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Biotecnología Aplicada
versión On-line ISSN 1027-2852
Resumen
CABAL, Carlos; GONZALEZ, Evelio; TORNE, Yulenia y ROJAS, Angel. Micro-magnetic and molecular magnetic resonance imaging in modern biotechnology and pharmacy. Biotecnol Apl [online]. 2009, vol.26, n.4, pp. 304-314. ISSN 1027-2852.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging is an essential diagnostic technique for the non-invasive study of biological entities with high contrast as well as high spatial and temporal resolution. This work describes the current state of the art in Micro-Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Molecular Magnetic Resonance Imaging. These new technologies are transforming the modus operandi of the current research and applications being performed and developed in the biotechnological and medical-pharmaceutical industries; establishing metabolic and genotypic relationships to phenotypical traits and validating the design of active molecules, their structure-function relationship and their interaction with the intended target. The use of endogenous and exogenous contrast mechanisms is also described. Therefore, underlining the importance, a special emphasis is being placed on these methods capable of detecting, quantifying and visualizing dynamic molecular and cellular phenomena in tissues and organs at spatial resolutions of the order of dozens of microns and temporal resolutions of milliseconds. Examples of the application of these methods in the study of pathologies like cancer and brain stroke are shown. The development of recent advances in hardware, devices and contrast mechanisms is referred to increase productivity, specificity, reliability and impact in experimental work. In the near future, the study of these techniques will be an indispensable tool for the design, development and validation of new pharmaceuticals.
Palabras clave : Molecular images; magnetic resonance; biotechnology; pharmaceutical industry.