title: Hybrid µCT-FMT imaging and image analysis.
abstract: Fluorescence-mediated tomography (FMT) enables longitudinal and quantitative determination of the fluorescence distribution in vivo and can be used to assess the biodistribution of novel probes and to assess disease progression using established molecular probes or reporter genes. The combination with an anatomical modality, e.g., micro computed tomography (µCT), is beneficial for image analysis and for fluorescence reconstruction. We describe a protocol for multimodal µCT-FMT imaging including the image processing steps necessary to extract quantitative measurements. After preparing the mice and performing the imaging, the multimodal data sets are registered. Subsequently, an improved fluorescence reconstruction is performed, which takes into account the shape of the mouse. For quantitative analysis, organ segmentations are generated based on the anatomical data using our interactive segmentation tool. Finally, the biodistribution curves are generated using a batch-processing feature. We show the applicability of the method by assessing the biodistribution of a well-known probe that binds to bones and joints.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Molecular Imaging, RWTH Aachen University.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gremse
authors.affiliation: Experimental Molecular Imaging, RWTH Aachen University.
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Doleschel
authors.affiliation: Experimental Molecular Imaging, RWTH Aachen University.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zafarnia
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biomedical Engineering - Biointerface Laboratory, RWTH Aachen University.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Babler
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biomedical Engineering - Biointerface Laboratory, RWTH Aachen University.
authors.forename: Willi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jahnen-Dechent
authors.affiliation: Experimental Molecular Imaging, RWTH Aachen University; Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University.
authors.forename: Twan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lammers
authors.affiliation: Experimental Molecular Imaging, RWTH Aachen University.
authors.forename: Wiltrud
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lederle
authors.affiliation: Experimental Molecular Imaging, RWTH Aachen University; fkiessling@ukaachen.de.
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kiessling
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017886:Durapatite / Q000378:metabolism; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D041622:Tomography, Optical / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D017886:Durapatite