Collaborative Research: Development of Preclinical X-Ray Phase Contrast Tomography for 3D Imaging of Engineered Tissues

1263988/1263994 Anastasio/Brear基于相位对比(PC)的技术的发展正在给现场X射线成像带来革命性的变化，这些技术在软组织成像方面显示出巨大的前景。主要的优点是，X射线PC成像方法对组织的不同物理属性敏感，并且可以区分具有非常相似甚至相同的X射线吸收属性的组织。这项研究计划的广泛目标是开发和全面评估用于评估和监测工程组织的X射线个人计算机成像和断层扫描。该项目的具体研究对象是：(1)研究模型工程组织产生X射线对比度的非传统机制，确定在体外和培养条件下对聚合物和组织结构进行最佳成像的条件；(2)优化基于光栅的PC成像仪设计和图像重建算法，用于工程组织的体积成像；以及(3)评估用于在小动物模型中对工程组织进行体内三维评估的台式PC成像仪。这项研究的智力价值来自于一种新的X射线成像设备的硬件设计和成像算法的开发和改进，以及它们在表征和监测工程组织这一重要问题上的应用。将系统地研究能够有效表征工程组织的新的X射线对比剂机制。模型聚合物支架和工程组织将用于评估和优化这些成像系统，以确保与组织工程、再生医学和生物材料的许多领域具有广泛的相关性。为了完成这项研究，我们的合作研究团队结合了物理学、生物医学工程和成像科学的基本原理。该项目有几个广泛的影响，将为生物医学科学和社会带来重要好处。该项目的成功完成将使X射线PC成像成为表征工程组织三维结构的一种高效工具，并将对组织工程领域产生革命性的影响。组织工程研究的加速将为疾病、创伤或先天性缺陷带来新的治疗方法，从而对人类健康产生重大影响。将这项研究与拟议的教育活动相结合，将有助于吸引学生进入生物医学工程、生物医学成像和组织工程等日益重要的领域，并极大地增加他们的教育机会。

1263988/1263994 Anastasio/BreyThe field X-ray imaging is being revolutionized by the development of techniques based on phase-contrast (PC), which have shown great promise for soft tissue imaging. The principal advantage is that X-ray PC imaging methods are sensitive to alternative physical properties of tissues, and can differentiate tissues that have very similar or even identical X-ray absorption properties. The broad objective of this research program is to develop and comprehensively evaluate X-ray PC imaging and tomography for use in the evaluation and monitoring of engineered tissues. The specific research objects of the project are to: (1) Investigate non-traditional mechanisms of X-ray contrast produced by model-engineered tissues and determine conditions for optimal imaging of polymer and tissue structures ex vivo and in culture conditions; (2) Optimize grating-based PC imager designs and image reconstruction algorithms for volumetric imaging of engineered tissues; and (3) Evaluate a benchtop PC imager for 3D in vivo evaluation of engineered tissues in small animal models. The intellectual merit of the proposed research arises from the development and refinement of hardware designs and image formation algorithms for a new X-ray imaging modality and their application to the important problem of characterizing and monitoring engineered tissues. Novel X-ray contrast mechanisms that can effectively characterize engineered tissues will be systematically investigated. Model polymer scaffolds and engineered tissues will be used in the evaluation and optimization of these imaging systems in order to ensure broad relevance to many areas of tissue engineering, regenerative medicine and biomaterials. To accomplish this research, a combination of physics and fundamental principles of biomedical engineering and imaging science are employed by our collaborative research team. There are several broad impacts of the project that will yield important benefits to both biomedical science and society. The successful completion of this project will establish X-ray PC imaging as a highly effective tool for characterizing the 3D structure of engineered tissues and will have a transformative impact on the field of tissue engineering. The acceleration of tissue engineering research will have a significant impact on human health by leading to new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of defects resulting from disease, trauma or congenital defects. The integration of this research with the proposed educational activities will help attract students to the increasingly important fields of biomedical engineering, biomedical imaging and tissue engineering and enhance greatly their educational opportunities.