Advances in Nanomedicine: Transforming Diagnostic Imaging with Novel Contrast Agents.

X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging plays an essential role in disease diagnosis due to its noninvasive, painless mode and superior penetration depth. However, the resolution of the soft tissue ...

In Part I of this consensus article, the imaging methodology, evolving imaging technology, and development of novel targeted molecular probes relevant to the developing field of cardiovascular molecular imaging were reviewed. Novel reporter gene and reporter probe imaging approaches for tracking of cardiac transgene expression were also discussed and have important future implications for evaluation of gene- and cell-based therapies for the failing heart. The current role of metabolic and receptor imaging was also briefly reviewed, as these represent the beginning of our clinical application of molecular imaging within the cardiovascular system. Part II will summarize the available targeted imaging probes as well as specific future applications of molecular imaging for identification and evaluation of critical pathophysiological processes of the cardiovascular system.

Bimodal MR–PET Agent for Quantitative pH Imaging

Stroke is one of the leading causes of adult disability throughout the world and, even though neural mechanisms of loss of function have been extensively studied, many aspects of poststroke cerebral responses remain poorly understood. Of particular interest is the mounting evidence of the capacity of the adult brain to reorganize after injury, which is believed to contribute to limitation of the extent of neural dysfunction and to restoration of affected neural functions. Processes such as neuronal plasticity, glial proliferation, and neovascularization may be essential for preservation or recovery of function after stroke and may conceivably go hand-in-hand at nearby and remote sites of active tissue reorganization.1,2 Specifically, the acute initiation of neurovascular remodeling, stimulating the proliferation and growth of existing arteries/arterioles (ie, arteriogenesis) or new capillaries (ie, angiogenesis), may be critical to facilitate the survival and restructuring of neural tissue, which ultimately may contribute to functional recovery at later stages.3 A variety of vascular imaging strategies is available for in vivo detection, characterization, and quantification of these processes, which can significantly aid in elucidation of the role of neurovascular remodeling after stroke, as discussed in this review. Because most of the described imaging modalities are present in experimental and clinical settings, this raises significant opportunities for translational studies. Growth and remodeling of existing and nascent vascular networks in health and disease involve a number of critical steps that have been comprehensively described by Risau4 and Carmeliet.5 Arteriogenesis involves adaptive growth and proliferation of preexisting (collateral) arteries and arterioles in response to increase in intravascular shear forces. The increased shear stress leads to upregulation of cell adhesion molecules, followed by accumulation of monocytes and other leukocytes that release cytokines and growth factors around the proliferating and maturating arteries.6 Although arteriogenic growth of collateral …

PET/CT 촬영에서 정량분석에 영향을 주는 다양한 인자 중 현재 상품화된 CT 조영제와 MRI 조영제의 종류별 각 성분의 특성에 따른 SUV의 변화를 비교·분석하고자 하였다. 실험장비는 Discovery 690 PET/CT(Ge)와 NEMA NU2- 1994 PET phantom를 이용하였고, 팬텀에 증류수 2/3를 채워 넣은 후 방사성동위원소(18F-FDG 37 MBq)와 각각의 CT와 MRI 조영제를 순차적으로 주입하여 팬텀을 고르게 교반하고 다시 증류수를 가득 채운 후 기포가 생기지 않게 하였다. 방출스캔은 FDG 또는 FDG와 혼합한 조영제를 넣고 40분에 15분 동안 스캔하였으며, 투과스캔은 CT로 관전압 120 kVp, 관전류 40 mA, 회전시간 0.5 sec, 단면두께 3.27 mm, DFOV 30 cm의 조건으로 스캔하였다. 분석방법으로 정량분석은 각각 10, 15, 20, 25, 30번째 slice에서 region of interest (ROI)를 설정하여 각각 SUVmean, SUVmax를 구하였다. 결과적으로 순수 FDG 영상과 비교에서 MRI 조영제를 혼합한 3종류의 영상 모두에서 SUVmean 가 높게 측정되었으나 통계적 유의성은 없었고, SUVmax 에서는 유의한 결과를 얻었다. 또한 4종류의 CT 조영제 영상은 SUVmean, SUVmax 모두 유의한 결과를 얻었다. PET/CT는 영상의 정확도를 위해 감쇠 보정은 다양한 방법으로 시행되고 있지만 CT와 MRI 조영제는 감쇠보정 시 영상의 왜곡에 의한 진단적 가치를 저하시킬 수 있다. 이러한 이유로 진료 당일 여러 종류의 검사를 시행하기 전 반드시 선행되어야 할 검사를 선별하여 서로 영향을 주지 않도록 함으로서 고객에게 차별화된 양질의 의료서비스를 제공해야 한다.

Blood Flow Imaging of the Brain: 50 Years Experience

Nanomaterials offer significant potential for non-invasive multimodal imaging due to their multifunctionality and tunable nanoscale features. Advances in their design and conjugation with organic and inorganic materials have enhanced their production and utility. Functionalizing nanoparticles (NPs) with imaging agents enables high-contrast imaging with spatial precision. Plasmonic NPs, lanthanide NPs, semiconductor-based quantum dots (QDs), and biogenic NPs have been employed as contrast agents for sensitive and specific imaging. Diseases such as cancer, neurological, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular conditions demand early diagnosis for effective therapy. Therefore, functionalized NPs are employed to enhance molecular imaging by penetrating cells and targeting biomolecules thereby improving imaging modalities like positron emission tomography (PET), X-ray computed tomography (CT), near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and photoacoustic imaging (PAI). This review highlights novel NP applications for image-guided surgery and treatment, emphasizing their role in combining imaging techniques for precision diagnostics. Challenges such as clinical translation and toxicity are discussed, underscoring the need for further research. NP-based contrast agents have emerged as an effective tool for bridging the gap between traditional diagnostics and personalized treatments, enabling real-time therapeutic monitoring and early stage theranostics.

To investigate molecular and functional consequences of additional exposures to iodine- or gadolinium-based contrast agents within 24 hours from the initial intravenous administration of iodine-based contrast agents through an animal study. Fifty-six Sprague-Dawley male rats were equally divided into eight groups: negative control, positive control (PC) with single-dose administration of CT contrast agent, and additional administration of either CT or MR contrast agents 2, 4, or 24 hours from initial CT contrast agent injection. A 12 µL/g of iodinated contrast agent or a 0.47 µL/g of gadolinium-based contrast agent were injected into the tail vein. Serum levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, cystatin C (Cys C), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. mRNA and protein levels of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) were evaluated. Levels of serum creatinine (SCr) were significantly higher in repeated CT contrast agent injection groups than in PC (0.21 ± 0.02 mg/dL for PC; 0.40 ± 0.02, 0.34 ± 0.03, and 0.41 ± 0.10 mg/dL for 2-, 4-, and 24-hour interval groups, respectively; P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the average Cys C and MDA levels between PC and repeated CT contrast agent injection groups (Cys C, P = 0.256-0.362; MDA, P > 0.99). Additional doses of MR contrast agent did not make significant changes compared to PC in SCr (P > 0.99), Cys C (P = 0.262), and MDA (P = 0.139-0.771) levels. mRNA and protein levels of KIM-1 and NGAL were not significantly different among additional CT or MR contrast agent groups (P > 0.05). A sufficient time interval, probably more than 24 hours, between repeated contrast-enhanced CT examinations may be necessary to avoid deterioration in renal function. However, conducting contrast-enhanced MRI on the same day as contrast-enhanced CT may not induce clinically significant kidney injury.

Noninvasive “multimodal” in vivo imaging is not just becoming standard practice in the clinic, but is rapidly changing the evolving field of experimental imaging of genetic expression (“molecular imaging”). The development of multimodality methodology based on nuclear medicine (NM), positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and optical imaging is the single biggest focus in many imaging and cancer centers worldwide and is bringing together researchers and engineers from the far-ranging fields of molecular pharmacology to nanotechnology engineering. The rapid growth of in vivo multimodality imaging arises from the convergence of established fields of in vivo imaging technologies with molecular and cell biology. The cross-pollination of these disciplines has been accelerated in part by the establishment of the National Institutes of Health NCI P20 and P50 awards, for example, and by the sheer potential of the technology. Multimodality imaging is widely considered to involve the incorporation of two or more imaging modalities, usually within the setting of a single examination using, for example, dual- or triple-labeled optical or nuclear medicine “reporter” agents or by performing ultrasound or optical studies within the MR, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), or x-ray computed tomography (CT) environment. Clinically, the best example of multimodality imaging is seen in the rapid evolution of PET-SPECT and PET-CT scanner hybrids. The PET modality has developed into perhaps the most used “multimodal” imaging method. The incorporation of PET into single, hybrid, and multimodality units to provide functional (typically from injected F-18DG studies) and anatomic information is becoming extremely popular,1–2 so much so that, for example, PET/CT hybrids can be found in outpatient screening centers located in shopping malls. The role of any multimodal imaging …

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of CT contrast agent and MRI contrast agent on the area dose in the body when using automatic exposure control system in general radiography. After making rectangular holes in the center of the abdominal thickness paraffin phantom, CT contrast agent and MRI contrast agent were respectively diluted with physiological saline solution for contrast medium dilution ratio of 10:0, 9:1, 8:2, 7:3, 6:4, 5:5, 4:6, 3:7, 2:8, 1:9, 0:10%. Each experiment was set to 78 kVp, 320 mA, which is the proper condition for KUB photography, and thereafter a total of 30 inspections were made for each dilution ratio using an automatic exposure control device, and the area dose corresponding to the dilution ratio of each contrast agent, Average comparison and correlation analysis were performed on the exposure index. As a result, the CT contrast agent and the MRI contrast agent appeared different in area dose according to the dilution ratio(p<0.05), and as the dilution ratio increased, the area dose increased for CT contrast agent and MRI contrast agent(P<0.05). In each test, the exposure index showed the manufacturer's recommendation of 200-800 EI value, and the exposure index and area dose increased as the area dose increased(p<0.05). In conclusion, CT contrast agent and MRI contrast agent confirmed to increase the area dose by general imaging test using all automatic exposure control device. Therefore, it is considered that it is necessary to perform it after the contrast medium has been excreted sufficiently when using usual imaging test after using the contrast agent in CT and MRI examination.

The effectiveness of an imaging technique not only depends on its ability to image quantitatively both morphological and physiological functions of the tissue, but also on the contrast agent used to communicate with biomolecules. Several types of contrast media are used in medical imaging and they can roughly be cataloged based on the imaging modalities where they are used. More importantly, the use of contrast agent withtheir size ranging in nanometer scale has become general practice in medical diagnosis. As the matter of fact, nanoparticles have fascinated scientist for over a century and are now heavily utilized in biomedical sciences and engineering as they are long known to communicate effectively with the biomolecules. Today these materials can be synthesized and modified with various chemical functional groups which allow them to be conjugated with antibodies, ligands, and drugs of interest and thus opening a wide range of potential applications in biotechnology, and more importantly in diagnostic medical imaging viaultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET). These imaging modalities differ not only in resolution, but also in the instrumentation and the type of nanoparticle that can be employed as its assistant. Of these imaging techniques, ultrasound is one of the oldest imaging modalitywhich is still widely used to examine internal organs of the body and diagnose potential disease states such as cancer, plague, clots, and swelling. Various articles have been published over the period of years detailing the instrumentation and the applications of ultrasonography, but very few have emphasized the importance of particle size indeveloping a successful contrast agent for ultrasonography. Thus in the present review article we aim to present the basic principles involved in developing successful contrast agent for Ultrasound imaging. Furthermore, we have also discussed the experimental and physical aspects of various types of nanoparticles including its fabrication and design oftargeted contrast agents. Finally, we have cited some of the best biomedical and clinical applications of the developed nanoprobes and their use for Ultrasound imaging.

Simple SummaryMagnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) represent an important class of nanomaterials that has been actively employed in multiple technological applications. The MNPs and their based composites have been intensively developed for magnetic resonance imaging, targeted drug delivery, magnetic hyperthermia, and other applications. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has a prominent position among clinical imaging modalities as it allows for high spatial resolution and tissue specificity without harmful ionizing radiation. The aim of the study was the demonstration of the potential use of magnetic nanoparticles based on cobalt ferrite spinel as advanced MRI contrast agents that are capable of both T1-weighted positive and T2-weighted negative contrast enhancements in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, in the present study, we combined novel physical, chemical, and biomedical approaches to develop a multifunctional MRI-detectable drug delivery system that was an efficient T1- and T2-weighted MRI contrast agent and a nanocarrier for targeted drug delivery in vivo.Nano-dimensional materials have become a focus of multiple clinical applications due to their unique physicochemical properties. Magnetic nanoparticles represent an important class of nanomaterials that are widely studied for use as magnetic resonance (MR) contrast and drug delivery agents, especially as they can be detected and manipulated remotely. Using magnetic cobalt ferrite spinel (MCFS) nanoparticles, this study was aimed at developing a multifunctional drug delivery platform with MRI capability for use in cancer treatment. We found that MCFS nanoparticles demonstrated outstanding properties for contrast MRI (r1 = 22.1 s–1mM–1 and r2 = 499 s–1mM–1) that enabled high-resolution T1- and T2-weighted MRI-based signal detection. Furthermore, MCFS nanoparticles were used for the development of a multifunctional targeted drug delivery platform for cancer treatment that is concurrently empowered with the MR contrast properties. Their therapeutic effect in systemic chemotherapy and unique MRI double-contrast properties were confirmed in vivo using a breast cancer mouse tumor model. Our study thus provides an empirical basis for the development of a novel multimodal composite drug delivery system for anticancer therapy combined with noninvasive MRI capability.

Imaging inflammation in large intracranial artery pathology may play an important role in the diagnosis of and risk stratification for a variety of cerebrovascular diseases. Looking beyond the lumen has already generated widespread excitement in the stroke community, and the potential to unveil molecular processes in the vessel wall is a natural evolution to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the pathogenesis of diseases, such as ICAD and brain aneurysms.

"Advances in cancer imaging and technology"-special collection -introductory Editorial.

The effectiveness of interventions to reduce fear, anxiety and claustrophobia of patients undergoing imaging with high technology modalities: a systematic review