SMALL ANIMAL IMAGING

这个子项目是许多利用资源的研究子项目之一 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供。子项目的主要支持 而子项目的主要调查员可能是由其他来源提供的， 包括其它NIH来源。 列出的子项目总成本可能 代表子项目使用的中心基础设施的估计数量， 而不是由NCRR赠款提供给子项目或子项目工作人员的直接资金。 小动物成像核心（核心2）将为拟议项目的啮齿动物模型的体内成像提供支持。托纳博士是高级磁共振中心和核心2的主任，他将监督体内啮齿动物成像的所有方面，包括将在拟定项目中使用的7特斯拉小动物MRI的使用。对于血管成像，大血管（血管造影（MRA））和小血管（VCE（动态对比增强）-MRI和灌注MRI）的磁共振（MR）成像可用于评估项目1和5的血管生成。托纳在开发可用于评估炎症（如iNOS）和血管生成（如VEGF-R2）标志物水平的分子MRI纳米探针方面具有丰富的经验，这些标志物可用于项目4中评估囊内iNOS水平，并可用于项目2和5中评估体内VEGF-R3水平的VEGF-R3相同方法。这些化合物还具有通过其他成像方式监测的能力，例如通过与Core 1合作的分子MRI探针上的生物素标签进行的显微荧光成像。托纳博士还在开发基于氧化铁的纳米颗粒，可用于检测动脉粥样硬化中的体内巨噬细胞。最近，我们使用基于氧化铁的纳米探针来特异性检测体内VEGF-R2水平。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. Primary support for the subproject and the subproject's principal investigator may have been provided by other sources, including other NIH sources. The Total Cost listed for the subproject likely represents the estimated amount of Center infrastructure utilized by the subproject, not direct funding provided by the NCRR grant to the subproject or subproject staff. The Small Animal Imaging Core (Core 2) will provide support for in vivo imaging of rodent models for the Proposed Projects. Dr. Towner, the Director of the Advanced Magnetic Resonance Center, and of Core 2, will oversee all aspects of in vivo rodent imaging involving the use of the 7 Tesla small animal MRI that will be utilized in the Proposed Projects. For vascular imaging, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging on large (angiography (MRA)) and small vessels (DCE (dynamic contrast-enhanced)-MRI and perfusion MRI) can be used to assess angiogenesis for Projects 1 and 5. Towner has extensive experience in developing molecular MRI nanoprobes that can be used to assess levels of inflammatory (e.g. iNOS) and angiogenesis (e.g. VEGF-R2) markers, which can be used in Project 4 to assess intracapsular iNOS levels, and the same approach for VEGF-R3 in Projects 2 and 5 to assess in vivo VEGF-R3 levels. These compounds also have the capability of being monitored by other imaging modalities such as microscopic fluorescence imaging via a biotin tag on the molecular MRI probes in collaboration with Core 1. Dr. Towner is also developing iron oxide-based nanoparticles, which can be used to detect macrophages in vivo in atherosclerosis for Project 3. Recently we have used iron oxide-based nanoprobes to specifically detect VEGF-R2 levels in vivo.