The aim of this textbook of molecular imaging is to provide an up to date review of this rapidly growing field and to discuss basic methodological aspects necessary for the interpretation of experimental and clinical results. Emphasis is placed on the interplay of imaging technology and probe development, since the physical properties of the imaging approach need to be closely linked with the biologic application of the probe (i.e. nanoparticles and microbubbles). Various chemical strategies are discussed and related to the biologic applications. Reporter-gene imaging is being addressed not only in experimental protocols, but also first clinical applications are discussed. Finally, strategies of imaging to characterize apoptosis and angiogenesis are described and discussed in the context of possible clinical translation.

Instrumentation

Fundamentals of Optical Imaging
Micro-CT
PET & SPECT Instrumentation
Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy
Ultrasound Basics
Multimodal Imaging Approaches: PET/CT and PET/MRI
Imaging Probes
Contrast Agents: Magnetic Resonance
Contrast Agents: X-ray Contrast Agents and Molecular Imaging - A Contradiction?
Radiopharmaceuticals: Molecular Imaging using Positron Emission Tomography
Optical Agents
Ultrasound Contrast Agents for Molecular Imaging
Agents for Polarization Enhancement in MRI.