Probing Biology Through the Chemistry Looking Glass

Imaging living systems can give insights into their anatomical and structural details. Molecular imaging i.e. tracking molecules in vivo by using chemical probes can give information regarding the mechanistic details underlying biological processes. This can facilitate visualization of disease causing factors and suggest modes of intervention through therapies. Two major problems that need to be addressed in this field are: 

 

Improving the sensitivity of the probe in order to image low concentrations of molecules in biological systems.

 

Finding ways of targeting only one kind of molecule in a sea of other molecules.

 

This talk will focus on different clinically relevant imaging modalities and on the development of appropriate imaging agents for molecular imaging.