The chemistry behind Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging: principles, trends, and current challenges
Positron emission tomography (PET) is a minimally invasive imaging procedure with a wide range of clinical and research applications. It is used heavily in the imaging of tumors and the search for metastases within the field of clinical oncology, and for the clinical diagnosis of certain diffuse brain diseases such as those causing various types of dementias. In order to obtain a PET scan, a radiopharmaceutical – a radioisotope attached to a drug – is injected into the body as tracer.
The first part of the talk will be dedicated to brief introduction into the basic principles of PET imaging. Next, an overview of the commonly used tracers will be given, with a focus on the transition metal complexes utilised as radiopharmaceuticals. Particular attention will be paid to structure and mechanism of metal-based tracers, though clinical data will be addressed as well. Finally, the recent trends in the field as well as current challenges will be discussed.