Imaging
points throughout an experimental course. The Quantum FX addresses all in vivo uCT applica- tions from fat distribution to bone mineral density determinations and elegant vascular imaging pro- cedures. Caliper’s multimodality software and imaging shuttles enables co-registration of optical 3D data with CT scans methods to combine absolute functional quantification with precise anatomical localisation in vivo (Figure 13).
Figure 14: Bone development studied using three probes in the same mouse (top to bottom): NIR fluorescent bisphophonate, 18F-NaF, and 99mTc-MDP. Functional images were automatically co-registered to either x-ray or CT. The mouse was imaged using both the Carestream In Vivo MS FX PRO and the Albira system. (Images courtesy of Dr W Matthew Leevy, NDIIF, University of Notre Dame)
microCT for longitudinal studies. With a standard dose level of 13mGy, 17 second scans and one minute reconstruction time, the Quantum FX can image large cohorts of animals at multiple time
Figure 15 NIR fluorescent imaging of
kidney metastasis with LI-COR Pearl® Impulse. Animal received tumour cells
intracardially. After 10 weeks, IRDye® 800CW EGF (green) and IRDye 680 BoneTag™
(red) probes were used for multi-target imaging. Animal was surgically examined after sacrifice and imaged. Skeletal structure is visualised in red and metastatic lesion is seen on one kidney (arrow on
green object). (Image courtesy of Dr Melanie A Simpson)
Carestream Molecular Imaging (
http://mi.care-
stream.com) offers one of the broadest portfolios of preclinical imaging systems in the market. Because no one single imaging modality can fulfill the grow- ing research needs of the drug discovery industry, Carestream offers researchers the ability to use seven distinct modalities – fluorescence, luminescence, radio-isotopic, x-ray, PET, SPECT and CT – avail- able in two compact, cost-effective imaging solu- tions. With the In Vivo MS FX PRO, an innovative combination of high resolution optical and x-ray imaging, researchers can utilise activatable fluores- cent probes, luminescent probes or screen SPECT and PET probes with a high sensitivity radio-isotopic screen. These functional imaging modalities can be automatically co-registered with x-ray images to bet- ter localise these signals while simultaneously study- ing bone and soft tissue phenotypes. The MS FX PRO brings the broadest range of imaging applica- tions to today’s researcher – from protein blots to complex, longitudinal studies of disease states in vivo. The recently introduced Albira PET/SPECT/CT system is available in six configurations and upgrade- able from stand-alone to bi- or tri-modal functional- ity. This gives researchers the freedom to purchase what they need now, and to upgrade as their needs evolve. Albira’s unique detector system uses an exclu- sive combination of single crystal detectors, PSPMT, and associated advanced electronics to deliver high sensitivity with rapid acquisition of extremely high resolution, quantitative and accurate images. This represents a new, highly innovative alternative to the pixelated crystal technology used in other systems. Ultimately, researchers increasing access to these tools is accelerating preclinical validation and the development and clinical translation of new drugs, medical treatments, imaging probes and contrast agents (Figure 14).
LI-COR Biosciences’ (
www.licor.com/invivo) small animal imaging products make preclinical fluores- cence imaging more powerful and affordable than ever. Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence optical imag- ing uses highly sensitive fluorescent optical probes to target the molecular changes that underlie disease,
64 Drug Discovery World Summer 2011
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