Multi-Emission Radioisotope - Marine Animal Imaging Device+ (MERMAID+)

多发射放射性同位素 - 海洋动物成像设备 (MERMAID)

• 批准号: 496099829
• 负责人: Professorin Dr. Magdalena Rafecas, Ph.D.
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Institut für Medizintechnik (IMT)
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Grants
• 资助国家: 德国
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/496099829?language=en
• 关键词: Multi; Emission; Radioisotope; Marine; Animal

MERMAID+ aims to make in-vivo radioisotope imaging of small aquatic animals practicable. To this end, we will develop and characterize a proof-of-concept (PoC) device for positron emission tomography (PET) dedicated to small fish and mussels, and explore its combination with other imaging modalities. In the long-term, the MERMAID+ concept will be applied to research on sustainable fish farming (integrated multi trophic aquaculture) and biomedical research, as certain fish species (e.g. zebrafish) are being increasingly used as models for various human diseases (Alzheimer, diabetes, arteriosclerosis...). Thanks to the development of dedicated PET scanners for rodents, significant advances in pre-clinical and translational research have been achieved using specific radiotracers. Unfortunately, in-vivo functional imaging of fish is still very limited. While for transparent larvae optical methods might be sufficient, for adult zebrafish and other fish species further modalities are desired; on the other hand, molecular nuclear imaging for fish remains challenging. MERMAID+ aims to address these challenges. Preliminary work has been carried out within the project "Multi-Emission Radioisotopes - Marine Animal Imaging Device" (MERMAID), supported by one-year EU-ATTRACT seed funds. Within MERMAID+, our two-module PET prototype will be upgraded to 16 modules, and a CT device will be incorporated. Calibration and characterisation will be carried out with dedicated phantoms. Using i.a. 3D-printing technology, a fish phantom will be developed, as well as a dedicated imaging chamber. The latter includes fresh-water and anaesthesia supply and gentle fish immobilization. Regarding the possible use of non-pure PET tracers with emission of gamma rays, we will investigate the combination of PET with a Compton camera (CC) by means of Monte-Carlo simulations. The CC aims to increase the detection sensitivity by detecting single gamma rays; t should also complementary tomographic information. To exploit this unique hybrid detection concept, we will develop a novel image reconstruction algorithm capable to jointly reconstruct PET and CC data into a single image. This new approach requires i.a. dedicated and matched models of radioactive decay and detection processes for the two modalities. Image-quality phantoms will be simulated to study the effects on the image of various radioisotopes, configurations and reconstruction approaches. MERMAID+ this contains extremely original research: PoC system with water-filled imaging chamber, reconstruction algorithms, and novel application. The outcomes of MERMAID+ are relevant for those research fields that focus on the physiology and pathology of fish. Additionally, our methods are also of interest for other areas, as the envisioned software can be transferred to other applications and imaging configurations, and the fish imaging chamber can be adapted to other imaging modalities or commercial scanners.

MERMAID+旨在使小型水生动物的体内放射性同位素成像切实可行。为此，我们将开发和表征一种用于正电子发射断层扫描（PET）的概念验证设备，专门用于小鱼和贻贝，并探索其与其他成像方式的结合。从长远来看，MERMAID+概念将应用于可持续鱼类养殖（综合多营养水产养殖）和生物医学研究，因为某些鱼类（如斑马鱼）越来越多地被用作各种人类疾病（阿尔茨海默病，糖尿病，动脉硬化等）的模型。由于啮齿动物专用PET扫描仪的开发，使用特定的放射性示踪剂在临床前和转化研究方面取得了重大进展。不幸的是，鱼的体内功能成像仍然非常有限。虽然对于透明的幼体，光学方法可能是足够的，但对于成年斑马鱼和其他鱼类物种，需要进一步的方式;另一方面，鱼类的分子核成像仍然具有挑战性。MERMAID+旨在应对这些挑战。在“多发射放射性同位素-海洋动物成像装置”项目范围内开展了初步工作，该项目得到了为期一年的欧盟吸引资金的支助。在MERMAID+中，我们的双模块PET原型将升级为16个模块，并将纳入CT设备。将使用专用体模进行校准和表征。使用内部审计。利用3D打印技术，将开发一种鱼模型，以及一个专用的成像室。后者包括淡水和麻醉供应以及温和的鱼类固定。关于可能使用的非纯PET示踪剂与伽马射线的发射，我们将研究PET与康普顿相机（CC）的组合通过蒙特-卡罗模拟。CC旨在通过检测单个伽马射线来提高检测灵敏度;它还应提供补充断层信息。为了利用这种独特的混合检测概念，我们将开发一种新的图像重建算法，能够联合重建PET和CC数据到一个单一的图像。这一新方法要求，两种模式的放射性衰变和检测过程的专用和匹配模型。将模拟图像质量幻影，以研究各种放射性同位素、配置和重建方法对图像的影响。MERMAID+这包含了非常原始的研究：具有充水成像室的成像系统，重建算法和新颖的应用。MERMAID+的成果与专注于鱼类生理学和病理学的研究领域相关。此外，我们的方法也对其他领域感兴趣，因为设想的软件可以转移到其他应用和成像配置，并且鱼成像室可以适应其他成像模式或商业扫描仪。