Positron emission tomography (PET) application in pharmaceutical research

Author: Todd Sasser, brooke preclinical imaging department, America NMI advanced application scientist

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a widely used nuclear molecular imaging technology, can be used to obtain information about a particular metabolic function.Before the clinical diagnosis and clinical applications, the PET is usually combined with other imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT), in order to obtain better information of anatomy.

PET can provide functional imaging, according to the spatial distribution of biological molecules in living organisms activities, thus to evaluate candidate drugs in preclinical study is extremely useful.

PET using radioactive tracer (molecular) combined with radioactive isotopes to 3-d imaging of the subjects, this is usually achieved by intravenous injection.Carrier molecules with specific proteins, receptors and biological pathways interact or union, give specific biological activity quantitatively.Radioactive isotopes, usually fluorine - eighteen (18) f or carbon - 11 (11 c), produce positrons, interact with the surrounding electronic, lead to the two annihilate and release the two photon (gamma rays).These photons (~ 180 °) accelerated in the opposite direction, and captured by the PET scanner probe, in order to mapping the distribution of radioactive nuclide in the body.PET imaging of noninvasive, high sensitivity and quantitative characteristics has been used in the study of preclinical medicine, in order to promote the understanding of disease and drug activity in the body.

Successful drug development depends on the biological process dynamically, gene expression, protein and enzyme activity, the progress of the disease and treatment, biological distribution and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic ability of the new drugs.Multi-mode PET imaging, such as PET and PET/CT/MR, provides a way to draw the drug over time in the path of the whole body, to monitor efficacy and determine whether drugs for clinical use.

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