Nuclear imaging technologies; Imaging from plants to humans

核成像技术；

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-06616
• 负责人: Teymurazyan, Aram
• 金额: $ 1.75万
• 依托单位: University of Regina
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=710326
• 关键词: Nuclear; imaging; technologies; Imaging; plants

Nuclear imaging is revolutionizing our understanding of normal and pathological processes in living organisms by enabling real-time, non-invasive investigation of physiological and biochemical activities at the tissue, cellular, and sub-cellular levels. The usefulness of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) as diagnostic tools in medicine and platforms for drug delivery system development is undeniable. Nuclear imaging techniques have a proven track record. The ever-existing need for better detector sensitivity, better resolution and cost-effectiveness, stemming from requirements of an early disease diagnosis, drives the progression of nuclear imaging technologies. Today, hybrid scanners combine the high-resolution anatomic imaging modalities, such as Computed Tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), with functional imaging capabilities of PET and SPECT. And organ-specific systems with their task-tailored design and geometry allow to reach targeted detector sensitivity and resolution without escalating cost. Nuclear imaging technologies to study plants are less advanced than similar applications in medical research. Development of plant PET/SPECT systems will enable molecular imaging of intact plants and root systems and improve the understanding of plant productivity; nutrient and water use efficiency, plant microbe interactions, response to environmental stress (such as elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, heat, cold and microbial organisms) and injury, etc. Impact areas for molecular imaging of plants include: optimization of plant productivity, biofuel development and carbon sequestration in biomass, and climate change. The goal of proposed work is to develop the next generation of customized detectors to refine existing radionuclide imaging and radiotherapy applications. The vision is to develop modular and flexible detector solutions for nuclear imaging, such as PET and SPECT driven by requirements of detection of radioisotope uptake in plants. Tools have to be developed to quantify the physiology of photosynthesis under various conditions and parameters, as well as for studying invasive species and plant stresses that include infection and injury, among others. The specific approach is to take advantage of breakthroughs in the fields of new scintillation materials (e.g., Gadolinium Aluminum Gallium Garnet), incorporate refinements in readout technologies. The modular design of the system component solutions developed for plant imaging will allow them to be used in next generation organ- and task- specific imaging applications, such as dedicated breast, brain scanners, as well as, PET/MR, PET/CT, SPECT/MR and SPECT/CT systems. The proposed research program has the potential to benefit Canada and Canadians in areas such as health and responsible resource development.

核成像通过在组织、细胞和亚细胞水平上对生理和生化活动进行实时、非侵入性的研究，正在彻底改变我们对活生物体中正常和病理过程的理解。 正电子发射断层扫描（PET）和单光子发射计算机断层扫描（SPECT）作为医学诊断工具和药物输送系统开发平台的有用性是不可否认的。核成像技术有着良好的记录。对更好的探测器灵敏度、更好的分辨率和成本效益的不断存在的需求，源于早期疾病诊断的要求，推动了核成像技术的发展。如今，混合扫描仪联合收割机将高分辨率解剖成像模式（如计算机断层扫描（CT）或磁共振成像（MRI））与PET和SPECT的功能成像能力相结合。器官特定系统具有针对任务定制的设计和几何形状，可以在不增加成本的情况下达到目标检测器灵敏度和分辨率。 研究植物的核成像技术不如医学研究中的类似应用先进。植物PET/SPECT系统的开发将使完整植物和根系的分子成像成为可能，并提高对植物生产力、养分和水分利用效率、植物微生物相互作用、对环境胁迫的反应的理解。（如二氧化碳（CO2）水平升高、高温、低温和微生物）和伤害等。优化植物生产力、生物燃料开发和生物质固碳以及气候变化。 拟议工作的目标是开发下一代定制探测器，以完善现有的放射性核素成像和放射治疗应用。我们的愿景是为核成像开发模块化和灵活的探测器解决方案，如PET和SPECT，以满足检测植物中放射性同位素吸收的要求。必须开发工具来量化各种条件和参数下的光合作用生理学，以及研究入侵物种和植物胁迫，包括感染和伤害等。具体方法是利用新型闪烁材料领域的突破（例如，钆铝镓石榴石），结合在读出技术的改进。为植物成像开发的系统组件解决方案的模块化设计将使它们能够用于下一代器官和任务特定的成像应用，例如专用乳腺、脑扫描仪以及PET/MR、PET/CT、SPECT/MR和SPECT/CT系统。拟议的研究计划有可能使加拿大和加拿大人在健康和负责任的资源开发等领域受益。