A review of imaging techniques for systems biology

BMC Syst Biol. 2008 Aug 12:2:74. doi: 10.1186/1752-0509-2-74.

Abstract

This paper presents a review of imaging techniques and of their utility in system biology. During the last decade systems biology has matured into a distinct field and imaging has been increasingly used to enable the interplay of experimental and theoretical biology. In this review, we describe and compare the roles of microscopy, ultrasound, CT (Computed Tomography), MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), PET (Positron Emission Tomography), and molecular probes such as quantum dots and nanoshells in systems biology. As a unified application area among these different imaging techniques, examples in cancer targeting are highlighted.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Diagnostic Imaging*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Probe Techniques*
  • Molecular Probes / analysis
  • Nanostructures
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Systems Biology / methods*

Substances

  • Molecular Probes