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.

Inhalt
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.