| By :
Adrianna Noton
In vivo molecular imaging refers to the detailed, non-invasive study of biological processes at the level of molecular biological processes in living organisms. The term encompasses all manner of advanced techniques, including positron emission tomography PET), magnetic resonance imaging MRI), single positron emission computed tomography (SPECT) and optical imaging modalities. Where in vivo molecular imaging is used and importance of it are topics of growing importance in the development of new therapeutics. Emerging technologies are rapidly steering medical scientists to the point where they can investigate what is called the pre-disease state, molecular states that occur before disease symptoms become evident to the patient. Advanced imaging technologies may be used to enable more rapid detection and treatment of diseases and allow the development of personalized drugs. One area in which in vivo MRI has been used is in the visualization of new blood vessel formation in the early stages of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis refers to the deposition of fatty substances on the inner lining of arteries. New blood vessel growth, called angiogenesis, may be a factor in the initiation and subsequent rupture of plaques that lead ultimately to heart attacks or strokes. Another area of neuroscience where visualization of processes at this level could be important is in the study of Alzheimer's disease (AD). It is becoming clear that the world's population, as well as getting bigger, is also growing older. Hardly a week goes by when there is not a story in the media about people living healthily to the age of 100 and beyond. As a generation of Baby Boomers from the 1940s and 1950s reach their seventies and eighties, rates of AD and other forms of dementia are destined to skyrocket. A massive increase in the number of adults with AD is going to pose tremendous social, medical and financial burdens on society. Fortunately, new technology may enable the early detection of the condition as well as improved efficacy assessment of new therapies. Beta-amyloid is the main protein component found in Alzheimer's plaques that characterize the disease. Scientists are in the process of developing new biomarkers for this protein using PET scanning. Other neuroscientists are using color doppler imaging along with micro-ultrasound to study the flow of blood within the rodent brain. These studies may eventually lead to a better understanding of cerebral blood flow in the human brain. The first experiments using bioluminescence in studies of gene expression in plants and animals took place in 1993. Bioluminescence refers to the production of light by living organisms. These studies use light produced by an enzyme called luciferase. Key factors in the success of these types of experiments are a cabinet designed to completely eliminate ambient light and the ability to maintain animals under anesthesia. Where in vivo Molecular Imaging is used and importance of it may lead us to ways of detecting and treating diseases earlier than ever before. These technologies may also enable pharmaceutical companies to design more effective and individualized drugs. This applies to diseases of the brain and cardiovascular systems as well as the initiation and development of tumors.
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