Acquisition of a 500nm Resolution Nano-CT Scanner

描述（由申请人提供）：在过去的几十年里，x射线CT已经彻底改变了我们社会的许多方面，特别是生物医学成像。近年来，x射线光学技术的进步使50-500nm分辨率的x射线纳米ct得到了广泛的应用。在现代5m/nm级成像工具中，纳米ct填补了在图像分辨率、对比机理、穿透深度、样品制备和应用领域等方面的重要空白。从生物医学的角度来看，纳米ct在小动物的筛选、生理病理特征的成像、疾病进展和治疗反应的监测等方面具有优势。该项目的总体目标是为弗吉尼亚理工大学和维克森林大学的大量NIH/NSF资助的主要用户获得最先进的纳米ct系统，以实现或加速他们在各种生物医学领域的研究工作。具体来说，在炎症研究中，弗吉尼亚理工大学正在经历一个主要的扩展，重点是炎症。新成立的卡里翁诊所和弗吉尼亚理工大学卡里翁医学院也把重点放在了炎症上。仅在弗吉尼亚理工大学的校园里，我们就有至少12名高效的NIH研究人员协同研究炎症。他们大多数研究的一个统一主题是可视化5m/亚5m结构域的炎症组织，并确定小鼠模型中炎症疾病的分子发病机制。在纳米医学研究中，所要求的系统能够无创地对样品深度嵌入的5m大小的特征进行成像，以保持样品的完整性和水化，最大限度地减少辐射损伤，减少操作时间和系统成本。此外，我们有美国国立卫生研究院资助的项目，涉及血管建模和分析，骨骼发育生物标志物的细胞成像和其他研究。所要求的系统由领先的纳米ct公司Xradia制造。该产品于2003年获得了著名的R&D100奖。规格包括90kV微焦点源，2kx2k CCD相机，低至500nm的多种分辨率模式，相位增强光学器件，以及高达100mm直径的样品。它将与弗吉尼亚理工大学的各种5u /nm级成像设备高度互补和协同。此外，它将成为东海岸为数不多的纳米ct系统之一，并很可能服务于整个美国东部。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Over past decades, x-ray CT has revolutionized many aspects of our society especially biomedical imaging. Recently, advances in x-ray optics have enabled x-ray nano-CT with 50-500nm resolution and its wide range of applications. Among modern 5m/nm-scale imaging tools, nano-CT fills in an important gap in image resolution, contrast mechanism, penetration depth, sample preparation and application territory. From biomedical perspective, nano-CT is advantageous in screening of small animals, imaging of physiological and pathological features, and monitoring of disease progression and response to therapy. The overall goal of this project is to acquire a state-of-the-art nano-CT system for a large group of NIH/NSF- funded major users on the Virginia Tech and Wake Forest Campuses to enable or accelerate their research efforts in various biomedical areas. Specifically, in the inflammation studies, Virginia Tech is undergoing a major expansion focusing on inflammation. The newly funded Carilion Clinics and Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine have also placed a major emphasis on inflammation. On the campus of Virginia Tech alone, we have at least a dozen highly productive NIH investigators working synergistically on inflammation. One unifying theme underlying most of their research is to visualize the inflamed tissues in the 5m/sub-5m domain, and determine the molecular pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases in mice models. In the nano- medicine research, the requested system is capable of imaging deeply-embedded 5m-sized features of samples non-invasively to maintain specimen integrity and hydration, minimize radiation damage, and reduce operation time and system cost. Also, we have NIH-funded projects involving vasculature modeling and analysis, cellular imaging of biomarkers for skeletal developmental and other studies. The requested system is made by the leading nano-CT company Xradia. This product was awarded the prestigious R&D100 Prize in 2003. The specifications include 90kV micro-focus source, 2kx2k CCD camera, multiple resolution modes down to 500nm, phase-enhanced optics, and up to 100mm diameter samples. It will be highly complementary and synergic with a variety of the 5u-/nm-scale imaging equipment in Virginia Tech. Also, it will be one of few nano-CT systems on the East Coast, and will most likely serve the entire eastern US. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This project is to acquire a state-of-the-art nano-CT scanner that resolves features down to 500nm (which is also referred to as "500nm resolution"), as compared to medical CT scanners of up to 0.3mm resolution and typical micro-CT scanners of up to 55m resolution. This nano-CT capability enables imaging studies of small animal organs and biological tissue samples at a cellular level, and will significantly benefit many leading investigators on the Virginia Tech and Wake Forest campuses.