Descripción del proyecto
Detección atraumática de la inflamación intestinal
La tomografía optoacústica multiespectral (MSOT, por sus siglas en inglés) es una técnica de obtención de imágenes que combina métodos ópticos y acústicos para visualizar tejidos y estructuras corporales. Es atraumática y proporciona imágenes de alta resolución con información funcional y molecular. El equipo del proyecto IseeG, financiado por el Consejo Europeo de Investigación, pretende desarrollar mejores medios de contraste para la obtención de imágenes de procesos inflamatorios tempranos en el tubo gastrointestinal mediante MSOT. En la actualidad, la detección de la inflamación se lleva a cabo mediante métodos endoscópicos que tienen una aplicabilidad limitada. La idea consiste en administrar por vía oral colorantes capaces de marcar las zonas inflamadas y permitir la visualización dinámica del tubo gastrointestinal de forma atraumática.
Objetivo
"The aim of this project is to functionalize contrast agents for multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT) - a molecular ""sensitive"" ultrasound imaging technique - to develop a new targeted imaging approach for the early localisation of inflammatory processes.
Inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract often act like a Trojan horse - while camouflaging themselves with diffuse clinical symptoms, they may rapidly progress into life-threatening complications. To date, it has been difficult to precisely localize them in their early stages, and their detection remains the domain of invasive endoscopy. The invasive nature of this method not only restricts its use for early disease detection, but is a major limitation for repetitive or high-risk applications. MSOT uses laser light excitation and ultrasound detection to resolve different chromophores such as haemoglobin, lipids, and other metabolic parameters at depths of several centimetres. While we were using the response from endogenous chromophores for translational to a range of potential clinical applications, we discovered that dyes delivered via the oral route enable the dynamic visualization of the entire intestinal tract. This molecular-sensitive approach has the advantage that such contrast agents are not absorbed systemically and undergo excretion largely unchanged. Based on this, I hypothesize that it is possible to functionalize such contrast agents in order to put a molecular flag on inflamed areas in the gastrointestinal tract. After characterizing potential imaging targets in the intestinal lumen and developing imaging agents, we will take a translational research approach, moving from cells through small and large experimental animal models back to the human system. This research at the frontiers of medicine and physics may pave the way to non-invasive early detection and personalized treatment strategies while minimizing the procedural risk for affected patients."
Ámbito científico
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Régimen de financiación
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsInstitución de acogida
91054 Erlangen
Alemania