CONtrast through metal-enriched polymer SALTs: novel contrast agents for dual-energy micro-computed tomography

Project Information

CONSALT

Grant agreement ID: 703745

DOI 10.3030/703745

Project closed

EC signature date 3 March 2016

Start date 1 April 2016

End date 31 March 2018

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost € 171 460,80

EU contribution € 171 460,80

Coordinated by

TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN
Germany

Objective

X-ray micro computed tomography (microCT) is currently successfully used in material science investigations as well as in non-destructive testing enabling 3D imaging of these materials with micrometer resolution. The application of microCT for biological samples (e.g. biopsies) is limited by the missing contrast of soft tissue, which is important to visualize microscopic cellular structures. CONSALT aims at overcoming these limitations by simultaneous and yet separate visualization of a combination of at least two elements. Furthermore, it aims to advance x-ray microCT by allowing the visualization of single cells, which is currently not possible with the state-of-the-art x-ray microCT devices. The development and medicinal application of a fast X-ray based 3D-screening system for tissue biopsies to identify, visualize, and classify different pathologies, will complement conventional histology, which is based on the evaluation of a few selective 2D slices of a 3D biopsy, and further improve diagnosis (e.g. visualization of small tumors within the entire tissue volume or other 3D morphology parameters). Novel specific and functional contrast agents (stains) are essential to achieve the 3D visualization of specific pathological cellular or sub-cellular structures (e.g. nucleus or cytoskeleton).
The design, development and testing of such new contrast agents to overcome the challenges of contrast enhancement and selectivity for certain tissue and cellular structures (e.g. nucleus, mitochondria or cytoplasm), which is seen through conventional staining in histology, is proposed here. The CT-contrast will be achieved by incorporation of biocompatible elements with a high z-component such as iodine and bismuth. The specific CT-contrast will be further optimized through dual-energy X-ray microCT-scanners allowing for visualization of at least two elements.

Fields of science

• engineering and technology › medical engineering › diagnostic imaging › computed tomography
• natural sciences › physical sciences › optics › microscopy
• natural sciences › chemical sciences › inorganic chemistry › post-transition metals
• natural sciences › chemical sciences › inorganic chemistry › halogens
• natural sciences › biological sciences › histology

Programme(s)

• H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme
• H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility

Topic(s)

• MSCA-IF-2015-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF)

Call for proposal

H2020-MSCA-IF-2015

Funding Scheme

MSCA-IF-EF-RI - RI – Reintegration panel

Coordinator

TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN

• Net EU contribution: € 171 460,80
• Address: Arcisstrasse 21 ; 80333 Muenchen ; Germany
• Region: Bayern › Oberbayern › München, Kreisfreie Stadt
• Activity type: Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
• Total cost: € 171 460,80