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: 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=762594
• 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.

核成像通过实时、非侵入性地研究组织、细胞和亚细胞水平的生理生化活动，正在彻底改变我们对活体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的平台的作用是不可否认的。核成像技术有经过验证的记录。由于早期疾病诊断的需要，对更高的探测器灵敏度、更高的分辨率和成本效益的需求一直存在，这推动了核成像技术的进步。今天，混合扫描仪将高分辨率的解剖成像方式，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。而器官专用系统凭借其量身定做的设计和几何结构，可以在不增加成本的情况下达到目标探测器的灵敏度和分辨率。用于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的植物和根系的分子成像成为可能，并提高对植物生产力、营养和水分利用效率、植物微生物相互作用、对环境胁迫(如二氧化碳水平升高、热、冷和微生物)和伤害等的理解。植物分子成像的影响领域包括：植物生产力的优化、生物燃料的发展和生物量中的碳固定以及气候变化。拟议工作的目标是开发下一代定制的探测器，以改进现有的放射性核素成像和放射治疗应用。我们的愿景是开发用于核成像的模块化和灵活的探测器解决方案，例如受植物放射性同位素摄取检测要求驱动的PET和SPECT。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。具体的方法是利用新的闪烁材料(如Gd，Al，Ga，Ge)领域的突破，在读出技术中纳入改进。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特定器官和特定任务的成像应用，如专用乳房、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。