WHAT ROLE FOR ~(99m)Tc RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS IN THE AGE OF MOLECULAR IMAGING?

摘要

Molecular imaging is a new paradigm that is currently emerging in the field of medical and biological sciences as a novel tool for exploring fundamental biological processes at the molecular level in integrated living organisms. Nuclear imaging is a sensitive methodological approach that employs radiolabelled probes to investigate biomolecular interactions. This approach may ultimately lead to a deeper understanding of the route through which single biochemical pathways are grouped to form networks of biological processes controlling the behaviour of a whole organism. Technetium-99m radiopharmaceuticals are playing an important role in this new scenario and are currently expanding the applications of these tracers, particularly through the use of high resolution small animal scanners. This review briefly illustrates some of the recent results in this area and the potential developments that may further stimulate the research interest in ~(99m)Tc imaging agents.