Molecular imaging in the College of Optical Sciences: an overview of two decades of instrumentation development

Abstract

During the past two decades, researchers at the University of Arizona’s Center for Gamma-Ray Imaging (CGRI) have explored a variety of approaches to gamma-ray detection, including scintillation cameras, solid-state detectors, and hybrids such as the intensified Quantum Imaging Device (iQID) configuration where a scintillator is followed by optical gain and a fast CCD or CMOS camera. We have combined these detectors with a variety of collimation schemes, including single and multiple pinholes, parallel-hole collimators, synthetic apertures, and anamorphic crossed slits, to build a large number of preclinical molecular-imaging systems that perform Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), and X-Ray Computed Tomography (CT). In this paper, we discuss the themes and methods we have developed over the years to record and fully use the information content carried by every detected gamma-ray photon.

Endothelial eNAMPT amplifies pre-clinical acute lung injury: efficacy of an eNAMPT-neutralising monoclonal antibody

“…An additional group received saline as a vehicle control (n=6). Mice were imaged at 30 min, 120 min and 240 min after radiotracer injection using a Quantum Imaging Detector (iQID) camera (42)(43)(44). This small-animal imaging system provides imaging of photon and particle emissions in small animals and tissues with high spatial resolution.…”

“…In separate experiments (n=3 mice), either Cy5.5-ALT-300 or Cy5.5-IgG (15-20 µg) was injected intravenously 3h after the second TPA/PBS application, followed by mouse imaging. To assess the capacity of the 99m Tc-ALT-300 probe to detect in vivo NAMPT tissue expression, 99m Tc-ProNamptor TM (1.0-1.5 mCi, >98% radiochemical purity), [40,41] or IgG control Ab was intravenously injected at 3h post LPS challenge in the -one-hit‖ model and imaged (Quantum Imaging Detector camera) [42][43][44]. Count activity-based measurements of 99m Tc-ProNamptor TM biodistribution and ex vivo autoradiography were performed in harvested lungs (see…”