Magnetic resonance imaging in biomedical research: imaging of drugs and drug effects.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the importance of magnetic resonance imaging in imaging of drugs and drug effects. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) have become established technologies in modern biomedical research, providing relevant information at various stages of the drug discovery and development process. Preclinical in vivo characterization of a drug candidate comprises the study of its pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic properties. MRI/MRS was applied predominantly during late phases of the discovery process, such as the optimization of a lead compound, the profiling of a potential development candidate, and during early clinical development. The multivariate nature of the MRI signal often allows for staging of the disease, which is of relevance for the stratification of a patient/animal population to be included in drug evaluation studies. It is found that MRI approaches to monitor the migration of magnetically labeled cells with high spatial resolution seem more promising as demonstrated for tracking of macrophages, stem cells, and progenitor cells.