Advances in noninvasive functional imaging of bone

Sheng-Min Lan; Ya-Na Wu; Ping-Ching Wu; Chi-Kuang Sun; Dar-Bin Shieh; Ruey-Mo Lin

doi:10.1016/j.acra.2013.11.016

Advances in noninvasive functional imaging of bone

Acad Radiol. 2014 Feb;21(2):281-301. doi: 10.1016/j.acra.2013.11.016.

Authors

Sheng-Min Lan¹, Ya-Na Wu², Ping-Ching Wu², Chi-Kuang Sun³, Dar-Bin Shieh⁴, Ruey-Mo Lin⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopaedics, National Cheng Kung University Medical Center Dou-Liou Branch, Yunlin, Taiwan.
² Institute of Oral Medicine and Department of Stomatology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Tainan 701, Taiwan.
³ Molecular Imaging Center, Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁴ Institute of Oral Medicine and Department of Stomatology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Tainan 701, Taiwan; Center for Micro/Nano Science and Technology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Advanced Optoelectronic Technology Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. Electronic address: dshieh@mail.ncku.edu.tw.
⁵ Department of Orthopaedics, National Cheng Kung University Medical Center Dou-Liou Branch, Yunlin, Taiwan; Department of Orthopedics, Division of Spinal Surgery, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. Electronic address: linrm@mail.ncku.edu.tw.

PMID: 24439341
DOI: 10.1016/j.acra.2013.11.016

Abstract

The demand for functional imaging in clinical medicine is comprehensive. Although the gold standard for the functional imaging of human bones in clinical settings is still radionuclide-based imaging modalities, nonionizing noninvasive imaging technology in small animals has greatly advanced in recent decades, especially the diffuse optical imaging to which Britton Chance made tremendous contributions. The evolution of imaging probes, instruments, and computation has facilitated exploration in the complicated biomedical research field by allowing longitudinal observation of molecular events in live cells and animals. These research-imaging tools are being used for clinical applications in various specialties, such as oncology, neuroscience, and dermatology. The Bone, a deeply located mineralized tissue, presents a challenge for noninvasive functional imaging in humans. Using nanoparticles (NP) with multiple favorable properties as bioimaging probes has provided orthopedics an opportunity to benefit from these noninvasive bone-imaging techniques. This review highlights the historical evolution of radionuclide-based imaging, computed tomography, positron emission tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, diffuse optics-enabled in vivo technologies, vibrational spectroscopic imaging, and a greater potential for using NPs for biomedical imaging.

Keywords: Bone; diffuse optics; functional imaging; molecular imaging; nanoparticles.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Bone Diseases / diagnosis*
Bone Diseases / metabolism*
Bone and Bones / metabolism*
Humans
Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / methods*
Molecular Imaging / methods*
Radionuclide Imaging / methods*
Radiopharmaceuticals / pharmacokinetics*

Substances

Radiopharmaceuticals