Mapping the acoustic properties of tissues at low temperatures for ultrasound rewarming

绘制低温组织的声学特性以进行超声复温

• 批准号: 2578113
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University College London
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2021 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2578113
• 关键词: Mapping; acoustic; properties; tissues; low

1) Brief description of the context of the research including potential impactOver 6000 people in the UK are waiting for organ transplants. Simultaneously, theutilization rate of organ transplantation is not high (approximately 60% of donor hearts are not used), limited by the short time they can be preserved. Storage organs at low temperature (cryopreservation) has the potential to facilitate the increased availability. However, the volume of cryopreservation in clinical use is less than 3 mL, since there are difficulties in rewarming the large-volume tissues, when using standard water bath immersion, and even with advanced magnetic nanoparticle and microwave methods. The key solution for organ cryopreservation lies in finding a suitable method to rewarm the tissue uniformly and quickly.Ultrasound heating is a potential tool for rewarming large-volume tissues. Energy is deposited as heat as ultrasound passes through the tissues. By controlling ultrasound propagation, energy can be deposited for rapid and uniform warming. To deliver the ultrasound energy optimally, knowledge of the physical properties of tissues at low temperatures is needed. This Ph.D. research aims to develop methods for mapping the acoustic properties of tissues at low temperatures, which will accelerate the development of ultrasound rewarming.2) Aims and ObjectivesThe aim is to characterise the acoustic properties of biological materials at low temperatures to inform the development of ultrasonic rewarming of biological tissues after cryopreservation. This will help identify the optimal ultrasonic parameters for warming and contribute to development of models of ultrasound propagation in frozen tissues.The specific objectives are: 1. To develop and validate experimental methods for mapping the acoustic properties of biological materials at low temperatures,2. To characterise the acoustic and thermal properties of a range of biological materials at low temperatures.3) Novelty of Research MethodologyThe characterisation of acoustic material properties of solid materials is challenging and more so at low temperatures, where the thermal environment of both the sample and the measurement equipment must be tightly controlled. There is limited information in the literature on the acoustic properties of biological materials at temperatures below zero so the research will generate new methods and knowledge which will be significant for this research and for the academic community. These techniques will be extended to spatially resolved mapping or imaging of the acoustic properties. 4) Alignment to EPSRC's strategies and research areasThis project forms part of a programme of work that is strongly multidisciplinary and focused on future clinical translation. This research has the potential for broad impact in transplant surgery, regenerative medicine, and tissue engineering. The development of ultrasonic rewarming will support the development and clinical translation of tissue-engineered (which aligns with the Biomaterials and tissue engineering research area) and cell therapy products and support the long-term preservation of donor tissues for transplant, as well as enable basic scientific studies of the cryobiology of cells and tissues. The research is aligned with the UKRI 'Technology touching life' priority area, and with advances in regenerative medicine within the current EPSRC strategy. Specifically, the EPSRC Healthcare technologies grand challenges include 'Developing Future Therapies' and 'Frontiers of Physical Intervention', with possible impacts achieved through innovative technologies for regenerative medicine.5) Any companies or collaborators involvedCollaborators on the programme of work with which this project is aligned include academics from UCL/Royal Free London, scientists from the UCL/Royal Free London, scientist from the National Physical Laboratory, and Precision Acoustics Ltd

1)研究背景的简要描述，包括潜在的影响在英国有超过6000人正在等待器官移植。同时，器官移植的利用率不高（约60%的供体心脏未被使用），受其保存时间短的限制。低温储存器官（冷冻保存）有可能促进可用性的增加。然而，临床使用的冷冻保存体积小于3ml，因为使用标准水浴浸泡，即使使用先进的磁性纳米颗粒和微波方法，也难以重新加热大体积组织。解决器官低温保存的关键在于找到一种合适的方法来均匀、快速地重新加热组织。超声加热是大体积组织再加热的潜在工具。当超声波通过组织时，能量以热的形式沉积下来。通过控制超声波的传播，可以沉积能量以实现快速均匀的升温。为了最佳地传递超声能量，需要了解低温下组织的物理特性。本博士研究旨在发展绘制低温下组织声学特性的方法，这将加速超声复温的发展。目的和目的研究低温下生物材料的声学特性，为低温保存后生物组织的超声再加热技术的发展提供依据。这将有助于确定加热的最佳超声参数，并有助于建立超声在冷冻组织中的传播模型。具体目标是：1。开发和验证用于绘制低温下生物材料声学特性的实验方法；表征一系列生物材料在低温下的声学和热特性。3)研究方法的新颖性固体材料声学材料特性的表征具有挑战性，在低温下更是如此，因为样品和测量设备的热环境都必须严格控制。文献中关于生物材料在零下温度下的声学特性的信息有限，因此这项研究将产生新的方法和知识，这对本研究和学术界都具有重要意义。这些技术将扩展到声学特性的空间分辨映射或成像。4)与EPSRC的战略和研究领域保持一致该项目是一个多学科的工作计划的一部分，专注于未来的临床转化。该研究在移植手术、再生医学和组织工程等领域具有广泛的应用前景。超声复温的发展将支持组织工程（与生物材料和组织工程研究领域一致）和细胞治疗产品的开发和临床转化，支持长期保存供移植的供体组织，以及使细胞和组织的低温生物学的基础科学研究成为可能。这项研究与UKRI的“技术触及生命”优先领域保持一致，并与当前EPSRC战略中再生医学的进步保持一致。具体来说，EPSRC医疗技术的重大挑战包括“开发未来疗法”和“物理干预前沿”，通过创新技术实现再生医学的可能影响。5)任何参与的公司或合作者本项目的合作者包括伦敦大学学院/皇家自由伦敦学院的学者、伦敦大学学院/皇家自由伦敦学院的科学家、国家物理实验室的科学家和精密声学有限公司