Multi-probe imaging has been shown to accurately image small animal tissue up to several hundred micrometers in size, a technique that could be useful in medical research by allowing researchers to observe tissue microstructure and understand the localization and interaction of multiple molecules, such as cancer cell metastatic lesions.
Researchers used a SPECT system with a cadmium telluride semiconductor detector to overcome the constraints of single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) for molecular imaging in animals and humans. They used spectrum analysis methods to obtain high spatial resolution images for each radioactive nuclide probe used concurrently, overcoming the challenges associated with concurrent probe use.
Within an hour, researchers employed a system for SPECT imaging of submillimeter zeolite spheres absorbed with 125I- and 125I-accumulated spheroids. Their dual-radionuclide phantom imaging revealed unique images of the sphere in a 99mTc-pertechnetate solution, and they recorded clear and quantitative images. In vivo imaging with dual-tracers on a cancer-bearing animal with lymph node micro-metastasis revealed dual-tracer images of the lymph tract and submillimeter metastatic lesion that matched immunofluorescence images.
According to the researchers, multi-probe imaging could aid biological research, pharmaceutical research, and medical research. This breakthrough promises to revolutionize biology, drug development, and medicine. By unveiling the intricate dance of molecules within tissues, it paves the way for a deeper understanding of health and disease, potentially leading to better treatments and diagnoses.
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