Back to Search
Start Over
Cerenkov Radiation Energy Transfer (CRET) Imaging: A Novel Method for Optical Imaging of PET Isotopes in Biological Systems
- Source :
- PLoS ONE, PLoS ONE, Vol 5, Iss 10, p e13300 (2010)
- Publication Year :
- 2010
- Publisher :
- Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2010.
-
Abstract
- Background Positron emission tomography (PET) allows sensitive, non-invasive analysis of the distribution of radiopharmaceutical tracers labeled with positron (β+)-emitting radionuclides in small animals and humans. Upon β+ decay, the initial velocity of high-energy β+ particles can momentarily exceed the speed of light in tissue, producing Cerenkov radiation that is detectable by optical imaging, but is highly absorbed in living organisms. Principal Findings To improve optical imaging of Cerenkov radiation in biological systems, we demonstrate that Cerenkov radiation from decay of the PET isotopes 64Cu and 18F can be spectrally coupled by energy transfer to high Stokes-shift quantum nanoparticles (Qtracker705) to produce highly red-shifted photonic emissions. Efficient energy transfer was not detected with 99mTc, a predominantly γ-emitting isotope. Similar to bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), herein we define the Cerenkov radiation energy transfer (CRET) ratio as the normalized quotient of light detected within a spectral window centered on the fluorophore emission divided by light detected within a spectral window of the Cerenkov radiation emission to quantify imaging signals. Optical images of solutions containing Qtracker705 nanoparticles and [18F]FDG showed CRET ratios in vitro as high as 8.8±1.1, while images of mice with subcutaneous pseudotumors impregnated with Qtracker705 following intravenous injection of [18F]FDG showed CRET ratios in vivo as high as 3.5±0.3. Conclusions Quantitative CRET imaging may afford a variety of novel optical imaging applications and activation strategies for PET radiopharmaceuticals and other isotopes in biomaterials, tissues and live animals.
- Subjects :
- Luminescence
Photon
Fluorophore
lcsh:Medicine
02 engineering and technology
Radiation
7. Clean energy
030218 nuclear medicine & medical imaging
Mice
03 medical and health sciences
chemistry.chemical_compound
0302 clinical medicine
Positron
Nuclear magnetic resonance
Animals
Emission spectrum
lcsh:Science
Physics
Multidisciplinary
business.industry
lcsh:R
021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology
Förster resonance energy transfer
Energy Transfer
chemistry
Positron-Emission Tomography
Radiology and Medical Imaging/PET and SPECT Imaging
lcsh:Q
Radiology and Medical Imaging/Radionuclide Imaging
Radiopharmaceuticals
0210 nano-technology
Nuclear medicine
business
Preclinical imaging
Research Article
Biotechnology
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 19326203
- Volume :
- 5
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLoS ONE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....ac8bc90bb0ced4cf67d55fe70e84ba5c