Establishment of new UK/Canada Collaboration towards the Advancement of Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI)

本次研究交流的目的是围绕磁粉成像(MPI)提供独特的知识交流和专业知识。MPI是一种新的、新兴的成像手段，它可以在体内检测超顺磁性纳米氧化铁(SPION)示踪剂的纳摩尔浓度。利物浦大学(UOL)最近安装了Magic Insight Inc.的Momentum MPI扫描仪(2023年8月)，此前成功获得了EPSRC战略奖的资助；这是英国的第一台，也是全球仅有的12台之一。这包括西安大略大学(UWO)的实验室，他们在2019年安装了类似的系统。UWO的实验室以体内细胞跟踪研究的开创性研究而闻名世界，也是再生医学研究中MPI的进步和实施的早期贡献者。MPI的基本方法是在正弦驱动磁场的作用下检测SPIONS的非线性响应。该技术使用非均匀的场分布来定义图像体素，称为无场点(FFP)。SPION示踪剂是直接成像的，这允许在没有背景信号的情况下进行高灵敏度的定量检测。因此，MPI是一种强大的、创新的细胞跟踪研究技术，能够对移植的标记细胞疗法进行定量评估，在其他成像手段失败的身体区域提供实时的生物分布和安全性信息。重要的是，MPI的最佳Spion示踪剂仍然未知；到目前为止，用于MRI的昂贵商业材料是MPI在所有体外和体内研究中使用的主要示踪剂。此外，由于迄今全球获得MPI设备的机会很少，因此没有在所有研究小组中采用的用于测量的明确的分析方案。随着全球获取设备的机会增加，研究产出加快，这一点将变得越来越重要。此次交流的目的是在UOL的材料科学和物理学小组与UWO的生物应用研究之间发展研究协同效应，以实现：-最佳Spion示踪剂开发-标准化数据分析和量化-跨学科知识交流UOL小组包括专门为MPI设计的专注于Spion合成的材料化学。UWO小组正好相反，由生物物理学家组成，他们使用商业材料进行MPI，主要用于细胞跟踪研究。通过两个研究小组之间的合作开发和示范进行普遍标准化的数据分析和量化，将使MPI作为一项新兴技术通过共同的分析实践得以加速。同样，合作合成SPION将开发专门用于MPI和再生医学应用的最佳SPION。

The intention for this research exchange is to provide unique knowledge exchange and expertise around Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI). MPI is a new, emerging imaging modality which detects nanomolar concentrations of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticle (SPION) tracers in vivo. The University of Liverpool (UoL) recently installed the Momentum MPI Scanner from Magnetic Insight inc. (August 2023) following successful EPSRC Strategic Award funding; the first in the UK and one of only 12 worldwide. This includes the lab at the University of Western Ontario (UWO), who installed the equivalent system in 2019. The laboratory at UWO is world renowned for pioneering research in in vivo cell tracking studies and is an early contributor to the advancement and implementation of MPI for regenerative medicine investigation.The fundamental methodology of MPI is to detect the non-linear response of SPIONs under application of a sinusoidal drive magnetic field. The technique employs a non-uniform field distribution to define an image voxel, known as the Field-Free Point (FFP). SPION tracers are imaged directly, which allows for highly sensitive, quantitative detection with no background signal. Thus, MPI is a powerful, innovative technology for cell tracking studies enabling quantitative assessment of transplanted labelled cell therapies, providing real-time biodistribution and safety information in areas of the body where other imaging modalities fail.Importantly, the optimal SPION tracer for MPI is still unknown; to date, expensive commercial materials that were developed for use in MRI are the main tracers employed for MPI use across all in vitro and in vivo studies. Furthermore, as global access to MPI equipment to date has been rare, there is no defined analytical protocol for measurement employed across all research groups. This will become of increasing importance as global access to equipment grows and research output accelerates. The aim for this exchange is to develop research synergies between material science and physics groups at UoL with biological application research at UWO towards: - Optimal SPION tracer development - Standardised data analysis and quantification - Cross-disciplinary knowledge exchangeThe UoL group comprises materials chemistry focused on SPION synthesis specifically designed for MPI. The UWO group is the reverse and is composed of biophysicists using commercial materials for MPI predominantly for cell tracking studies. Universal standardised data analysis and quantification through co-operative development and demonstration between the two research groups will allow for MPI as an emerging technology to accelerate through common analytical practice. Likewise, co-operative SPION synthesis will develop optimal SPIONs specific for MPI in and regenerative medicine applications.