NANOPARTICLE-ENABLED X-RAY MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (NXMRI)

• US 20170043041A1
• Filed: 04/21/2015
• Published: 02/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2014
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Original Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Inventors: Wang, Ge, GETZIN, Matthew Webber, GJESTEBY, Lars Arne, Cong, Wenxiang
• Application Number:
  US15/305,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20170043041A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0035 adapted for acquisition of images from more than one imaging mode, e.g. combining MRI and optical tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0042 for the brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 49/04 X-ray contrast preparations
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 49/08 characterised by the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 49/1824 coated or functionalised nanoparticles liposomes A61K49/1812; nanoemulsions A61K49/1806; micelles A61K49/1809
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/4812 MR combined with X-ray or computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/5601 involving use of a contrast agent for contrast manipulation, e.g. a paramagnetic, super-paramagnetic, ferromagnetic or hyperpolarised contrast agent

Abstract

Imaging systems and methods are provided. Systems and methods of the subject invention can include the use of nanoparticles (for example, nanophosphors) within a sample to be imaged. Excitation with radiation, such X-ray radiation, can be performed on the nanoparticles to give rise to a change in one or more resonance parameters of the nanoparticles, and this change can be measured using magnetic resonance imaging to provide localization information.

Claims

1. An imaging method, comprising:

providing nanoparticles to a sample to be imaged;

using a radiation source to excite the nanoparticles; and

imaging the sample using magnetic resonance imaging (MM) to obtain localization information of the nanoparticles by measuring a change in a resonance parameter of the nanoparticles as a result of the excitation by the radiation source.

2. The imaging method according to claim 1, wherein the nanoparticles are nanophosphors, and

wherein the nanophosphors are semiconducting crystals doped with lanthanide ions.

4. The imaging method according to claim 1, wherein the resonance parameter of the nanoparticles is T2 relaxation time.

5. The imaging method according to claim 1, wherein the radiation source is an X-ray source such that the nanoparticles are excited with X-ray radiation.

7. The imaging method according to claim 1, wherein the sample is living tissue such that the method is performed in vivo.

8. The imaging method according to claim 7, wherein the living tissue is a brain or part of a brain of a human patient.

10. The imaging method according to claim 1, wherein the nanoparticles include LiGa₅O₈:

Cr³⁺, MgGa₂O₄;

Cr³⁺, Gd₂O₂S;

Tb³⁺, CaMgSi₂O₆;

Eu²⁺, CaMgSi₂O₆;

Mn²⁺, CaMgSi₂O₆;

Pr³⁺, or a combination thereof.

11. The imaging method according to claim 1, wherein the resonance parameter is T1, T2, or T2*.

12. The imaging method according to claim 1, wherein imaging the sample using MRI to obtain localization information of the nanoparticles by measuring a change in a resonance parameter of the nanoparticles as a result of the excitation by the radiation source comprises measuring the resonance parameter of the nanoparticles before and after excitation by the radiation source.

13. The imaging method according to claim 1, wherein the radiation source is an ultraviolet (UV) source such that the nanoparticles are excited with UV radiation.

14. The imaging method according to claim 1, further comprising obtaining computed tomography (CT) data from the sample simultaneously while imaging the sample using MM.

3. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

15. An imaging system, comprising:

a radiation source configured to supply radiation to nanoparticles provided within a sample to be imaged;

an MRI machine configured to obtain a magnetic resonance image of the sample before and after excitation by the radiation source; and

a processor configured to determine localization information of the nanoparticles provided within the sample by measuring a change in a resonance parameter of the nanoparticles as a result of the excitation by the radiation source.

16. The imaging system according to claim 15, wherein the nanoparticles are nanophosphors, and

wherein the nanophosphors are semiconducting crystals doped with lanthanide ions.

18. The imaging system according to claim 15, wherein the resonance parameter of the nanoparticles is T2 relaxation time.

19. The imaging system according to claim 15, wherein the radiation source is an X-ray source configured to supply X-ray radiation to the nanoparticles or a UV source configured to supply UV radiation to the nanoparticles.

21. The imaging system according to claim 15, wherein the sample is living tissue such that the system is capable of performing in vivo imaging.

22. The imaging system according to claim 21, wherein the living tissue is a brain or part of a brain of a human patient.

24. The imaging system according to claim 15, wherein the nanoparticles include LiGa₅O₈:

Cr³⁺, MgGa₂O₄;

Cr³⁺, Gd₂O₂S;

Tb³⁺, CaMgSi₂O₆;

Eu²⁺, CaMgSi₂O₆;

Mn²⁺, CaMgSi₂O₆;

Pr³⁺, or a combination thereof.

25. The imaging system according to claim 15, wherein the resonance parameter is T1, T2, or T2*.

27. The imaging system according to claim 15, further comprising a computed tomography (CT) mechanism integrated with the MRI machine to provide an integrated CT-MM machine configured to simultaneously obtain CT data and MM data from the sample.

17. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

26. (canceled)