Toxicol Res.  2013 Mar;29(1):1-6.

MicroSPECT and MicroPET Imaging of Small Animals for Drug Development

• Jang BS

Abstract

The process of drug discovery and development requires substantial resources and time. The drug industry has tried to reduce costs by conducting appropriate animal studies together with molecular biological and genetic analyses. Basic science research has been limited to in vitro studies of cellular processes and ex vivo tissue examination using suitable animal models of disease. However, in the past two decades new technologies have been developed that permit the imaging of live animals using radiotracer emission, X-rays, magnetic resonance signals, fluorescence, and bioluminescence. The main objective of this review is to provide an overview of small animal molecular imaging, with a focus on nuclear imaging (single photon emission computed tomography and positron emission tomography). These technologies permit visualization of toxicodynamics as well as toxicity to specific organs by directly monitoring drug accumulation and assessing physiological and/or molecular alterations. Nuclear imaging technology has great potential for improving the efficiency of the drug development process.

Keyword

Nuclear imaging; microSPECT; microPET; Animal experimental model; Molecular imaging; Drug development

MeSH Terms

Animals
Drug Discovery
Drug Industry
Electrons
Fluorescence
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Models, Animal
Molecular Imaging
Tomography, Emission-Computed