Current Issue : October-December Volume : 2026 Issue Number : 4 Articles : 5 Articles
Early and accurate tumor detection is key to successful cancer management. Nanotechnology-based biomedical imaging offers strong potential to enhance tumor detection through improved sensitivity and specificity, particularly via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. However, suboptimal biodistribution of imaging agents is often associated with a pronounced liver retention. Fluorinated compounds, though rare in nature, provide unique physicochemical properties thanks to the high electronegativity of fluorine, its strong inductive effect, and the low polarizability of the C-F bond, conferring exceptional chemical stability and biological inertness. Here,we report a fluorinated supramolecular dendrimer nanosystem for tumor imaging using positron emission tomography (PET). This system was constructed via the self-assembly of an amphiphilic fluorinated dendrimer radiolabeled with gallium-68, a positron-emitting radionuclide commonly used for PET. This fluorinated radiotracer exhibited a nanoscale size and had high radiochemical purity and stability. Compared to its non-fluorinated analogue, the fluorinated system showed reduced liver accumulation, improved pharmacokinetics, and significantly enhanced tumor uptake in orthotopic and ectopic mouse xenograft models of glioblastoma and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. These results demonstrate that fluorination is a powerful strategy to optimize pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of imaging agents, enabling more accurate and effective tumor detection....
Purpose: To deconvolve cardiac phase and hemodynamic effects in hyperpolarized (HP) [1-13C]pyruvate and to develop a cardiac phase-adjustable reconstruction framework. Methods: Cardiac phase drift during dynamic acquisition of HP 13C MRS and its effect on dynamic signal fidelity were simulated using a digital cardiac phantom.Ahemodynamic model describing ventricular passages of HP pyruvatewas developed and applied to dynamic cardiac 13C MRS datasets acquired from healthy volunteers. Timecourses of HP pyruvate from multiphase 13C MRI and 13C MRS were fit to the hemodynamic model and were compared with multiphase 1H and ECG timing. Phase-adjustable reconstruction was demonstrated for ECG-gated and nongated HP 13C MRS. Results: Phantom simulations demonstrated that heart rate variability induces cardiac phase misalignment, causing substantial distortion of dynamic HP pyruvate timecourses. Human studies showed transient heart rate changes during pyruvate bolus arrival, resulting in phase shifts. Multiphase 13C MRI confirmed that pyruvate signal is correlated with ventricular volume (R2 =0.88±0.08), with diastolic signals exceeding systolic signals in both ventricles and LV peak less than half of RV. The hemodynamic model accurately depicted in vivo cardiac 13C MRS (R2 >0.978), separating LV, RV, and recirculation components and estimating pulmonary transit times consistent with image-based measurements. Retrospective phase correction enabled reconstruction of dynamic HP pyruvate timecourses aligned to specific cardiac phases. Conclusion: We present a volume-guided hemodynamic modeling and reconstruction framework that corrects cardiac phase misalignment. This approach improves quantitative robustness across varying heart rates and is applicable to both ECG-gated and nongated acquisitions....
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and their nanoscale counterparts (NMOFs) represent a transformative class of hybrid porous materials that have rapidly ascended to the forefront of biomedical research. Their unique confluence of structural and chemical properties renders them exceptionally versatile platforms for advanced therapeutic and diagnostic applications. This comprehensive review critically examines and synthesizes recent, groundbreaking progress in three pivotal biomedical domains: intelligent drug delivery systems, multimodal medical imaging, and high-performance electrochemical biosensors. I delve into the fundamental structure-property relationships that underpin MOF functionality, showcasing how rational design at the molecular and nanoscale levels enables the creation of stimuli-responsive carriers for targeted therapy, integrated contrast agents for multi-technique diagnostics, and sensitive interfaces for biomarker detection. By analyzing exemplary studies, from pH-sensitive, self-indicating drug carriers to theranostic nanoprobes capable of simultaneous imaging and treatmentthis article elucidates the convergent advantages and design principles of MOF-based technologies. Furthermore, I provide a balanced discussion on the persistent translational challenges-such as long-term biocompatibility, scalable synthesis, and in vivo fate-and propose informed perspectives on future research directions. The continuous convergence of coordination chemistry, materials science, and biology firmly positions engineered MOFs as cornerstone materials for the development of next-generation precision nanomedicine and point-of-care diagnostic platforms....
Background: Dual-tracer positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) using [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) and [18F]-fluoroethylcholine (18FFEC) may reveal complementary aspects of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) biology. This retrospective study evaluates whether PET parameters obtained from 18F-FDG and 18F-FEC correlate with MRI enhancement parameters, tumor histological grade, and survival in patients with HCC. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 25 patients who underwent integrated PET/MRI. Lesions were analyzed on pre-contrast MRI and at early (3–5 min) and late (20–30 min) post-contrast phases. For 18F-FDG and 18F-FEC, standardized uptake values (SUV maximum, mean, and peak) and metabolic tumor volume were measured, along with lesion size, MRI enhancement ratios, AFP levels, and survival. For patient-level imaging analyses, the largest lesion per patient was defined as the index lesion. Correlation analysis using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, Kaplan–Meier analysis, log-rank testing, and exploratory Cox proportional hazards models were performed. Results: 18FFDG SUVmean (index lesion) showed the strongest inverse association with survival (r = −0.61, p = 0.003), followed by SUVpeak (r = −0.50, p = 0.012). 18F-FDG SUVmean differed across tumor grades (G1–G3; p = 0.040), without a consistent trend. In Cox regression, 18F-FDG SUVpeak was significantly associated with shorter overall survival (HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.05–1.42, p = 0.01), whereas SUVmean showed only a borderline association (p = 0.07). When split at the median, SUVmean was also significantly associated with shorter survival (p < 0.001; HR 10.39, 95% CI 2.75–39.3). 18F-FEC parameters were not associated with survival but showed a moderate correlation with AFP levels (r = 0.41, p = 0.01). Dynamic MRI early and delayed enhancement of the index lesion were strongly correlated (r = 0.70, p < 0.001) but not associated with survival. Conclusions: In HCC, 18F-FDG uptake provides prognostic information beyond MRI enhancement and histology, reflecting tumor aggressiveness and independently predicting survival. While 18F-FEC-PET complements lesion characterization and correlates with AFP, it does not show meaningful prognostic value. MRI enhancement parameters were not associated with survival in this cohort. 18F-FDG-based metabolic imaging may improve pre-treatment risk stratification, whereas dual-tracer PET/MRI should be considered a selective, exploratory approach rather than routine imaging....
Gastrointestinal cancer detection technologies are evolving; capsule endoscopy (CE) overcomes the invasiveness of tethered endoscopes. However, current CEs exhibit limited penetration depth and low SNR due to strong photon scattering, absorption, and autofluorescence in biological tissues, potentially resulting in missed deep or small lesions. This study reports a near-infrared-II fluorescent imaging capsule endoscope (NIR-II FICE), a “smart pill” designed for early gastrointestinal cancer diagnosis. NIR-II FICE can detect NIR-II-specific fluorescence signals above 900 nm from lesional tissues using the NIR-II fluorescent nanoprobe (FNP). It possesses the advantages of high sensitivity, high resolution, strong tissue penetration ability, high SNR, and high-contrast imaging. Experiments show NIR ‑II FICE can detect FNP at concentrations as low as 5 μg mL− 1 and image large ‑scale irregular regions and minute areas down to 100 μm. In ex vivo experiments on porcine gastric tissue, the penetration depth achieved 4 mm, with SNRs exceeding 13 dB and contrast values all greater than 0.5. In vivo experiments enabled targeted imaging of lesions in nude mice. Furthermore, a wireless-powered, magnetically controlled device ensures continuous energy and precise motion for NIR ‑II FICE. To our knowledge, this is the first CE platform for NIR-II fluorescence imaging, advancing non-invasive gastrointestinal disease diagnosis/treatment and clinical research....
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