Molecular Imaging: Principles and Practice

Molecular imaging: principles and practice Ralph Weissleder, Brian Ross, Alnawaz Rehemtulla, and Sanjiv Gambhir, PMPH USA, Shelton, CT, 2010. ISBN: 978-1607950059, 1,380 pages, US$189.00. Molecular imaging is a rapidly growing field due to its key role in advancing state-of-the-art medical research areas, e.g., regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and stem cell implantation. This nonconventional medical research is expected to start a new era of treating complex diseases on the cellular scale, which would be a breakthrough in medical history. For example, in the near future, treatments should be available for infarcted myocardium, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases through the regeneration and implantation of normally functioning cells into organs to replace dead or malfunctioning cells, thereby restoring organ function. However, at present, scientists need an efficient way to visualize the human body on the cellular level to judge the success of their experiments in the intact body at different stages (cell injection, transportation, differentiation, dilution, death, and function), which is the role of molecular imaging. Molecular Imaging: Principles and Practice contains 76 chapters that are divided into six main parts: “Molecular Imaging Technologies,” “Chemistry of Molecular Imaging,” “Molecular Imaging in Cell and Molecular Biology,” “Applications of Molecular Imaging,” “Molecular Imaging in Drug Evaluation,” and “Other Topics. ” The book is printed in color on glossy paper, and the chapters are written by experts in their fields. Following an introductory chapter, Part I starts by covering the basic physics and operation principles of different imaging modalities used in molecular imaging: imaging of structure and function with positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT), PET/ magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single-photon emission CT (SPECT) and SPECT/CT, micro-X-ray CT, small-animal SPECT and SPECT/MRI, combining small-animal SPECT with other imaging modalities, functional imaging using bioluminescent markers, optical multimodality technologies, fiber optic fluorescence imaging, fluorescence tomography, endomicroscopy, intravital microscopy, diffuse optical microscopy and spectroscopy, ultrasound, molecular photoacoustic tomography, optical projection tomography, and retrospective registration. Part II covers the chemistry of molecular imaging in 19 chapters: overview of molecular imaging chemistry, PET radiochemistry, SPECT radiochemistry (Tc and In complexes), nanochemistry, bioconjugation methods, targeted antibodies and peptides, hyperpolarized C MRI, MRI contrast agents, optical imaging contrast agents, ultrasound contrast agents, multimodality contrast agents, click chemistry, one-bead–one-compound combinatorial approach for probe identification, chemical biology, theranostics (agents for diagnosis and therapy), magnetic nanoparticles, fluorocarbon agents and targeted therapeutics, aptamers, and development strategies, safety, and toxicity. Part III addresses molecular biology and covers the following topics: molecular and cell biology, systems biology, protein engineering, phage display, gene therapy, viral vectors, cell voyeurism, tumor vasculature, hypoxia, protein– protein interactions, biochemistry in live cells and organisms, and signaling pathways. Part IV addresses different medical applications of molecular imaging in oncology, cardiology, neurology, and immunology. Oncological applications of molecular imaging include tumor microenvironments, radiotherapy planning and response of malignant gliomas, response monitoring, MR spectroscopy treatment response, and diffusion MRI as a biomarker for early cancer treatment assessment. In cardiovascular diseases, the following applications are covered: myocardial metabolism, congestive heart failure, atherosclerosis, thrombosis and embolism, and stem cells in myocardial infarction. Neurological applications include the central nervous system, neuroreceptors, and neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, the following are the immunological applications of molecular imaging: autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune diabetes, and asthma. Part V addresses molecular imaging in drug evaluation, an important subject for research as well as industry. Specifically, the following topics are included: drug development, PET in cancer clinical trials, MRI in clinical trials, and gene therapy clinical trials. Finally, Part VI addresses other topics related to molecular imaging, specifically visualization, radiotracer uptake into tissue, genomic data mining, pharmacokinetic modeling, economics of probe development, and regulations and reimbursement processes for imaging agents and devices. Molecular Imaging: Principles and Practice is uniquely identified by its comprehensiveness and good organization. The book’s main strength is that it covers molecular imaging from different scientific perspectives: imaging modalities, chemistry, molecular biology, and medical applications. Although the book was published a little over two years ago, it still stands as one of the best references in the field for beginners and experts alike. El-Sayed H. Ibrahim Mayo Clinic, Florida Medical Imaging at the Molecular Level