The goal of this project is to develop and provide an imaging modality for the quantitative detection
of magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) for the diagnostic support of MNP-based cancer therapies. In these
novel treatment approaches, MNP is used to transport medically active substances to the tumor in a
targeted way (Magnetic Drug Targeting) or to generate heat for fighting cancer cells in a locally
restricted way by means of MNP (magnetic hyperthermia). Thereby, the quantitative imaging
detection of the MNP distribution in the human body is essential for the assessment and the
individual control of the therapy progress.
The method of magnetic relaxometry (MRX) provides a mature measurement technology which has
already demonstrated its fundamental suitability for the sensitive and specific detection of MNP in
tissue in pre-clinical applications. In this project, the required technology is to be further developed
on this basis so that MNP distributions in specific human body regions such as the brain, the
prostate, the lymphatic nodes, the gastrointestinal tract, the lungs or the extremities can be
quantitatively imaged.
Particular attention is given thereby to the establishment of procedures for the prompt
demonstration of MNP distributions immediately during, or after the MRX measurements (online
monitoring). For this purpose, novel approaches for data processing and for the reconstruction of the
distributions with high spatial resolution and, at the same time, with a substantial reduction of the
computing time, are to be realized. In addition, approaches for the multi-modal integration of the
quantitative MNP distribution and the associated anatomic structure of the body region are to be
developed, with the anatomic data being obtained by established procedures such as CT, MRT or
laser scanning of the body surface.
Another field of activity in this project consists in the investigation of the possibilities of MRX imaging
for the demonstration of molecular changes in the body. The MRX signals contain information on the
local viscosity in the immediate vicinity of the MNPs. This information can also be imaged and used
for the investigation of physiological processes in the body.
In the present project, special body-part phantoms, which image the physiological and physical
parameters in selected therapy scenarios and which can be loaded in a defined way with MNPs, are
to be developed for the evaluation of MRX imaging. These investigations are carried out in close
cooperation with our clinical partners to ensure the medical relevance and to take the clinical
requirements and the demands on the imaging modality into account from a medical point of view.
When the project objectives are achieved, all technical requirements shall be complied with in order
to apply MRX imaging of MNPs to new MNP-based cancer therapies in humans.