Advances in PET imaging of oxidative stress: tracer innovation, mechanistic insight, and translational potential.

Abstract

Oxidative stress is a fundamental driver of pathophysiological processes across a broad spectrum of diseases, including neurodegeneration, cancer, cardiovascular injury, and inflammation. The recent emergence of molecular imaging strategies, particularly positron emission tomography (PET), has led to the development of radiotracers capable of selectively imaging reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in vivo. This review outlines the biology of oxidative stress, highlights key PET tracers targeting redox-related pathways, and explores their potential for non-invasive imaging to support early diagnosis, therapeutic monitoring, and personalized treatment of oxidative stress-related diseases.