A Novel In-Vivo Cell Tracking System Based on Combined XCT and FT

描述(申请人提供)：我们计划建立世界上第一个结合X射线计算机断层扫描(XCT)和荧光断层扫描(FT)的系统。该系统的构建将为研究人员进行干细胞和癌症研究创造一种新的分子成像工具。干细胞研究为开发治疗疾病的细胞疗法带来了巨大的希望，因此细胞跟踪方法的开发具有极其重要的意义。我们在DxRay Inc.(加利福尼亚州北岭)和加州大学欧文分校(UCI)的研究团队开发了几项重要的科技创新，从而创建了一种新颖的XCT和FT组合系统。该项目产生了一种独特的双模式成像方法，结合了功能和解剖信息，并提供了一种新的分子成像方法。在拟议的项目完成后，XCT和FT系统的组合将为UCI的动物成像设施增加独特的成像能力。此外，DxRay开发的创新XCT技术和UCI开发的新型FT技术将在Gamma Medica Ideas(加利福尼亚州北岭)的支持下商业化，Gamma Medica Ideas对这一开发非常感兴趣，并正在为组合系统提供机架。细胞疗法在许多疾病的治疗中显示出巨大的前景，但不幸的是，几乎没有非侵入性技术可以在给药后追踪细胞。非侵入性地监测体内细胞纵向转运的能力是新兴细胞治疗策略的迫切需要，因为这可以用于评估反应。体内细胞跟踪在神经学、肿瘤学和心脏病学领域的各种疾病中具有广泛的潜在应用。因此，为了满足对新的多模式分子成像技术的需求，能够无创地对小鼠体内进行纵向成像以进行细胞跟踪，我们建议建立第一个结合XCT和FT的系统。这项非常有前景的新技术的开发，首次将FT与XCT的解剖信息结合在一个相对便宜且易于使用的系统中，将为干细胞研究和靶向药物释放研究创造一个强大的新工具。我们正在开发新的体内联合X射线计算机断层扫描(XCT)和荧光断层扫描(FT)系统。这项新技术将创造一种新型的双模式分子成像。该项目将创造新的细胞跟踪能力，并将有利于细胞疗法的临床前研究。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We propose to build the world's first combined x-ray computed tomography (XCT) and fluorescence tomography (FT) system. The construction of this system will create a new molecular imaging tool for researchers performing stem cell and cancer research. Stem cell research holds great promise for the development of cellular therapies for the treatment of disease and the development of cell tracking methods is therefore extremely significant. Several important scientific and technological innovations developed by our team of investigators at DxRay Inc. (Northridge, CA) and the University of California Irvine (UCI) allow the creation of a novel combined XCT and FT system. This project produces a unique dual-modality imaging methodology that combines functional and anatomical information and provides a new approach to molecular imaging. At the completion of the proposed project the combined XCT and FT system will add unique imaging capabilities to the animal imaging facilities at UCI. Furthermore, the innovative XCT technology developed by DxRay and the novel FT technology developed by UCI will be commercialized with support from Gamma Medica Ideas (Northridge, CA) who are very interested in this development and are providing a gantry for the combined system. Cellular therapeutics show great promise for the treatment of many diseases, but unfortunately few non-invasive techniques exist for tracking the cells after administration. The ability to non-invasively monitor cell trafficking in-vivo longitudinally is a pressing need for emerging cellular therapeutic strategies since this could be used to assess response. In-vivo tracking of cells has a broad range of potential applications in various diseases covering the fields of neurology, oncology, and cardiology. Therefore, to address the need for new multi-modality molecular imaging technologies, that are capable of the non-invasive in-vivo longitudinal imaging of mice for cell tracking, we propose to build the first of its kind combined XCT and FT system. The development of this very promising new technology, the first to combine FT with anatomical information from XCT in a relatively inexpensive and easy to use system, will create a powerful new tool for stem cell research and targeted drug delivery studies. We are developing novel in-vivo combined x-ray computed tomography (XCT) and fluorescence tomography (FT) system. This new technology will create a new type of dual-modality molecular imaging. This project will create new cell tracking capabilities and will benefit preclinical studies of cellular therapies.