Near infrared optical applications in molecular imaging

Near infrared (NIR) optical imaging is a rapidly expanding newer technique that has combined research involving in vivo imaging technologies with research involving imaging probe design to help noninvasively evaluate important molecular events in vivo. This review details some of the advances in these areas that have allowed imaging of proteases, apoptosis, and cell surface receptors and details applications in diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.