MRI: Acquisition of a high-resolution ultrasound imaging instrument for research and education

检测声音的反射以识别物体的形状和结构导致了超声成像系统的发现，该系统经常用于医疗监测和诊断。然而，这种变革性技术在材料和工程中的应用仍然较少探索。通过主要研究仪器（MRI）计划获得的新的超声成像系统将使NDSU和UND研究人员能够研究声音和物体之间的串扰，从而可以揭示其环境中生物和非生物材料之间的新现象和相互作用。该方法将显着扩大目前的教师，研究生和博士后培训人员进行的多学科研究。除了传统的诊断监测之外，NSF支持的成像系统采购将用于发现生物材料与其封装结构的共生关系，细胞与其生物生态位的相互作用，以及用于细胞培养的3D打印支架的开发。此外，高分辨率超声成像仪器将用于探索纳米和微米材料在生物和物理刺激下的形状和尺寸的微小变化。该仪器将作为一个培训和教学平台，面向国防科技大学和联合国大学校园的现有和潜在用户。此外，成像系统将是这些大学推广基础设施的重要补充，并将有助于在该地区的美国原住民学生和高中及K-12学生中传播STEM教育。来自主要研究仪器（MRI）计划的奖项为北达科他州州立大学（NDSU）和北达科他州大学（UND）提供支持，以购买一个高-高频、高分辨率、超声成像系统，用于材料、大分子和细胞生物学研究和教育。作为一种获得各种材料和微结构的高分辨率图像的非侵入性方式，超声在成本、可负担性和安全性方面优于磁共振成像（MRI）和计算机断层扫描（CT）。所提出的成像系统通过计算感兴趣区域（例如，聚合物材料、细胞球体、肿瘤等）以及周围的微环境（例如，用于生长细胞球状体、组织基质、肿瘤块等的支架）。新的工具将加强协同作用，并在NDSU和UND在制药科学，化学和工程方面开展多学科合作研究。13名教师，31名研究生和31名本科生的初始用户代表了不同的研究人员，他们的共同兴趣是探索材料和生物系统中超声成像的跨领域能力。我们期待通过利用网络基础设施进行仪器调度和数据传输，其他研究人员的参与会增加。除了推进基础知识和理解，该项目将作为一个强大的教学模式，通过使用该仪器获得的结果纳入三个研究生和两个本科课程。此外，该项目将加强NDSU和UND的外联工作，包括从北达科他州保留地招募优秀的美国原住民学生参加研究生和本科生课程，以及培训有抱负的高中和K-12学生进行STEM教育。

Detecting the reflection of sound to identify the shape and structure of an object led to the discovery of ultrasound imaging systems, frequently used for medical monitoring and diagnosis. However, the use of this transformative technology in materials and engineering remains less explored. The new ultrasound imaging system acquired through the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program will enable NDSU and UND researchers to investigate the cross-talk between sound and object which, in turn, can reveal novel phenomena and interactions between biological and non-biological materials within their environment. The approach will significantly expand the multidisciplinary research conducted by the current faculty members, graduate students, and postdoctoral trainees. Above and beyond the conventional diagnostic monitoring, this NSF-supported procurement of the imaging system will be used to discover the symbiosis of biomaterials with their encapsulating structure, interactions of cells with their biological niche, and for the development of 3D-printed scaffolds for cell culture. In addition, the high-resolution ultrasound imaging instrument will be used to explore the small changes in the shape and size of nano- and micromaterials in response to biological and physical stimuli. The instrument will be used as a training and teaching platform to existing and prospective users across NDSU and UND campuses. Furthermore, the imaging system will be an essential addition to the outreach infrastructures of these universities, and will contribute to the dissemination of STEM education among Native American students of the region and high school and K-12 students.The award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program provides support to North Dakota State University (NDSU) and the University of North Dakota (UND) to purchase a high-frequency, high-resolution, ultrasound imaging system for materials, macromolecular, and cell biology research and education. As a non-invasive modality to obtain high-resolution images of a variety of materials and microstructures, ultrasound outperforms Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) regarding cost, affordability, and safety. The proposed imaging system functions by calculating the difference of ultrasound impedance between the region of interest (e.g., polymer materials, cell spheroids, tumors, etc.) and the surrounding microenvironment (e.g., the scaffold for growing the cell spheroids, tissue matrix, tumor mass, etc.). The new instrument will strengthen synergy and initiate multidisciplinary collaborative research both at NDSU and UND in pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, and engineering. The initial users of 13 faculty members, 31 graduate, and 31 undergraduate students represent a diverse ensemble of researchers with the common interest of exploring the cross-cutting capability of ultrasound imaging in materials and biological systems. We are expecting an increased participation of other researchers through the utilization of cyberinfrastructure for instrument scheduling and data transfer. Aside from advancing fundamental knowledge and understanding, the project will serve as a robust teaching modality by incorporating the results obtained via the use of this instrument into three graduate and two undergraduate courses. In addition, the project will reinforce NDSU and UND's outreach efforts that include recruiting meritorious Native-American students from North Dakota reservations to the graduate and undergraduate programs, as well as training aspiring high school and K-12 students in STEM education.