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Updated: Jul 19, 2025
Radiosynthesis, Quality Control, and Small Animal Positron Emission Tomography Imaging of 68Ga-Labelled Nano Molecules
Published on: October 4, 2024
A translational blueprint for developing intraoperative imaging agents via radiopharmaceutical-guided drug design
Teresa E Sullivan1, Servando Hernandez Vargas1, Sukhen C Ghosh1
1The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA.
Abstract:
Cancer imaging is a rapidly evolving field due to the discovery of novel molecular targets and the availability of corresponding techniques to detect them with high precision, accuracy, and sensitivity. Nuclear medicine is the most widely used molecular imaging modality and has a growing toolkit of clinically used radiopharmaceuticals that enable whole-body tumor visualization, staging, and treatment monitoring for a variety of tumors in a non-invasive manner. The need for similar imaging capabilities in the operating room has led to the emergence of fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) as a powerful technique that gives surgeons unprecedented ability to distinguish tumors from healthy tissues. While a variety of strategies have been used to develop contrast agents for FGS, the use of radiopharmaceuticals as models brings exceptional translational potential and has increasingly been explored. Here, we review strategies used to convert clinically used radiopharmaceuticals into fluorescent and multimodal counterparts. Unique preclinical and clinical capabilities stemming from radiopharmaceutical-based agent design are also discussed to illustrate the advantages of this approach.
Insights
Radiopharmaceuticals are being converted into fluorescent agents for improved cancer detection during surgery. This approach enhances tumor visualization and surgical precision by leveraging existing nuclear medicine tools.
Area of Science:
- Molecular imaging
- Nuclear medicine
- Surgical oncology
Background:
- Cancer imaging is advancing with new molecular targets and sensitive detection techniques.
- Nuclear medicine offers non-invasive whole-body tumor visualization and monitoring.
- Fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) enhances tumor-tissue discrimination in the operating room.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review strategies for converting radiopharmaceuticals into fluorescent and multimodal agents.
- To highlight the translational potential of using radiopharmaceuticals as models for FGS agents.
- To discuss the unique capabilities offered by radiopharmaceutical-based agent design.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on radiopharmaceutical conversion for FGS.
- Analysis of strategies for developing fluorescent and multimodal counterparts.
- Examination of preclinical and clinical applications of these agents.
Main Results:
- Successful conversion of clinically used radiopharmaceuticals into fluorescent agents is feasible.
- Radiopharmaceutical-based agents offer unique advantages for FGS.
- Multimodal agents combine imaging and therapeutic capabilities.
Conclusions:
- Converting radiopharmaceuticals into fluorescent agents holds significant translational potential for FGS.
- This approach leverages established nuclear medicine expertise for surgical guidance.
- Radiopharmaceutical-based design enables advanced preclinical and clinical cancer imaging.
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