Radiopharmaceuticals for Molecular Imaging

Abstract

Radiopharmaceuticals for molecular imaging involve careful consideration of the following two factors: radionuclide selection and specificity to the molecular target. In selecting a radionuclide, the specific decay mode, physical half-life, chemical properties, and method of production must be considered. For proper design of a radiopharmaceutical which targets a specific biological or disease process, structural features, including the size, charge, solubility, lipophilicity, and specific activity of the radiolabeled molecules, must be considered. Other factors, such as the rate of metabolism, plasma protein binding, and non-specific binding in non-target tissues, are also important in optimizing the in vivo behavior of radiolabeled molecules. There are several types of radiopharmaceuticals for molecular imaging that target a number of biochemical processes, such as blood flow or perfusion, metabolism, and specific receptors. With a better understanding of the properties of radiopharmaceuticals, including chemical, physical, and biological properties, radiopharmaceuticals can be properly used for molecular imaging of targets for biological or disease processes.