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 beeing 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.

Amplification Strategies

Optical Methods
PET and SPECT
Environment-sensitive and Enzyme-sensitive MR Contrast Agents
Molecular Targets and Biomarkers for Imaging
Peptides, Multimers and Polymers
Small Molecule Receptors as Imaging Targets
Enzymes/Transporters
Phage Peptide Display
Applications: Experimental Imaging
Molecular Imaging: Reporter Gene Imaging
The Use of Ultrasound in Transfection and Transgene Expression
Magnetic Resonance of Mouse Models of Cardiac Disease
Translational Imaging: Imaging of Apoptosis
Molecular Imaging of PET Reporter Gene Expression
Noninvasive Cell Tracking
Noninvasive Tracer Techniques to Characterize Angiogenesis
Molecular Imaging-guided Gene Therapy of Gliomas.