Winter Patrick M, Caruthers Shelton D, Wickline Samuel A, Lanza Gregory M
Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Laboratories, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Curr Cardiol Rep. 2006 Feb;8(1):65-9. doi: 10.1007/s11886-006-0013-2.
The goal of molecular imaging is to detect pathologic biomarkers, which can lead to early recognition of diseases, better therapeutic management, and improved monitoring for recurrence. MRI is a particularly attractive method for molecular imaging applications, due to its noninvasive nature, outstanding signal to noise ratio, high spatial resolution, exceptional tissue contrast, and short imaging times. Site-specific MRI contrast agents have been developed to target biologic processes that occur early in the development of atherosclerotic plaques, including angiogenesis and lipid accumulation, or biosignatures that appear later, such as fibrin and tissue factor resulting from plaque rupture. Moreover, targeted contrast agents can also serve as drug delivery vehicles, combining diagnosis and therapy. If ultimately successful, these emerging molecular imaging agents and techniques will allow early disease recognition and quantification prompting therapeutic intervention before serious sequelae ensue.
分子成像的目标是检测病理生物标志物，这有助于疾病的早期识别、更好的治疗管理以及对复发的监测。由于其非侵入性、出色的信噪比、高空间分辨率、卓越的组织对比度和短成像时间，磁共振成像（MRI）是分子成像应用中一种特别有吸引力的方法。针对特定部位的MRI造影剂已被开发出来，用于靶向动脉粥样硬化斑块形成早期发生的生物过程，包括血管生成和脂质积累，或后期出现的生物标志物，如斑块破裂产生的纤维蛋白和组织因子。此外，靶向造影剂还可作为药物递送载体，将诊断与治疗相结合。如果最终取得成功，这些新兴的分子成像剂和技术将能够在严重后遗症出现之前实现疾病的早期识别和量化，从而促使进行治疗干预。
