Molecular Imaging for In Vivo Tracking and Detection of Galectin Binding Partners.

Molecular imaging (MI) is a non-invasive growing technology that allows the investigation of cellular and molecular processes in basic and clinical research and medicine. Luminescent proteins and radionuclides can be associated to target molecules providing high-definition and real-time image of whole body in few minutes or hours. Several MI studies have enabled the determination of molecular partners, in vivo tracking, and fate of compounds in different disorders. Considering that galectins are multifaceted proteins with great impact in many biological events, here we describe methods and strategies to generate labeled galectins for in vivo non-invasive imaging studies.