Current Molecular Imaging (Discontinued) - Volume 3, Issue 2, 2014

Optical imaging techniques ranging from mesoscopic to macroscopic levels provide non-invasive, non-ionized and highly sensitive investigation of thick biological tissues with different spatial resolution, penetration depth and contrast mechanisms. Multimodal optical imaging can be understood as the combination of multiple optical imaging modalities and/or fusion with established conventional medical imaging modalities such a Read More

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a medical imaging technique that provides tomographic images at micron scales in three dimensions and high speeds. The addition of molecular contrast to the available morphological image holds great promise for extending OCT’s impact in clinical practice and beyond. Fundamental limitations prevent OCT from directly taking advantage of powerful molecular processes such as fluo Read More

Cerenkov luminescence imaging (CLI) is a new technique that has rapidly gained great interest in the molecular imaging field bridging optical imaging and nuclear medicine. Based on the detection of Cerenkov radiation (CR) in biological tissue, in only five years many different applications of CLI were developed spanning from cancer imaging to Alzheimer’s disease and many different approaches were tested in order to inc Read More

Optical molecular imaging is a powerful imaging method, which can in vivo monitor physiological and pathobiological processes at the cellular and molecular levels, as opposed to the anatomical level, bridging the gap between imaging and biological processes. Because of its relevance in cardiovascular diseases research, the use of this technology for imaging of cardiovascular diseases advances at a rapid pace in the past Read More

The process of device evolution from concept to clinical application has been called “bench to bedside”. This term is used by many to define translational research, but it must be recognized that there is much more to translational research than this. We can use the words device translation to refer to the process of moving a technology methodically along a series of measurable milestones from concept to compl Read More

Optical imaging assays, especially fluorescence molecular assays, are minimally invasive if not completely noninvasive, and thus an ideal technique to be applied to live specimens. These fluorescence imaging assays are a powerful tool in biomedical sciences as they allow the study of a wide range of molecular and physiological events occurring in biological systems. Furthermore, optical imaging assays bridge the gap betwee Read More

Our capacity to interface with the nervous system remains overwhelmingly reliant on electrical stimulation devices, such as electrode arrays and cuff electrodes that can stimulate both central and peripheral nervous systems. However, electrical stimulation has to deal with multiple challenges, including selectivity, spatial resolution, mechanical stability, implant-induced injury and the subsequent inflammatory response. Optical s Read More