Biotechnological and Chemical Sciences in Diagnostics

IN VIVO DIAGNOSTICS: IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES

IN VIVO DIAGNOSTICS: IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES

Academic year 2022/2023

Sommario del corso

• Course objectives
• Results of learning outcomes
• Course delivery
• Learning assessment methods
• Program
• Teaching tools

Course objectives

Imaging in-vivo is a fundamental tool for the diagnosis of diseases and for the assessment of the outcome of therapeutic treatments.

The course aims to give an overview of the imaging methods that are used in the clinical practice for the diagnosis of different pathologies and in preclinical studies for shedding light into molecular mechanisms of diseases and for establishing new therapeutic approaches.

Attention will be also dedicated to more innovative methods that have not been translated into the clinical routine, but that are currently being investigated in clinical and pre-clinical studies.

Results of learning outcomes

The fundamental principles (physical and chemical-physical) of the main imaging techniques will be learned (Magnetic Resonance Imaging, x-ray computed tomography, optical imaging ultrasound imaging and photoacoustic imaging).

It will be clearly identified which kind of information can be obtained from each method.

The complementarity of the different techniques and how the different images can be integrated will be outlined.

Course delivery

All the 6 CFU of the courser will be delivered in presence. The teaching activities will mainly consist in frontal lessons, during which some quiz and tests will also be proposed to verify and improve the comprehension of the main topics.

Integrative practical activities will be also carried out, in small groups, using the research imaging facilities at the Molecular Imaging Centre (https://www.cim.unito.it/website/) which will allow students to practice with some of the imaging techniques covered during the lessons. 

Reading of literature scientific papers on imaging technologies will be used to highlight recent advances in the field.

All the didactic materials will be made available online on the Moodle website.

Learning assessment methods

The final exam will be an oral, during which the knowledge of the fundamental properties and the main applications of the different imaging techniques will be assessed. A short written test will preceed the oral exam, in order to verify the knowledge of MR related topics (MRI and NMR).

Program

The following imaging methods will be treated:

Nuclear medicine imaging modalities:

• X-Ray generation, X-Ray –matter interaction, X-Ray imaging applications
• Computed Tomography (principles of tomography: formation of a tomographic image)
• Quick overview of PET-SPECT

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

• The Nuclear MR phenomenon: fundamental principles (nuclear spin, Larmor precession, the NMR signal, relaxation processes)
• The MRI machine: magnetic field, radio-frequency pulses…
• Image formation through the application of magnetic field gradients
• MRI pulse sequences
• Advanced sequences for functional imaging (fast sequences, DWI, DTI…)
• Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy:
  • localized MRS in vivo
• A bit more about NMR (for diagnostic purposes):
  • Heteronuclear and 2D-NMR
  • Dynamic processes in NMR
  • Characterization of small organic molecules by NMR
  • NMR for metabolomic analysis

Optical Imaging:

• Basis of optical imaging
• Bioluminescence imaging
• Fluorescence imaging

Ultrasound imaging

• Physic of sound waves
• Generation and detection of US waves
• Basis of echography
• Overview of US imaging instrument

Photoacoustic imaging

• Basis of Photoacoustic signal generation
• PAI instruments (Microscopy and tomography)

• Teaching materials
• Exams and finals
• Go to Moodle
• Visit the forums