Multi-modality Synchrotron X-ray Imaging as a Novel Platform for Imaging Joint Function in Response to Mechanical Stimuli

多模态同步加速器 X 射线成像作为机械刺激响应关节功能成像的新平台

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-04987
• 负责人: Panahifar, Arash
• 金额: $ 1.75万
• 依托单位: University of Saskatchewan
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=760772
• 关键词: Multi; modality; Synchrotron; ray; Imaging

Bones of healthy animals and humans routinly undergo rejuvenation through resorption of aged or compromised tissue and replacing it with new tissue; a process called remodeling. External mechanical loads affect that process. In articulating joints (e.g., knee joint), all tissues involved in the joint such as, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, synovial membrane, blood vessels, etc. may affect, or be affected by, the adaptation process. Disruption in healthy function of any of those tissues leads to structural and functional changes in bone and other tissues. However, with the exception for muscle-bone interaction, very little is known about the cross talk among other tissues. Moreover, it is not known which tissue responds first to the mechanical stimulus in joint, and in what capacity. Investigating spatio-temporal micro-structural changes among all tissues in joints and their cross talk has never been achieved in high detail due to the lack of imaging methods that 1) are sensitive to both soft and dense tissues, 2) provide high resolution up to the cellular details, 3) provide high quality (i.e., high Signal-to-Noise Ratio, and 4) are three-dimensional (3D). The long-term goal of this research program is to develop the methods and tools to understand the fundamental mechanism(s) that defines the inter-relations of all tissues involved in a joint in response to external mechanical stimuli. A synchrotron source system is ideal for that purpose as its coherent beam is sensitive to soft tissues as well as bone, has very high resolution in nanometer scale, its monochromaticity significantly increases image quality, and the associated tomographic techniques are 3D. The short-term objectives of this research program are to investigate limits, and develop or optimize existing synchrotron-based X-ray imaging techniques for detecting early micro-structural changes in soft tissues. The role(s) of altered force transfer (i.e., adaptation) on the associated changes in a joint will be investigated. In addition, novel imaging techniques for imaging cartilage, and bone inflammation in live animal models will be developed. Unveiling the inter-relation of micro-structural changes among joint tissues will increase our fundamental knowledge of how healthy joints function, how they adapt to the aging process, and how injuries will lead to joint related disease. Canadian Light Source, where the principle applicant works, is a national facility, therefore techniques developed or optimized in this research program will serve as a platform for many of the researchers that use the facility. Furthermore, this research will affect emerging technologies such as Dual Energy Computed Tomography (DECT) and non-synchrotron (polychromatic) phase grating imaging (anticipated to be commercially available within a decade) by developing more sensitive image acquisition and data processing pipelines for early detection of micro-structural changes in soft tissues (e.g., breast cancer).

健康动物和人类的骨骼通常通过吸收老化或受损的组织并用新组织替换它来进行再生;这一过程称为重塑。外部机械负荷影响该过程。在铰接关节（例如，膝关节），关节中涉及的所有组织，例如软骨、韧带、腱、滑膜、血管等，都可能影响适应过程或受适应过程影响。任何这些组织的健康功能的破坏都会导致骨骼和其他组织的结构和功能变化。然而，除了肌肉-骨骼相互作用之外，对其他组织之间的串扰知之甚少。此外，尚不清楚关节中哪个组织首先对机械刺激做出反应，以及以何种能力做出反应。由于缺乏成像方法，研究关节中所有组织之间的时空微结构变化及其串扰从未以高细节实现，所述成像方法1）对软组织和致密组织都敏感，2）提供高分辨率直至细胞细节，3）提供高质量（即，高信噪比，以及4）是三维（3D）。该研究计划的长期目标是开发方法和工具，以了解定义关节中所有组织响应外部机械刺激的相互关系的基本机制。同步辐射源系统是理想的，因为它的相干光束是敏感的软组织以及骨，在纳米尺度上具有非常高的分辨率，其单色性显着提高图像质量，和相关的断层扫描技术是3D的。该研究计划的短期目标是研究限制，并开发或优化现有的基于同步加速器的X射线成像技术，用于检测软组织中的早期微观结构变化。改变的力传递的作用（即，适应）对关节中的相关变化的影响。此外，还将开发新的成像技术，用于在活体动物模型中对软骨和骨炎症进行成像。揭示关节组织之间微观结构变化的相互关系将增加我们对健康关节如何发挥功能，它们如何适应衰老过程以及损伤如何导致关节相关疾病的基本知识。主要申请人工作的加拿大光源是一个国家设施，因此在本研究计划中开发或优化的技术将成为许多使用该设施的研究人员的平台。此外，这项研究将影响新兴技术，如双能计算机断层扫描（DECT）和非同步（多色）相位光栅成像（预计将在十年内商用），通过开发更敏感的图像采集和数据处理管道，用于早期检测软组织中的微结构变化（例如，乳腺癌）。