visualization and characterization of biochemical processes on a molecular level in isolated cells, tissues and higher organisms. Within the wide scope of the various imaging techniques, dual-labelled modalities for nuclear (PET, SPECT) and near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging show promise owing to their comparable detection sensitivity. Novel materials offer excellent prospects for the development of new non-invasive strategies of early diagnosis and efficient monitoring of therapeutic treatments. In the field of cancer medicine, the combination of different imaging techniques such as PET/SPECT and OI for tracking down tumours and metastases, and subsequent image-guided surgery for tumour resection is particularly attractive. This review focuses on the development of promising dual-labelled agents to be applied in bimodal nuclear/optical imaging, combining radionuclides and fluorescent dyes. The discussion encompasses modular ligands as well as nanoscale systems, including antibodies and their fragments.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Gott
authors.forename: H-J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Pietzsch
authors.affiliation: Dr. rer. nat. Holger Stephan, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Tel. +49/(0)351/260-30 91, Fax -32 32, h.stephan@hzdr.de.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stephan
mesh_terms: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000639:trends*; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000639:trends; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000639:trends*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000737:chemistry*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000639:trends*
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals
keywords: Molecular imaging; PET; SPECT; dual labelling; fluorescence