CAREER: High Resolution Spectrochemical Imaging Through Tissue

在化学系化学测量和成像（CMI）项目、生物科学理事会生物研究仪器开发（IDBR）项目和刺激竞争研究实验项目办公室（EPSCoR）的支持下，克莱姆森大学的杰弗里·安克教授和他的团队正在开发一种新颖、强大、通用的方法，即功能性x射线发光断层扫描（fXLT）。用于组织的高分辨率化学成像。该技术结合了x射线成像的优点，包括其出色的空间分辨率和对组织深处成像的能力，以及光学方法的化学灵敏度。建议的方法是：1)构建原理验证的高分辨率fXLT仪器，并评估模型组织样品中的信号强度和x射线剂量；2)开发和表征化学传感膜和颗粒，并评估化学灵敏度；3)评估嵌入脂肪内/血红蛋白组织和离体猪组织中的fXLT膜的空间分辨率和化学灵敏度。提出的成像技术有可能通过提供一套强大的、通用的微创成像方法来检测组织深处表面的高空间分辨率的化学变化，从而彻底改变生物和生物医学成像。Anker教授还计划为研究生和本科生提供有价值的培训，他们将获得实验设计、纳米颗粒合成和表征、显微镜、光谱学、化学分析、颗粒打印、数据分析以及通过手稿和口头报告传播的专业知识。研究方法和结果将包括在一个新的研究生班成像，传感和治疗纳米颗粒。PI还将把fXLT光谱的例子纳入他的本科定量和仪器分析课程。一名高中教师将通过教师研究经验（RET）暑期研究计划合作开展喷墨打印机研究和推广项目。高中学生将通过令人兴奋的化学传感机器人套件竞赛参与研究活动。

With support from the Chemical Measurement and Imaging (CMI) Program in the Division of Chemistry, the Instrument Development for Biological Research (IDBR) program in Directorate for Biological Sciences, and the Office of Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), Professor Jeffrey Anker and his group at Clemson University are developing a novel, powerful, and general method, known as functional X-ray Luminescence Tomography (fXLT), for high-resolution chemical imaging in tissues. The proposed technique combines the advantages of X-ray imaging, including its excellent spatial resolution and ability to image deep in tissue, with the chemical sensitivity of optical methods. The proposed approaches are to 1) construct a proof-of-principle high-resolution fXLT instrument and evaluate signal strength and X-ray doses in model tissue samples, 2) develop and characterize chemical sensing films and particles and evaluate chemical sensitivity, and 3) evaluate the spatial resolution and chemical sensitivity of fXLT films embedded in intralipid/hemoglobin tissue-mimics and ex vivo porcine tissue. The proposed imaging technology has the potential to revolutionize biological and biomedical imaging by providing a powerful, general set of minimally invasive imaging methods for detecting chemical changes with high spatial resolution on surfaces deep within tissue. Professor Anker also plans to provide valuable training for graduate and undergraduate students who will gain expertise in experimental design, nanoparticle synthesis and characterization, microscopy, spectroscopy, chemical analysis, particle printing, data analysis, and dissemination via manuscripts and oral presentations. Research methods and results will be included in a new graduate class on imaging, sensing, and therapy with nanoparticles. The PI will also incorporate fXLT spectroscopy examples into his undergraduate Quantitative and Instrumental Analysis courses. A high school teacher will collaborate on inkjet printer research and outreach project through a research experience for teachers (RET) summer research plan. High school students will participate in the research activities through an exciting chemical-sensing robot kit competition.