Hybrid scanner combines five imaging technologies for multipurpose scans

Researchers have developed an advanced preclinical and intravital molecular imaging system that combines five different imaging technologies into a single device.

Presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, the hybrid system combines direct positron imaging and conventional and hyper-polarised magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with luminescence, fluorescence and optical imaging.

To test it,  a tumor cell line was transplanted into a rat and scanned using each technology. Increased lactate production and hypermetabolic activity was found in areas of hypoxia, offering indications that areas of diseased tissue could be dying while the tumour grows.

These details tell researchers about the heterogeneity of tumours, which is essential for developing appropriate research and drug protocols.

Zhen Liu, PhD candidate and lead author of the study from the department of nuclear medicine at Technical University Munich, said: "This technology allows us to obtain in-depth knowledge of molecular imaging techniques, how to optimise them and how to leverage data with statistical analysis while advancing new radiotracers and contrast agents for the imaging and treatment of a range of diseases."

It is thought that the new system will have multiple applications in medical imaging research and drug discovery.