Chapter 2
Aptamer-Based Probes for Molecular
Imaging
Dengfeng Li, Yesi Shi, and Gang Liu
Abstract The molecular imaging facilitates real-time non-invasive analysis of
biological processes at the molecular, subcellular, and cellular level in different
stages of diseases. The key to molecular imaging techniques is molecular probes
and contrast agents. Aptamers, often called “chemical antibodies”, are short oligonucleotides with high affinity and specificity to the target binding domain. They are
highly reproducible, nontoxic/immunogenic, and competent with traditional antibodies to serve as imaging probes in vitro. Accordingly, in the last two decades,
aptamer-based probes have been applied in almost all imaging modalities, including
nuclear imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound imaging and fluorescence.
However, great efforts are still needed to extend in vivo study about aptamers as
imaging molecular probes. In this chapter, studies on aptamer-based probes in five
imaging modalities will be covered.
Keywords Aptamers · Nuclear imaging · Magnetic resonance imaging ·
Ultrasound imaging · Fluorescence imaging · Multimodal imaging
2.1 Introduction
As the crucial component of precision medicine, molecular imaging helps researchers
analyze biological processes at the level of molecular, subcellular, and cellular in
different stages of diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular and neurological disorders, which can be divided into two broad types [1]. The first type analyzes anatomical
changes, including computed tomography and ultrasound. The second one covers
techniques that help analyze processes at the biochemical level, like single photon
emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET).
Several molecular imaging techniques have been applied in clinics, most of them
require an imaging probe [2–4]. Molecular imaging probes are small molecule
D. Li · Y. Shi · G. Liu (B)
State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics & Center for
Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University,
Xiamen 361102, China
e-mail: gangliu.cmitm@xmu.edu.cn
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
Y. Dong (ed.), Aptamers for Medical Applications,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4838-7_2
31
Aptamer-Based Probes for Molecular
Imaging
Dengfeng Li, Yesi Shi, and Gang Liu
Abstract The molecular imaging facilitates real-time non-invasive analysis of
biological processes at the molecular, subcellular, and cellular level in different
stages of diseases. The key to molecular imaging techniques is molecular probes
and contrast agents. Aptamers, often called “chemical antibodies”, are short oligonucleotides with high affinity and specificity to the target binding domain. They are
highly reproducible, nontoxic/immunogenic, and competent with traditional antibodies to serve as imaging probes in vitro. Accordingly, in the last two decades,
aptamer-based probes have been applied in almost all imaging modalities, including
nuclear imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound imaging and fluorescence.
However, great efforts are still needed to extend in vivo study about aptamers as
imaging molecular probes. In this chapter, studies on aptamer-based probes in five
imaging modalities will be covered.
Keywords Aptamers · Nuclear imaging · Magnetic resonance imaging ·
Ultrasound imaging · Fluorescence imaging · Multimodal imaging
2.1 Introduction
As the crucial component of precision medicine, molecular imaging helps researchers
analyze biological processes at the level of molecular, subcellular, and cellular in
different stages of diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular and neurological disorders, which can be divided into two broad types [1]. The first type analyzes anatomical
changes, including computed tomography and ultrasound. The second one covers
techniques that help analyze processes at the biochemical level, like single photon
emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET).
Several molecular imaging techniques have been applied in clinics, most of them
require an imaging probe [2–4]. Molecular imaging probes are small molecule
D. Li · Y. Shi · G. Liu (B)
State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics & Center for
Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University,
Xiamen 361102, China
e-mail: gangliu.cmitm@xmu.edu.cn
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
Y. Dong (ed.), Aptamers for Medical Applications,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4838-7_2
31