Authors: Paans, A.M.J.; Vaalburg, W.

Source: Current Pharmaceutical Design, Volume 6, Number 16, 1 November 2000 , pp. 1583-1591(9)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is an imaging modality which can determine biochemical and physiological processes in vivo in a quantitative way by using radiopharmaceuticals labeled with positron emitting radionuclides as [sup11 ]C, [sup13 ]N, [sup15 ]O and [sup18 ]F and by measuring the annihilation radiation using a coincidence technique. This includes also measurement of the pharmacokinetics of labeled drugs and the assessment of the effects of drugs on metabolism. Because only very low amounts of the radiolabeled drug have to be administered, far below toxicity levels, human studies can be carried out even before the drug is entered in Phase I. Such studies can provide cost-effective predictive toxicology data and information on the metabolism and mode of action of drugs. PET is also very useful to study the metabolic consequences of gene expression or gene defects. In the last decade many genetically engineered small animal models have been developed. The study of these animals with high resolution small animal PET cameras provides new opportunities in drug development. Especially valuable is the contribution of PET to bridge the gap between molecularbiology,understanding of pathology and to the design of a new generation of drugs.

Keywords: Positron Emission Tomography; Short-Lived Positron; BGO detector; PET Camera; Photomultiplier tubes (PMT); Positron Cameras; Bq/pixel; Time-of-flight (TOF); Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; Possibilities of PET; PET radiopharmaceuticals

Document Type: Review article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612003398906

Publication date: 2000-11-01

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• Current Pharmaceutical Design publishes timely in-depth reviews covering all aspects of current research in rational drug design. Each issue is devoted to a single major therapeutic area. A Guest Editor who is an acknowledged authority in a therapeutic field has solicits for each issue comprehensive and timely reviews from leading researchers in the pharmaceutical industry and academia.
  
  Each thematic issue of Current Pharmaceutical Design covers all subject areas of major importance to modern drug design, including: medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, drug targets and disease mechanism.

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