A review of imaging techniques for systems biology

Key Points

• To review the utility and integration of multiscale imaging techniques and molecular probes within systems biology, with a focus on cancer targeting applications.
• Reviewed and compared imaging modalities including optical microscopy, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET).
• Evaluated the integration of nanoscale molecular probes, specifically quantum dots and nanoshells, for targeted molecular and cellular imaging.
• Demonstrated how complementary imaging technologies span micro-to-macro scales to bridge experimental observations and mathematical systems modeling.
• Highlighted cancer targeting as a unifying biological paradigm effectively characterized by combining anatomical, functional, and molecular imaging modalities.