NSF Convergence Accelerator Track M: Bioinspired Multispectral Imaging Technology for Intraoperative Cancer Detection

癌症是一项普遍存在的全球性挑战，影响着相当一部分人口，需要创新的解决方案来改善治疗效果。该提案包含了一种多学科方法，植根于融合研究，以解决癌症手术中的一个关键问题。主要目标是开发一种生物启发的多光谱成像传感器，从螳螂虾非凡的视觉系统中汲取灵感。这种创新的传感器被压缩到一个芯片上，跨越了广泛的光谱，可以通过近红外（NIR）荧光和深紫外（UV）荧光同时检测癌症标志物。我们由工程师、材料科学家、医生、视觉生态学家和社会科学家组成的多元化团队，将学术界和工业界联合起来，共同努力开拓这项突破性技术。中心焦点是术中实时识别阳性前哨淋巴结，这是癌症手术的一个关键方面，它可以通过减少额外手术的需要和最大限度地减少淋巴水肿等并发症来显著影响患者的预后。我们的研究以三个主要目标为中心。首先，我们的目标是开发一种先进的多光谱成像设备，将钙钛矿纳米晶体和光学超表面与最先进的成像传感器无缝集成。这种受生物启发的传感器将促进在紫外光谱中同时成像内源性肿瘤特异性生物标志物和在近红外光谱中同时成像外源性标志物，这两者对于在手术过程中准确识别和分期淋巴结都是必不可少的。其次，我们将对我们的生物成像技术进行全面的验证，以保证其在体内和体外检测阳性前哨淋巴结的准确性。这项验证将涉及在两个不同的临床环境中收集人类数据：北马其顿的一家资源有限的医院和宾夕法尼亚大学的一家癌症中心医院。最后，我们将对该技术在复杂手术环境中的实用性和变革潜力进行全面评估。除了我们的科学追求外，我们的提案还强调了对公众参与的坚定承诺。通过与圣路易斯科学中心的合作，我们打算通过互动展览来展示我们突破性的荧光相机，让更广泛的公众了解生物成像传感器和纳米技术的迷人领域。此外，我们将把我们的合作扩展到医学教育领域，积极地将生物启发成像原理整合到一所新的以工程为重点的医学院的课程中，这所医学院是伊利诺伊大学和卡尔基金会医院之间的合作伙伴关系。通过这样做，我们的目标是为下一代医疗专业人员配备尖端的医疗成像工具和技术。从本质上讲，我们的建议植根于融合研究，有望彻底改变癌症手术，包括技术创新，公众宣传和医学教育，最终提高全球癌症患者的福祉。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Cancer, a pervasive global challenge affecting a substantial portion of the population, necessitates innovative solutions for improved treatment outcomes. This proposal encapsulates a multidisciplinary approach rooted in convergence research to address a critical issue in cancer surgery. The primary objective is the development of a bioinspired multispectral imaging sensor, drawing inspiration from the mantis shrimp's remarkable visual system. This innovative sensor, compacted onto a single chip, spans a broad spectrum, enabling simultaneous detection of cancer markers through near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence and deep ultraviolet (UV) fluorescence. Our diverse team, comprised of engineers, material scientists, physicians, visual ecologists, and social scientists, unites academia and industry in a collaborative effort to pioneer this groundbreaking technology. The central focus is on real-time intraoperative identification of positive sentinel lymph nodes, a pivotal aspect of cancer surgery, which can significantly impact patient outcomes by reducing the need for additional surgeries and minimizing complications such as lymphedema.Our research centers on three primary objectives. Firstly, we aim to develop an advanced multispectral imaging device that seamlessly integrates perovskite nanocrystals and optical metasurfaces with state-of-the-art imaging sensors. This bioinspired sensor will facilitate simultaneous imaging of both endogenous tumor-specific biomarkers in the UV spectrum and exogenous markers in the NIR spectrum—both of which are essential for the accurate identification and staging of lymph nodes during surgical procedures. Secondly, we will conduct comprehensive validation of our bioinspired imaging technology to guarantee its accuracy in detecting positive sentinel lymph nodes, both in vivo and ex vivo. This validation will involve the collection of human data in two distinct clinical settings: a resource-constrained hospital in North Macedonia and a cancer-center hospital at the University of Pennsylvania. Lastly, we will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the practicality and transformative potential of this technology within the complex landscape of surgical environments. In addition to our scientific pursuits, our proposal emphasizes a strong commitment to public engagement. Through a collaboration with the Saint Louis Science Center, we intend to educate the broader public on the fascinating realms of bioinspired imaging sensors and nanotechnology, using interactive exhibits to showcase our groundbreaking fluorescence camera. Furthermore, we will extend our collaboration into the realm of medical education, actively integrating bioinspired imaging principles into the curriculum of a new engineering-focused medical school—a partnership between the University of Illinois and the Carle Foundation Hospital. By doing so, we aim to equip the next generation of medical professionals with cutting-edge medical imaging tools and techniques. In essence, our proposal, rooted in convergence research, holds the promise of revolutionizing cancer surgery, encompassing technological innovation, public outreach, and medical education to ultimately enhance the well-being of cancer patients worldwide.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.