Collaborative Research: Magnetic Clustering using Novel Poly(amino acid) Corrals to Advance Magnetic Particle Imaging

磁粒子成像是一种类似于磁共振成像的非侵入性医学成像技术，可用于检测人体癌症等疾病组织。磁粒子成像的成功开发需要有效、安全和多功能的纳米粒子示踪平台。在该奖项中，通过控制小的超顺磁性氧化铁纳米颗粒利用天然氨基酸生成的聚合物组织成更大的簇的方式来创建新的示踪剂。例如粒子间距和空间排列的团簇属性被用来操纵和最大化磁粒子成像的示踪剂响应。这个合作项目将由来自罗德岛大学、阿拉巴马大学亨茨维尔分校和布朗大学的研究人员进行。这个跨学科和多机构的项目是吸引学生和扩大参与的一个极好的平台，这将通过与美国国家科学基金会路易斯·斯托克斯联盟在罗德岛和阿拉巴马州的少数民族参与项目合作来实现。学生将接受技术、专业和科学交流技能的培训。磁粒子成像是一种新兴的医学诊断技术，它利用超顺磁性氧化铁纳米颗粒的独特磁性和生物兼容性作为生成组织三维图像的示踪剂。促进将研究转化为临床环境的两个关键挑战包括：准备粒子示踪剂以最大限度地利用其超顺磁性特征及其靶标特异性衍生化，以及利用生物相容的粒子表面涂层和组装剂以避免不利结果。该奖项涉及一种新的示踪剂设计方法，该方法基于使用多(氨基酸)畜栏对疏水颗粒进行受控聚集。具体目标包括设计和合成具有不同疏水、亲水和稳定嵌段结构域的多(氨基酸)；展示作为多(氨基酸)组成的可控纳米颗粒组装；以及使用定制的磁粒谱仪评估团簇的磁性。磁粒子成像示踪器设计方法具有潜在的变革性，有望帮助推动磁粒子成像作为疾病诊断和治疗工具的发展。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Magnetic Particle Imaging is a non-invasive medical imaging technique similar to Magnetic Resonance Imaging that can be used to detect diseased tissues such as cancer in the human body. Successful development of Magnetic Particle Imaging requires effective, safe, and versatile nanoparticle tracer platforms. In this award, new tracers are being created by controlling the way small superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles organize into larger clusters using polymers that are created from natural amino acids. Cluster properties such as particle spacing and spatial arrangement are used to manipulate and maximize the tracer response for Magnetic Particle Imaging. This collaborative project will be conducted by investigators from the University of Rhode Island, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and Brown University. This interdisciplinary and multi-institutional project is an excellent platform for engaging students and broadening participation, which will be achieved by partnering with National Science Foundation Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation programs in Rhode Island and Alabama. Students will be trained in technical, professional, and science communication skills.Magnetic Particle Imaging is an emerging medical diagnostic technique that exploits the unique magnetic properties and biocompatible nature of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as ‘tracers’ for the generation of three-dimensional images of tissues. Two key challenges to facilitating research translation to clinical settings include preparing particle tracers for maximum exploitation of their superparamagnetic characteristics and their target-specific derivatization and utilizing biocompatible particle surface coatings and assembly agents to avoid adverse outcomes. This award involves a new approach to tracer design based on the controlled clustering of hydrophobic particles using poly(amino acid) corrals. Specific aims include designing and synthesizing poly(amino acids) with varying hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and stabilizing block domains; demonstrating controllable nanoparticle assembly as a function of poly(amino acid) composition; and evaluating the magnetic properties of the clusters using a custom magnetic particle spectrometer. The approach to Magnetic Particle Imaging tracer design is potentially transformative and expected to help advance Magnetic Particle Imaging as a tool for disease diagnosis and treatment.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.