PET tracers for imaging brain α7 nicotinic receptors: an update

Positron emission tomography (PET) molecular imaging of brain targets is a powerful tool to diagnose, follow up, and develop treatments and personalized medicine for a number of acute and chronic brain disorders. The availability of beta+ emitter tracers labelled with [C-11] or [F-18] having optimal characteristics of affinity and selectivity for alpha-7 nicotinic receptors (alpha 7R) has received considerable attention, due to the major implication of these receptors in brain functions. The aim of this review is to identify the interest and need for the in vivo exploration of alpha 7R by PET molecular imaging, which tools are currently available for this and how to progress.