Fundamental studies and novel approaches enabling the generation and characterization of ultrasound and photoacoustic contrast to probe the structure and function of cells, biomaterials and biological systems

基础研究和新方法能够产生和表征超声波和光声对比度，以探测细胞、生物材料和生物系统的结构和功能

• 批准号: RGPIN-2022-04143
• 负责人: Kolios, Michael
• 金额: $ 4.44万
• 依托单位: Ryerson University
• 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=762508
• 关键词: Fundamental; studies; novel; approaches; enabling

The proposal's objective is to develop techniques to characterize the structure and functional state of cells and tissues using ultrasound, acoustic and photoacoustic techniques. The investigator's work to date has focused on using optical and ultrasound scattering as a means to characterize cells and tissues, with a particular emphasis on the non-invasive detection of cell death. These techniques will be refined based on new knowledge generated from recent theoretical and experimental findings. Part of the proposed work would represent incremental but significant improvements to technical aspects of the ultrasound and optical techniques. Based on our recent findings on how microbubbles respond to ultrasound and, excitingly, how nanobubbles can be used for imaging therapeutic purposes, we propose to make measurements that will confirm the theoretical models we have developed. We have demonstrated the critical role of the bubble shell in these contrast agents and will manipulate the shell properties and measure the bubble response to ultrasound. New photoacoustic techniques will be developed, which will allow for clearer images and more accurate measurements of functional tissue parameters. These are based on sophisticated computer models that consider how a user scans an ultrasound transducer over a target area. Novel photoacoustic approaches are proposed to probe the content of aerosolized material by detecting the photoacoustic waves that travel through the air. To probe the mechanical properties of cells and bubbles, we will use techniques developed from the previous Discovery Grant. We will use an acoustic flow cytometer to measure the scattering from single particles and use models to calculate the relevant properties. Finally, we will further develop a new technique based on the response of cells to vibrations in a microfluidic channel. We discovered that cells exposed to a vibrating substrate create microflows that allow us to probe their mechanical properties. The development of these techniques will aid in the non-invasive and continuous monitoring of the functional states of cells and tissues, with potential applications in medicine.

该提案的目标是开发利用超声、声学和光声技术表征细胞和组织的结构和功能状态的技术。迄今为止，研究人员的工作重点是使用光学和超声散射作为表征细胞和组织的手段，特别强调细胞死亡的非侵入性检测。这些技术将根据最近的理论和实验发现产生的新知识进行改进。拟议工作的一部分将是对超声波和光学技术的技术方面的渐进但重大的改进。基于我们最近对微泡如何响应超声的研究结果，以及令人兴奋的是，纳米泡如何用于成像治疗目的，我们建议进行测量，以证实我们开发的理论模型。我们已经证明了这些造影剂中的气泡壳的关键作用，并将操纵壳的属性和测量气泡对超声的响应。将开发新的光声技术，这将允许更清晰的图像和功能组织参数的更准确的测量。这些都是基于复杂的计算机模型，考虑用户如何在目标区域扫描超声换能器。提出了一种新的光声方法，通过检测在空气中传播的光声波来探测气溶胶材料的含量。为了探测细胞和气泡的机械特性，我们将使用从之前的发现资助中开发的技术。我们将使用声学流式细胞仪来测量单个粒子的散射，并使用模型来计算相关属性。最后，我们将进一步开发一种基于细胞对微流体通道中振动的响应的新技术。我们发现暴露于振动基底的细胞会产生微流，使我们能够探测它们的机械特性。这些技术的发展将有助于非侵入性和连续监测细胞和组织的功能状态，在医学上具有潜在的应用。