Development of High-Spatial-Resolution Multi-probe in vivo imaging by CdTe-SPECT

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K16692
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 52040:Radiological sciences-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Yagishita Atsushi 東京大学, カブリ数物連携宇宙研究機構, 特任助教 (20626676)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 核医学 / SPECT / 多核種 / 分子イメージング / 生体イメージング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We developed a new imaging and analysis method by applying the spectroscopic analysis technique in space observation using a SPECT device equipped with a CdTe semiconductor sensor, which has high energy resolution, and a collimator that provides high spatial resolution. We conducted proof-of-concept experiments. In vitro experiments demonstrated the feasibility of multi-isotope imaging with SPECT and subsequently showed the usefulness of this technique in biological imaging. We constructed a model of micrometastasis to sentinel lymph nodes and performed in vivo imaging using both a tumor tracer and a lymphatic tracer simultaneously. We were able to image a micrometastatic lesion as small as 700μm and lymphatic pathways in vivo.

Free Research Field

放射線医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

放射線を使うことで動物体内における複数の薬剤の分布を詳しく、かつ、高精細に観察できる様にする技術を開発した。この技術は宇宙観測用の半導体センサーや解析技術を応用することで天体観測技術を生体内顕微鏡として応用したものである。これにより、小動物体内における複数の薬剤の分布をリアルタイムで同時に詳しく調べることができる様になった。この技術は医学研究や薬剤開発において役に立つと考えられる。