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Potential of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Bioluminescent Imaging (BLI) and Fluorescent Imaging (FLI) for In Vivo detection of nanoparticles in small animals

The in vivo molecular imaging changes the use of animals in experiments. The strategy enables studying biological processes in living animals in real time. The main goal of the GlowBrain project is based on combination of biomaterials and stem cell applications in the brain monitored by combined bioluminescent imaging (BLI), fluorescent imaging (FLI) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This is expected to improve the stem cell delivery and integration in the brain and to evaluate the stem cells effects in vivo. BLI and FLI vs. MRI are technologies at the opposite parts of the imaging spectrum. BLI and FLI can visualise sources of light emitted from luminescent enzymes or fluorofores. In BLI bioluminescence enzymes such as firefly luciferase emit light when provided with the appropriate substrate. In FLI fuorofores, either as products of transgenes or as introduced markers, are used to give a signal in the living animal. Both methods are very sensitive, BLI being the most sensitive in vivo system available, but have rather limited spatial resolution. The in vivo imaging system (IVIS Spectrum) from Perkin Elmer offers imaging of both modalities and is currently being used at Croatian Institute for Brain Research. MRI imaging is based upon the proton movement of the hydrogen atom, abundant as water in tissue. When caught in a strong magnetic field the protons align to produce a detectable magnetic field. MRI offers superior spatial resolution, and even magnetic nanoparticles can serve as molecular markers to be used in this technique. These three technics together enable comprehensive non-invasive, in vivo visualization of cellular and molecular events in normal and pathological processes. Combining these imaging modalities into multi- modal imaging, whereby the same animal is imaged simultaneously is expected to provide additional information not possible to obtain by either of the methods. These should be used to be able to detect biological properties of fluorescent and/or magnetic nanoparticles. In particular we expect that this approach will innovate translational research, through interdisciplinary application of nanoparticles, mouse transgenic models, imaging, and potential diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to establish possible future applications.

in vivo oslikavanje; magnetska rezonanca; bioluminscencija; fluorescencija

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