SBIR Phase I: Overhauser-Enhanced MRI (OMRI) Combined With Field-Cycling

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）一期项目提议制造一种新的、创新的仪器，通过使用Overhauser增强磁共振成像（OMRI）来高效、无创地在体内成像肿瘤氧合和pH。这种仪器在市场上是买不到的。肿瘤缺氧和酸中毒是癌症的标志，对于理解复杂的癌症生物学，以及在小鼠模型的纵向研究中评估抗癌化疗至关重要。然而，在纵向研究中，无创量化肿瘤缺氧和酸中毒仍然具有挑战性。这一创新包括在EPR辐照（200高斯）的低场和MRI数据采集（4700高斯）的高场之间的磁场强度循环。独特的磁场循环电子和定制磁铁设计将使磁场强度的快速切换在不到10毫秒。有了这个新系统，该技术将能够绘制肿瘤和其他生物组织中的氧分压和pH值。此外，它为研究人员提供了一种评估新型造影剂设计和/或修改现有造影剂的新工具。该项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力将把磁场循环的技术和性能上限提高到新的高度。这种能力将鼓励和支持研究人员开发新的超偏振造影剂，这将大大提高灵敏度。该仪器将允许定量pO2和pH，以及与了解癌变和/或开发改进的癌症治疗相关的临床前体内研究中的氧化还原电位。此外，我们的电阻和电动电磁磁铁将改变这种磁铁不能用于MRI的看法。这一创新将打开大门，一个新的和独特的方法来产生稳定的磁场使用电阻螺线管。癌症生物学和癌症治疗学的研究人员将对这种新方法的潜在应用非常感兴趣。此外，在低磁场下测量弛豫时间的研究人员将成为潜在客户。目前在美国还没有公司提供这样的系统

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase-I project proposes to fabricate a new, innovative instrument for efficient, noninvasive, in vivo imaging of tumor oxygenation and pH by using Overhauser Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (OMRI). Such instruments are not commercially available. Tumor hypoxia and acidosis are hallmarks of cancer that are critical for understanding complex cancer biology, and to assess anti-cancer chemotherapies in longitudinal studies of mouse models. Yet non-invasively quantifying tumor hypoxia and acidosis during longitudinal studies remains challenging. This innovation includes cycling of the magnetic field strength between low fields for EPR irradiation ( 200 Gauss) to high field for MRI data acquisition (4700 Gauss). The unique field-cycling electronics and custom magnet design will enable the fast switching of the magnetic field strength in less than 10 msec. With this new system the technology would enable the mapping of oxygen partial pressure and pH in tumors and other biological tissues. In addition, it represents for researchers a new tool to evaluate novel contrast agent designs and/or modify existing ones. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be to raise the technical and performance ceiling of magnetic field cycling to new heights. This capability will encourage and support researchers to develop new contrast agents for hyperpolarization that will greatly improve sensitivity. The instrumentation will allow quantification of pO2 and pH, as well as redox potential during pre-clinical in vivo investigations pertinent to understanding carcinogenesis and/or development of improved cancer therapies. Furthermore, our resistive and electrically powered solenoid magnet will change the perception that such magnets cannot be used for MRI. This innovation will open the door to a new and unique approach to generate stable magnetic fields using electrically resistive solenoids. Researchers in cancer biology and cancer therapeutics will be very interested in potential applications of this new methodology. In addition, researchers measuring relaxation times at low magnetic fields will be potential customers. Presently there are no companies in the United States providing such systems