Title:In vivo Optical Molecular Imaging of Cardiovascular Diseases: Long Road Ahead
VOLUME: 3 ISSUE: 2
Author(s):Yingfeng Tu, Lei Jiang, Ruiping Zhang, Baozhong Shen and Zhen Cheng
Affiliation:Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Department of Radiology and Bio-X Program, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, 1201 Welch Road, Lucas Expansion, P095, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305.
Keywords:Bioluminescent imaging, cardiovascular diseases, fluorescence molecular tomography, near-infrared fluorescence
imaging, optical imaging.
Abstract:Optical molecular imaging is a powerful imaging method, which can in vivo monitor physiological and pathobiological
processes at the cellular and molecular levels, as opposed to the anatomical level, bridging the gap between imaging
and biological processes. Because of its relevance in cardiovascular diseases research, the use of this technology for
imaging of cardiovascular diseases advances at a rapid pace in the past decade. This review summarizes the optical molecular
imaging methods for imaging the specific targets in cardiovascular diseases, which hold promise for in vivo applications
in cardiovascular diseases research. Collectively, in vivo optical molecular imaging may be highly suitable for discriminating
targets that play key roles in the occurrence and development of the instable atherosclerosis, thrombogenesis,
myocardial infarction, myocardial apoptosis, angiogenesis, as well as in cardiac cell transplantation.
