Synergistic Targeting-Imaging Approaches for Sensitive Virus and Tumor Detections

Yung-Ya Lin¹, Chaohsiung Hsu¹, Zhao Li¹, Lian-Ping Hwang²

Sensitive in vivo MR imaging of virus (especially the ability to quantify virus concentrations and type/subtype) and tumors (especially at early stages) are important and challenging for medical development and clinical applications. For this purpose, synergistic targeting-imaging approaches were developed and demonstrated. Computer simulations and In Vitro H5N2 images suggest 4-10 times of improvements in imaging sensitivity to virus concentrations can be achieved by this this targeting-imaging approach over conventional methods. (ii) in vivo mouse images of colon cancers targeted by SPIO suggest this targeting-imaging approach can provide enhanced, robust, and positive contrast for sensitive tumor detection.