Development of Magnetic Particle Imaging

磁粒子成像的发展

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-06671
• 负责人: Foster, Paula
• 金额: $ 5.46万
• 依托单位: University of Western Ontario
• 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=764584
• 关键词: Development; Magnetic; Particle; Imaging

My research program is focused on developing technologies to advance cellular and molecular imaging (CMI) with an emphasis on imaging cells. CMI enables the visualization and quantitation of cellular and molecular events in living subjects. CMI research includes multiple imaging modalities, cell labeling agents and labeling techniques. Our lab has been developing cellular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tools for more than a decade using both superparamagnetic iron oxide- (SPIO) and fluorine-19 (19F)-based contrast agents for numerous important applications. We have shown that SPIO-based MRI cell tracking has very high sensitivity (we were first in the world to demonstrate single cell detection), but low specificity. Contrastingly, our work has demonstrated that 19F-MRI cell tracking has high specificity, but low sensitivity. Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) is a new imaging modality that directly detects SPIO. SPIO-MPI cell tracking could overcome the challenges of MRI-based cell tracking allowing for both high sensitivity and high specificity cell detection. Like 19F cell tracking, MPI addresses the specificity and quantitation issues of iron-based MRI cell tracking. With MPI we "see" only the tracer, anywhere in the body, independent of depth, and with no signal from background tissue or air, and it is quantitative since image intensity is linear with the tracer concentration. Furthermore, MPI also addresses the sensitivity issue of 19F based cell tracking. The current detection limit for MPI is unknown but it has been estimated at approximately 200 labeled cells in vitro and 500 cells in vivo. In July 2019, Canada's first MPI system, a Momentum MPI scanner, was installed at the Robarts Research Institute. The overarching theme of my research program is to innovate and advance cellular imaging technologies. My long term goal is to discover, develop and validate cell tracking technologies that will improve and expand capabilities for monitoring and quantifying the fate of cells in vivo. This includes: (i) optimization and implementation of novel MRI cell tracking methods for improved cell detection, (ii) implementing complementary, multi-modality approaches for cell tracking, (iii) characterization of cellular imaging probes and (iv) to train a new generation of interdisciplinary HQP known as "Cellular and Molecular Imaging Scientists." who have expertise in a range of imaging modalities. My short-term goals revolve around the development of MPI as a sensitive, quantitative cell tracking technique to complement our suite of advanced cellular imaging approaches. Our specific goal is to improve MPI sensitivity and resolution. To achieve this goal, we have the following aims: Aim 1: To investigate and optimize MPI imaging parameters and cell labeling methods for improving cell detection by MPI. Aim 2: To develop, characterize and test different SPIOs for MPI.

我的研究计划专注于开发技术来推进细胞和分子成像(CMI)，重点是成像细胞。CMI能够对活体受试者的细胞和分子事件进行可视化和量化。CMI研究包括多种成像方式、细胞标记剂和标记技术。十多年来，我们的实验室一直在开发细胞磁共振成像(MRI)工具，使用基于超顺磁性氧化铁(SPIO)和氟-19(19F)的造影剂，用于许多重要应用。我们已经证明，基于SPIO的MRI细胞跟踪具有非常高的灵敏度(我们是世界上第一个展示单细胞检测的)，但特异性较低。相比之下，我们的工作表明，19F-MRI细胞跟踪具有高度的特异性，但敏感性较低。磁粒子成像(MPI)是一种直接检测SPIO的新的成像方式。SPIO-MPI细胞跟踪可以克服基于MRI的细胞跟踪的挑战，允许高灵敏度和高特异性的细胞检测。与19F细胞跟踪一样，MPI解决了铁基MRI细胞跟踪的特异性和定量问题。使用MPI，我们只能看到示踪剂，在身体的任何地方，与深度无关，没有来自背景组织或空气的信号，而且它是定量的，因为图像强度与示踪剂浓度是线性的。此外，MPI还解决了基于19F的细胞跟踪的敏感性问题。目前MPI的检测下限尚不清楚，但据估计，体外约有200个标记细胞，体内约有500个细胞。2019年7月，加拿大第一个MPI系统--动量MPI扫描仪在罗巴茨研究所安装。我的研究计划的首要主题是创新和推进细胞成像技术。我的长期目标是发现、开发和验证细胞跟踪技术，这些技术将改善和扩大监测和量化体内细胞命运的能力。这包括：(I)优化和实施新的MRI细胞跟踪方法，以改进细胞检测；(Ii)实施互补的、多模式的细胞跟踪方法；(Iii)细胞成像探测器的特性；以及(Iv)培训被称为“细胞和分子成像科学家”的新一代跨学科HQP。他们在一系列成像模式方面都有专业知识。我的短期目标是开发MPI作为一种灵敏的、定量的细胞跟踪技术，以补充我们的先进细胞成像方法。我们的具体目标是提高MPI的灵敏度和分辨率。为了实现这一目标，我们有以下目标：目标1：研究和优化MPI成像参数和细胞标记方法，以提高MPI对细胞的检测能力。目的2：研制、鉴定和测试不同的MPI SPIO。