Acquisition of a 500nm Resolution Nano-CT Scanner

描述(申请人提供)：在过去的几十年里，x射线CT已经彻底改变了我们社会的许多方面，特别是生物医学成像。近年来，X射线光学的进步使X射线纳米CT的分辨率达到50-500 nm，得到了广泛的应用。在现代5m/nm尺度的成像工具中，纳米CT在图像分辨率、对比度机制、穿透深度、样品制备和应用领域等方面填补了重要的空白。从生物医学的角度来看，纳米CT在小动物的筛查、生理和病理特征的成像以及监测疾病进展和治疗反应方面具有优势。该项目的总体目标是为弗吉尼亚理工大学和维克森林校区的一大批NIH/NSF资助的主要用户购买最先进的纳米CT系统，以支持或加快他们在各种生物医学领域的研究工作。具体地说，在炎症研究中，弗吉尼亚理工大学正在经历一次以炎症为重点的重大扩张。新资助的Carilion诊所和弗吉尼亚理工大学Carilion医学院也将重点放在炎症上。仅在弗吉尼亚理工大学的校园里，我们就有至少12名高效的NIH调查人员协同研究炎症。他们大多数研究的一个统一主题是可视化5M/亚5M区域中的炎症组织，并确定小鼠模型中炎症性疾病的分子发病机制。在纳米医学研究中，所要求的系统能够非侵入性地成像深度嵌入的5M大小的样本特征，以保持样本的完整性和水化，最大限度地减少辐射损伤，减少手术时间和系统成本。此外，我们还有NIH资助的项目，涉及血管系统建模和分析、骨骼发育生物标记物的细胞成像和其他研究。所要求的系统是由领先的纳米CT公司XRadia制造的。该产品在2003年荣获享有盛誉的R&D100奖。这些规格包括90千伏微对焦源、2kx2k摄像头、低至500 nm的多种分辨率模式、相位增强型光学元件以及直径高达100 mm的样品。它将与弗吉尼亚理工大学的各种5U/纳米级成像设备高度互补和协同。此外，它将是东海岸为数不多的纳米CT系统之一，很可能服务于整个美国东部。 与公共卫生相关：该项目旨在获得一种最先进的纳米CT扫描仪，其分辨率低至500 nm(也称为“500 nm分辨率”)，而医用CT扫描仪的分辨率高达0.3 mm，典型的Micro-CT扫描仪的分辨率高达55米。这种纳米CT能力能够在细胞水平上对小动物器官和生物组织样本进行成像研究，并将使弗吉尼亚理工大学和维克森林校区的许多领先研究人员大大受益。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Over past decades, x-ray CT has revolutionized many aspects of our society especially biomedical imaging. Recently, advances in x-ray optics have enabled x-ray nano-CT with 50-500nm resolution and its wide range of applications. Among modern 5m/nm-scale imaging tools, nano-CT fills in an important gap in image resolution, contrast mechanism, penetration depth, sample preparation and application territory. From biomedical perspective, nano-CT is advantageous in screening of small animals, imaging of physiological and pathological features, and monitoring of disease progression and response to therapy. The overall goal of this project is to acquire a state-of-the-art nano-CT system for a large group of NIH/NSF- funded major users on the Virginia Tech and Wake Forest Campuses to enable or accelerate their research efforts in various biomedical areas. Specifically, in the inflammation studies, Virginia Tech is undergoing a major expansion focusing on inflammation. The newly funded Carilion Clinics and Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine have also placed a major emphasis on inflammation. On the campus of Virginia Tech alone, we have at least a dozen highly productive NIH investigators working synergistically on inflammation. One unifying theme underlying most of their research is to visualize the inflamed tissues in the 5m/sub-5m domain, and determine the molecular pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases in mice models. In the nano- medicine research, the requested system is capable of imaging deeply-embedded 5m-sized features of samples non-invasively to maintain specimen integrity and hydration, minimize radiation damage, and reduce operation time and system cost. Also, we have NIH-funded projects involving vasculature modeling and analysis, cellular imaging of biomarkers for skeletal developmental and other studies. The requested system is made by the leading nano-CT company Xradia. This product was awarded the prestigious R&D100 Prize in 2003. The specifications include 90kV micro-focus source, 2kx2k CCD camera, multiple resolution modes down to 500nm, phase-enhanced optics, and up to 100mm diameter samples. It will be highly complementary and synergic with a variety of the 5u-/nm-scale imaging equipment in Virginia Tech. Also, it will be one of few nano-CT systems on the East Coast, and will most likely serve the entire eastern US. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This project is to acquire a state-of-the-art nano-CT scanner that resolves features down to 500nm (which is also referred to as "500nm resolution"), as compared to medical CT scanners of up to 0.3mm resolution and typical micro-CT scanners of up to 55m resolution. This nano-CT capability enables imaging studies of small animal organs and biological tissue samples at a cellular level, and will significantly benefit many leading investigators on the Virginia Tech and Wake Forest campuses.