Ateneo - UPO

Introduction to Molecular Imaging techniques and their principles. Probes for molecular imaging: classification and applications.

Slides, scientific articles, and reviews provided by the teacher.
N.J. Long, W.-T. Wong, The Chemistry of Molecular Imaging, Wiley Ed., 2015.

Knowledge of the different Molecular Imaging techniques and understanding the underlying basic physical principles. Knowledge of the different types of Molecular Imaging Probes. Ability to select the suitable Molecular Imaging probe for a specific imaging technique.

Fundamentals of general, inorganic, organic and medicinal chemistry, atomic structure, electromagnetism, waves.

Classroom lectures, literature search and discussion of case histories, exercises. In the case of restrictions due to COVID emergency, the activities will be run in remote or “blended”mode, through suitable informatic platforms.

The teacher is available for explanations and integrations. Ongoing learning will be evaluated during exercise and discussion sessions.

Single written exam (comprising the other modules of the course “Advanced biopharmaceutical applications”), in written form. Should the pandemic evolve, the guidelines issued by the University will be followed. The questions of the “Techniques and probes for molecular imaging” module will focus on the topics covered during the course and will require a personal and critical discussion at an interdisciplinary level.

1. Physical principles of imaging techniques: basics of atomic and nuclear structure, elementary particles, electromagnetism, waves.
2. Introduction to imaging techniques: computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), optical imaging (OI), ultrasound (US) and photoacoustic imaging. Basics of combined imaging techniques.
3. Molecular Imaging: definition and purposes. Molecular Imaging probes for PET, SPECT, MRI, OI, US. Bimodal molecular imaging probes.

Knowledge of the main imaging techniques and understanding of the underlying physical principles. Knowledge of imaging probes and understanding of their operating mechanism.
Ability to apply the knowledge of imaging techniques and probes and the understanding of their operating mechanism to the objectives of molecular imaging.
Authonomy in the selection of the most suitable probe for the specific technique and imaging need. Familiarity of scientific terms concerning molecular imaging techniques and probes and of the corresponding bibliographic-informatic resources.