Fluorescent Wide-Field Imaging of Nanoparticles In Vivo

Mon, 02 Dec 2013 19:00:00 -0500

Fluorescence imaging has increased in pre-clinical biomedical research providing unique advantages over current diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. In general, imaging of mice is done with many modes including: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and optical imaging. The drawbacks of MRI, PET and SPECT are the need for expensive instrumentation and radioactive contrast agents. Contrast agents can be harmful if used repeatedly in patients and the limited lifetimes also do not allow safe, repetitive measurements. The combination of nanomedicine with fluorescence imaging allows researchers to monitor NPs in vivo, non-invasively, and serially. Fluorescence imaging in pre-clinical research of NPs is advantageous because of the relatively low cost of the setup, ability to perform serial imaging, and the development of biocompatible and long circulating NPs. Findings from this research will help push the field of cancer nanomedicine further along resulting in commercialization of more nanomedicine products.