Carbon nanotube field emission based x-ray pixel array micro-RT

描述(申请人提供)：基于碳纳米管场发射的X射线像素束阵列微RT系统碳纳米管(CNT)场发射(FE)技术已被成功地用于开发新型放射成像系统，以满足癌症生物学研究和医疗应用中当前和预期的需求。到目前为止，很少有工作探索这种独特的纳米技术用于辐射传输设备的可行性。人们对超高空间和时间分辨率的图像引导小动物照射的需求越来越大，今天的研究人员正在努力使用传统技术来应对这一挑战。预计在不久的将来，对高分辨率小动物研究工具的需求将急剧增长，因为新的生物标记物和生物传感器试剂，其中许多是基于纳米技术的，从研发管道中走出来，用于临床前研究，包括辐射-药物相互作用的预期和非预期影响。我们的最终目标是开发一种基于纳米技术的Micro-CT-RT系统，能够进行前所未有的时间(&lt；1ms)和空间(&lt；1 mm)分辨率的小动物图像引导强度调制照射。X射线像素波束阵列技术允许单独控制每个像素波束，因此系统以电子方式而不是机械方式定义辐射场形状并形成强度调制。由于其极小的规模和快速的器官运动，这一特点对于高分辨率的小动物照射特别有吸引力。这一探索性的R21应用的具体目标是论证基于碳纳米管场发射技术的X射线像素束阵列微型RT器件的可行性。我们研制了一台空间分辨率为30微米、时间分辨率为10ms的CNT FE微型CT扫描仪样机。我们假设，所提出的微型CT-RT系统可以向小动物模型提供与当今人类癌症患者接受的最先进的放射治疗类似甚至更好的方式。微型CT-RT系统的成功实施可以显著推进小动物模型研究，这些研究是开发新的放射增敏剂、辐射保护剂、癌细胞检测或人类预后生物标记物所不可或缺的。这项为期三年的研究的具体目标是：SA 1：蒙特卡罗模拟和基于硬件的Micro-RT系统设计；SA 2：单阵列Micro-RT系统的制造；SA 3：用于小动物照射的原型Micro-RT系统的调试。该研究项目使用纳米技术来开发新的图像引导辐射传递工具，用于使用小动物模型进行基础癌症研究。目前，小动物照射技术远远落后于癌症研究的需要。建议的系统有望提供类似于人类最先进的放射治疗的小动物照射，因此它将使新的、更具临床相关性的动物模型研究成为可能。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Carbon nanotube field emission based x-ray pixel beam array micro-RT system Carbon nanotube (CNT) field emission (FE) technology has been successfully used to develop novel radiographic imaging systems to meet the current and anticipated needs in both cancer biology research and medical application. To date, few works exist that explore the feasibility of this unique nanotechnology for radiation delivery devices. There is a growing need for ultra-high spatial and temporal resolution image-guided small animal irradiation and researchers today are struggling to meet the challenge using conventional technologies. The need for high-resolution small animal research tools is expected to grow drastically in the near future as new biomarker and biosensor agents, many are nanotechnology-based, coming out of the research and development pipeline for preclinical study for both intended and unintended effects including radiation- drug interaction. Our ultimate goal is to develop a nanotechnology based micro-CT-RT system that is capable of unprecedented temporal (<1ms) and spatial (<1mm) resolution small-animal image-guided intensity-modulated irradiation. The x-ray pixel beam array technology allows individual control of each of the pixel beams and thus the system electronically, not mechanically, defines radiation field shape and forms intensity modulation. Such feature is especially attractive for high-resolution small animal irradiation due to their extreme small scale and rapid organ motion. The specific goal for this exploratory R21 application is to demonstrate the feasibility of carbon nanotube field emission technology based x-ray pixel beam array micro-RT device. We have developed a prototype CNT FE based micro-CT scanner capable 30micron spatial resolution and 10ms temporal resolution. We hypothesize that the proposed micro-CT- RT system can deliver radiation to small-animal models in ways analogous or even superior to the state of the art radiotherapy received by human cancer patients today. Successful implementation of the micro-CT-RT system can significantly advance small- animal model studies integral to the development of new radiosensitizers, and radioprotectors, cancer cell detection or prognosis biomarkers for humans. The specific aims of the proposed three-year research are SA 1: Monte Carlo simulation and hardware based micro-RT system design; SA 2: Single array micro-RT system fabrication, SA 3: Prototype micro-RT system commissioning for small animal irradiation. The research project uses nanotechnology to develop novel image-guided radiation delivery tools for basic cancer research using small animal models. Currently, small animal irradiation technology is far behind the cancer research need. The proposed system promises to deliver small animal irradiation analogous to the state of the art radiotherapy for human and thus it will enable new and more clinically relevant animal model study.