A Novel In-Vivo Cell Tracking System Based on Combined XCT and FT

项目描述（申请人提供）：拟建设世界上第一个x射线计算机断层扫描（XCT）和荧光断层扫描（FT）联合系统。该系统的构建将为从事干细胞和癌症研究的研究人员创造一种新的分子成像工具。干细胞研究对疾病治疗的细胞疗法的发展有着巨大的希望，因此细胞追踪方法的发展非常重要。DxRay公司（Northridge， CA）和加州大学欧文分校（UCI）的研究团队开发了几项重要的科技创新，创造了一种新型的XCT和FT结合系统。该项目产生了一种独特的双模成像方法，结合了功能和解剖信息，并提供了一种新的分子成像方法。在拟议项目完成后，XCT和FT系统的结合将为UCI的动物成像设施增加独特的成像能力。此外，DxRay开发的创新XCT技术和UCI开发的新颖FT技术将在Gamma Medica Ideas （Northridge， CA）的支持下实现商业化，Gamma Medica Ideas对这一发展非常感兴趣，并为联合系统提供了一个平台。细胞疗法对许多疾病的治疗显示出巨大的希望，但不幸的是，很少有非侵入性技术存在于给药后跟踪细胞。对于新兴的细胞治疗策略来说，非侵入性地监测体内细胞运输的能力是一个迫切需要，因为这可以用来评估反应。细胞的体内跟踪在包括神经病学、肿瘤学和心脏病学等领域的各种疾病中具有广泛的潜在应用。因此，为了满足对新的多模态分子成像技术的需求，能够对小鼠进行无创体内纵向成像以进行细胞跟踪，我们建议建立第一个结合XCT和FT的系统。这项非常有前途的新技术，首次将FT与XCT的解剖信息结合在一个相对便宜和易于使用的系统中，将为干细胞研究和靶向药物递送研究创造一个强大的新工具。我们正在开发一种新型的体内x射线计算机断层扫描（XCT）和荧光断层扫描（FT）系统。这项新技术将创造一种新型的双模态分子成像。该项目将创造新的细胞跟踪能力，并将有利于细胞治疗的临床前研究。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We propose to build the world's first combined x-ray computed tomography (XCT) and fluorescence tomography (FT) system. The construction of this system will create a new molecular imaging tool for researchers performing stem cell and cancer research. Stem cell research holds great promise for the development of cellular therapies for the treatment of disease and the development of cell tracking methods is therefore extremely significant. Several important scientific and technological innovations developed by our team of investigators at DxRay Inc. (Northridge, CA) and the University of California Irvine (UCI) allow the creation of a novel combined XCT and FT system. This project produces a unique dual-modality imaging methodology that combines functional and anatomical information and provides a new approach to molecular imaging. At the completion of the proposed project the combined XCT and FT system will add unique imaging capabilities to the animal imaging facilities at UCI. Furthermore, the innovative XCT technology developed by DxRay and the novel FT technology developed by UCI will be commercialized with support from Gamma Medica Ideas (Northridge, CA) who are very interested in this development and are providing a gantry for the combined system. Cellular therapeutics show great promise for the treatment of many diseases, but unfortunately few non-invasive techniques exist for tracking the cells after administration. The ability to non-invasively monitor cell trafficking in-vivo longitudinally is a pressing need for emerging cellular therapeutic strategies since this could be used to assess response. In-vivo tracking of cells has a broad range of potential applications in various diseases covering the fields of neurology, oncology, and cardiology. Therefore, to address the need for new multi-modality molecular imaging technologies, that are capable of the non-invasive in-vivo longitudinal imaging of mice for cell tracking, we propose to build the first of its kind combined XCT and FT system. The development of this very promising new technology, the first to combine FT with anatomical information from XCT in a relatively inexpensive and easy to use system, will create a powerful new tool for stem cell research and targeted drug delivery studies. We are developing novel in-vivo combined x-ray computed tomography (XCT) and fluorescence tomography (FT) system. This new technology will create a new type of dual-modality molecular imaging. This project will create new cell tracking capabilities and will benefit preclinical studies of cellular therapies.