An alternative way of Magnetic Particle Imaging - bringing Rotational Drift Spectroscopy and Imaging into application

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Volker Christian Behr
• Subject Area: Medical Physics, Biomedical Technology ; Biophysics
• Term: from 2013 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 235690459

The main objective of this proposal is to bring Rotational Drift Spectroscopy (RDS) and Rotational Drift Imaging (RDI) into application. For that purpose, one needs a robust and reliable way of characterizing and evaluating possible tracer material for its performance in RDS/RDI. To give researchers working on particle systems access to the new technology for in-house testing a mobile and affordable platform needs to be established. To move on towards (pre-) clinical application a system suitable for imaging small animals is required and the range of detectable and quantifiable parameters needs to be extended. Mobile systemGroups developing particles as well as groups applying RDS to their diagnostic questions benefit from being able to use the technique in their own laboratories. Therefore, a low-cost mobile RDS unit is to be developed and built that can perform spectroscopic studies on small samples, e.g. a liquid-filled 10 mm glass cylinder. Ideally, the system comes with its own power supply and can be controlled via a mobile device, e.g. a tablet.Pre-clinical setupBesides the spectroscopic setup a full imaging apparatus will be required to bring RDI into (pre-) clinical application. Therefore, our previous work is to be continued towards a multi-dimensional imager that can localize particle distributions as well as distinguish between different particles or particles in different environments. That also includes the distinction between bound and unbound particles (Rotational Drift Spectroscopic Imaging).Particle theoryIn order to interpret data acquired on the two aforementioned systems the understanding of particle dynamics in rotating magnetic fields needs to be extended. A simulation environment is to be created that can model the behavior of magnetic nanoparticles under different relevant conditions and appropriate experimental parameters for scanner operation are to be derived from these results. This will enable a more quantitative analysis of data.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants