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

描述（由申请人提供）：基于碳纳米管场发射的X射线像素束阵列微型RT系统碳纳米管（CNT）场发射（FE）技术已成功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的当前和预期需求。到目前为止，很少有作品存在，探索这种独特的纳米技术的可行性辐射输送设备。对超高空间和时间分辨率图像引导的小动物照射的需求日益增长，今天的研究人员正在努力使用传统技术来应对挑战。对高分辨率小动物研究工具的需求预计将在不久的将来急剧增长，因为新的生物标志物和生物传感器试剂，其中许多是基于纳米技术的，来自临床前研究的预期和非预期效应（包括辐射-药物相互作用）的研究和开发管道。我们的最终目标是开发一种基于纳米技术的微型CT-RT系统，该系统能够进行前所未有的时间（<1 ms）和空间（<1 mm）分辨率的小动物图像引导强度调制照射。X射线像素束阵列技术允许单独控制每个像素束，因此系统以电子方式而非机械方式限定辐射场形状并形成强度调制。由于小动物的极小尺度和快速器官运动，这种特征对于高分辨率小动物照射特别有吸引力。该探索性R21应用的具体目标是证明基于碳纳米管场发射技术的X射线像素束阵列微型RT设备的可行性。我们已经开发了一个原型CNT FE基于微型CT扫描仪能够30微米的空间分辨率和10毫秒的时间分辨率。我们假设所提出的微型CT- RT系统可以以类似于甚至上级于当今人类癌症患者所接受的最先进的放射疗法的方式向小动物模型提供辐射。微型CT-RT系统的成功实施可以显著推进小动物模型研究，这对于开发新的放射增敏剂和放射防护剂、癌细胞检测或人类预后生物标志物是不可或缺的。拟议的三年研究的具体目标是SA 1：蒙特卡罗模拟和基于硬件的微型RT系统设计; SA 2：单阵列微型RT系统制造; SA 3：原型微型RT系统调试小动物辐照。该研究项目使用纳米技术开发新的图像引导辐射传递工具，用于使用小动物模型的基础癌症研究。目前，小动物辐照技术远远落后于癌症研究的需要。拟议的系统有望为小动物提供类似于最先进的人类放射治疗的照射，因此它将实现新的、更具临床相关性的动物模型研究。

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.