[Advances in multimodal biomedical imaging of small animals]

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Imaging
• Translational Research

Background:

• Small animal multimodal biomedical imaging combines diverse techniques for enhanced physiological and pathological data acquisition.
• This technology overcomes single-modal imaging limitations through information fusion, improving sensitivity, resolution, and quantitative accuracy.
• Advancements in biomedical research have driven significant attention towards multimodal imaging systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current progress in the application and investigation of small animal multimodal biomedical imaging techniques.
• To discuss the future development and potential of multimodal biomedical imaging.
• To highlight the role of multimodal imaging in advancing personalized medicine and drug development.

Main Methods:

• Integration of multiple imaging modalities (e.g., PET, SPECT, MRI, CT, optical imaging) into a single platform.
• Information fusion algorithms to combine data from different imaging principles.
• Application of new materials and artificial intelligence to enhance imaging performance.

Main Results:

• Multimodal imaging significantly improves sensitivity, temporal/spatial resolution, and quantitative accuracy compared to single modalities.
• Demonstrated applications in various research fields, including drug development and environmental monitoring.
• Future integration with AI and novel materials promises further enhancements in resolution and sensitivity.

Conclusions:

• Small animal multimodal biomedical imaging is a rapidly advancing field with transformative potential.
• The technology is poised to become central to personalized medicine, drug discovery, and clinical practice.
• Interdisciplinary innovation will continue to drive the evolution and expand the applications of multimodal imaging.