Grant: Research Tools and Instruments
École Polytechnique de Montréal
$137,952.00
Mid-infrared molecular imaging
FY 2015-16
Summary
Given their status as the number one killer in the western world, the development of new tools to evaluate novel therapies and address cardiovascular (CV) diseases and risk is essential. Among those tools, imaging science and technology are becoming key contributors as they enable early measures of drug efficacy and longitudinal studies. Due to its non-invasive nature and ability to report on specific processes, molecular imaging of cardiovascular diseases thus provides an attractive avenue towards better characterization of CV events. The goal of this project is to develop a novel, high-resolution, molecular mid-infrared (MIR) imaging platform for atherosclerotic plaque detection and characterization in vivo. Current available imaging technologies to investigate peripheral vascular function and disease remain sub-optimal, mostly due to the necessity of imaging small vascular structures under a large bulk of tissue. Microscopic optical imaging techniques (confocal, two-photon, optical coherence tomography) are limited by penetration depth, while more conventional whole body techniques, such as MRI and micro-CT lead to long scanning times, have limited resolution (100um), and require long post-processing. Furthermore, they remain limited in their ability to assess hemodynamics (beyond structure). To characterize both functional and molecular imaging, optical techniques remain attractive but are plagued by high diffusion. Recent high-profile work has shown that beyond the usual ‘therapeutic window’ (650-900nm) used for bio imaging with optical signals, a second window offered new opportunities. The mid-infrared region (1200-1500nm) is associated with significantly lower photon absorption and diffusion, leading to increased penetration depth and image resolution, and reduced autofluorescence, increasing its specificity for molecular imaging. However, exploiting MIR imaging requires an interdisciplinary effort combining probe development with new instrumentation tailored to MIR imaging. This project combines the expertise of the three co-applicants in nanotechnology, bio-conjugation and imaging to investigate and develop new molecular nanoprobes and a platform for molecular MIR imaging in the context of vascular disease.
Program
Research Tools and Instruments
Recipient
Location
Quebec, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
RTI-2016-00581
Name nom
Lesage, Frederic
Department département
Génie Biomédical, Institut de - Génie Biomédical, Institut de
Organization id
64
Institution établissement
École Polytechnique de Montréal
Province en
Québec
Province fr
Québec
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2015
Competition year année de concours
2016
Award amount
137952
Program id
RTI
Program name en
Research Tools and Instruments
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1605
Committee name en
Physics (RTI)
Committee name fr
Physique (OIR)
Area of application code
1102
Area of application group en
Health, education and social services
Area of application group fr
Santé publique, éducation et services sociaux
Area of application en
Biomedical engineering
Area of application fr
Génie biomédical
Research subject code
1901
Research subject group en
Biomedical engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie biomédical
Research subject en
Biomedical technology
Research subject fr
Technologie biomédicale
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Mid-infrared molecular imaging
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
<p>Given their status as the number one killer in the western world, the development of new tools to evaluate novel therapies and address cardiovascular (CV) diseases and risk is essential. Among those tools, imaging science and technology are becoming key contributors as they enable early measures of drug efficacy and longitudinal studies. Due to its non-invasive nature and ability to report on specific processes, molecular imaging of cardiovascular diseases thus provides an attractive avenue towards better characterization of CV events. The goal of this project is to develop a novel, high-resolution, molecular mid-infrared (MIR) imaging platform for atherosclerotic plaque detection and characterization in vivo. Current available imaging technologies to investigate peripheral vascular function and disease remain sub-optimal, mostly due to the necessity of imaging small vascular structures under a large bulk of tissue. Microscopic optical imaging techniques (confocal, two-photon, optical coherence tomography) are limited by penetration depth, while more conventional whole body techniques, such as MRI and micro-CT lead to long scanning times, have limited resolution (100um), and require long post-processing. Furthermore, they remain limited in their ability to assess hemodynamics (beyond structure). To characterize both functional and molecular imaging, optical techniques remain attractive but are plagued by high diffusion. Recent high-profile work has shown that beyond the usual ‘therapeutic window’ (650-900nm) used for bio imaging with optical signals, a second window offered new opportunities. The mid-infrared region (1200-1500nm) is associated with significantly lower photon absorption and diffusion, leading to increased penetration depth and image resolution, and reduced autofluorescence, increasing its specificity for molecular imaging. However, exploiting MIR imaging requires an interdisciplinary effort combining probe development with new instrumentation tailored to MIR imaging. This project combines the expertise of the three co-applicants in nanotechnology, bio-conjugation and imaging to investigate and develop new molecular nanoprobes and a platform for molecular MIR imaging in the context of vascular disease.</p>
