In drug discovery and development, preclinical in vivo molecular imaging is considered to be an essential tool. It provides researchers with clear visibility of cellular changes at a molecular level. Imaging approaches such as optical positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) bring high specificity and wide applicability, enabling numerous molecular events to be monitored and key markers to be identified.
These techniques feed our understanding of disease progression, as well as revealing the mode of action and pharmacokinetics of potential therapeutics.
Considering small animal optical imaging systems in particular, combining multiple imaging modalities in a single instrument gives access to valuable information about physiological and disease mechanisms in the preclinical setting. For example, five imaging modalities, including bioluminescence, multispectral VIS-NIR fluorescence, direct radioisotopic imaging, Cerenkov radiation and high-speed digital X-ray, are provided as standard within the latest Bruker system (Xtreme II), supplying functional images that allow for the coregistration of molecular events with tissue or organ morphology.
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