Open AccessFluorescent Molecular Imaging: Technical Progress and Current Preclinical and Clinical Applications in Urogynecologic Diseases
Author(s) -
Vinita M. Alexander,
Peter L. Choyke,
Hisataka Kobayashi
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
current molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.567
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1875-5666
pISSN - 1566-5240
DOI - 10.2174/1566524013666131111125758
Subject(s) - molecular imaging , fluorophore , optical imaging , fluorescence , preclinical imaging , fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy , nanotechnology , molecular probe , in vivo , medicine , chemistry , materials science , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , optics , biochemistry , dna , physics
Many molecular imaging probes have been developed in recent years that hold great promise for both diagnostic and therapeutic functions in urogynecologic disease. Historically, optical probe designs were based on either endogenous or exogenous fluorophores. More recently, organic fluorophore probes have been engineered to target specific tissues and emit fluorescence only upon binding to targets. Several different photochemical mechanisms of activation exist. This review presents a discussion of the history and development of molecular imaging probe designs and provides an overview of successful preclinical and clinical models employing molecular probes for in vivo imaging of urogynecologic cancers.