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Insights into Imaging
Fig. 6 | Insights into Imaging

Fig. 6

From: Current paradigm of the 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO) as a molecular target for PET imaging in neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases

Fig. 6

Schematic representation of TSPO radiotracer in the brain shows the fates of TSPO radiotracer and its radiometabolites passing through the brain-blood barrier (BBB). Radiotracer design for TSPO for the brain aims to achieve optimal passive diffusion across the BBB without impediment by efflux transporters (E.T.) to give a high specific binding (indicated by red circles). Many research efforts are aimed at (1) radiotracer metabolic stability (no/less radiometabolites), (2) high binding potential (high specific binding), (3) ligand-receptor kinetics (to optimise kinetic modelling), and (4) quantitative methods (T radiotracer, M radiometabolite, f free, b bound, nb non-specific binding, sb specific binding)

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