ABSTRACT
Molecular imaging is a rapidly growing field, which holds the
promise of enabling the non-invasive visualization, characterization,
and quantification of dynamic biological processes at the cellular
and molecular level, in intact live subjects. With the growing
need for more targeted and personalized therapeutic regimens, the
development of molecular imaging strategies and tools will play a
crucial role in elucidating the molecular bases of diseases, and also
in permitting the timely diagnosis and treatment of pathologies [1-
Molecular and cellular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers
several advantages over other imaging modalities, such as optical,
radionuclide, and ultrasound imaging. These advantages include the
ability to monitor molecular and cellular processes longitudinally
at high spatial resolution, and the possibility of co-registering these
dynamic processes with both functional images and high-resolution
anatomical images. Although MRI requires the administration of
probes at higher concentrations (10−3-10−6 M) compared to optical imaging (10−10-10−14 M) and radionuclide imaging (10−7-10−9), recent technological advances have greatly improved both signal-
to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) [4]. These
technological advances include the development of high magnetic
field scanners, improved radiofrequency coils, robust gradient
systems, and better image post-processing tools. In addition, the
development of molecular targeting strategies and tools capable
of enabling the specific visualization of molecular biomarkers will
further enhance the CNR [5-7].
