In vivo imaging of gene delivery and expression

Recent progress in the development of high-resolution imaging techniques and reporter probes is expected to revolutionize molecular imaging research in animal models of human disease and, ultimately, clinical practice. These developments provide inroads to continuous monitoring and quantitation of gene delivery and gene expression during experimental gene therapy. Furthermore, techniques using novel imaging transgenes and reporter probes enable imaging of the regulation of gene expression in living animals. This could significantly aid the development of therapeutics targeted at individual populations of cells or even specific molecules.