Targeted Imaging
Targeted Imaging - Related Videos
09:24
Molecular Imaging to Target Transplanted Muscle Progenitor Cells
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Cited by 3 •
2013
A non-invasive means to evaluate the success of myoblast transplantation is described. The method takes advantage of a unified fusion reporter gene composed of genes whose expression can be imaged with different imaging modalities. Here, we make use of a fluc reporter gene sequence to target cells via bioluminescence imaging.
06:54
MR Molecular Imaging of Prostate Cancer with a Small Molecular CLT1 Peptide Targeted Contrast Agent
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Cited by 3 •
2013
To demonstrate MR cancer molecular imaging with a small peptide targeted MRI contrast agent specific to clotted plasma proteins in tumor stroma in a mouse prostate cancer model.
09:32
Direct Imaging of ER Calcium with Targeted-Esterase Induced Dye Loading (TED)
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Cited by 60 •
2013
Targeted-esterase induced dye loading (TED) supports the analysis of intracellular calcium store dynamics by fluorescence imaging. The method bases on targeting of a recombinant Carboxylesterase to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), where it improves the local unmasking of synthetic low-affinity Ca2+ indicator dyes in the ER lumen.
10:36
In Vitro Imaging and Quantification of the Drug Targeting Efficiency of Fluorescently Labeled GnRH Analogues
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Cited by 1 •
2017
Selectively labeled fluorescent GnRH-I, -II and -III derivatives are reliable tools for tracking and quantifying their cellular uptake. This manuscript introduces experiments to visualize, quantify and compare the uptake efficiency of these GnRH conjugates in various cell lines.
07:23
Using High Content Imaging to Quantify Target Engagement in Adherent Cells
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Cited by 3 •
2018
Measurements of drug target engagement are central to effective drug development and chemical probe validation. Here, we detail a protocol for measuring drug-target engagement using high content imaging in a microplate-compatible adaption of the cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA).
FAQs
Specificity comes from molecular recognition between the targeting component and its complementary biomarker. Antibodies, peptides, and nucleic-acid-based ligands provide different classes of targeting components, but each serves the same functional purpose: directing the probe toward the selected biological feature. This selective binding produces a concentrated signal, allowing the location of a cell, molecule, or tissue to be distinguished from surrounding anatomy.
Rather than treating the whole field as equally informative, the strategy links the observed signal to a chosen biomarker. A general anatomical view can show overall structure, whereas targeted imaging adds molecular or cellular specificity to that view. This distinction matters when the biological question concerns cell identity, a disease-associated change, a molecular interaction, or a treatment response rather than anatomy alone.
The readout determines how the probe’s binding event becomes visible. Fluorescence, luminescence, or another detectable signal can indicate where the target is distributed and, when signal levels are interpreted appropriately, provide information about abundance or activity. Thus, imaging can move beyond locating a structure to examining changes in a biological process across cells or tissues.
An experiment begins by selecting a target biomarker and pairing it with a suitable targeting component. The imaging probe is then attached to that component, allowing the probe to bind the complementary feature in cells or tissues. After binding occurs, the chosen imaging readout is used to visualize the accumulated signal. The resulting image is examined for target distribution, abundance, or activity.
The essential design choices are the biological target, the biomarker that represents it, the targeting component, and the detectable signal. Antibodies, peptides, and nucleic-acid-based ligands can serve as targeting components, while fluorescence and luminescence are examples of readouts. Matching these elements supports investigations centered on cell identity, molecular interactions, tissue localization, or functional change.
In biology, researchers can apply Targeted imaging to connect microscopic molecular events with larger physiological outcomes. It can support investigations of cell identity, molecular interactions, disease-associated changes, and responses to treatment. By revealing where a target occurs and how its signal changes, the method helps relate spatial patterns to biological state and to the effects of an intervention.