Skills (1)
Research experience
-
Jan 2004–
Dec 2011Research: Università degli studi di Milano
Università degli studi di Milano · Department of Pharmacological SciencesItaly · Milano
Publications (17) View all
-
Conference Proceeding: Applications of the HICAM gamma camera
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The goal of the HICAM project, supported by the European Community, is the development of a new Anger camera for clinical and research environments and specific applications where high overall spatial resolution and system compactness are required. The camera is based on a matrix of Silicon Drift Detectors (SDDs) coupled to a CsI(Tl) crystal. Two prototypes were developed during the project, with 5×5 cm<sup>2</sup> and 10×10 cm<sup>2</sup> FOV. They provide a high intrinsic spatial resolution (<;1mm), an overall spatial resolution of ~ 2.67 mm @ 4cm and appropriate sensitivity. The developed camera is compact, very versatile and has a potential to be employed in several imaging applications, for clinical studies on humans, for small organs imaging in adults and infants, or being incorporated in systems for both planar and SPECT acquisition for small animals studies. In this paper we will describe the most significant results obtained so far with this new camera employed in several applications.Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record (NSS/MIC), 2010 IEEE; 12/2010 -
Article: The DRAGO gamma camera.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: In this work, we present the results of the experimental characterization of the DRAGO (DRift detector Array-based Gamma camera for Oncology), a detection system developed for high-spatial resolution gamma-ray imaging. This camera is based on a monolithic array of 77 silicon drift detectors (SDDs), with a total active area of 6.7 cm(2), coupled to a single 5-mm-thick CsI(Tl) scintillator crystal. The use of an array of SDDs provides a high quantum efficiency for the detection of the scintillation light together with a very low electronics noise. A very compact detection module based on the use of integrated readout circuits was developed. The performances achieved in gamma-ray imaging using this camera are reported here. When imaging a 0.2 mm collimated (57)Co source (122 keV) over different points of the active area, a spatial resolution ranging from 0.25 to 0.5 mm was measured. The depth-of-interaction capability of the detector, thanks to the use of a Maximum Likelihood reconstruction algorithm, was also investigated by imaging a collimated beam tilted to an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the scintillator surface. Finally, the imager was characterized with in vivo measurements on mice, in a real preclinical environment.The Review of scientific instruments 04/2010; 81(4):044301. · 1.52 Impact Factor -
Article: In vivo imaging of lymph node migration of MNP- and (111)In-labeled dendritic cells in a transgenic mouse model of breast cancer (MMTV-Ras).
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The authors present a protocol for the in vivo evaluation, using different imaging techniques, of lymph node (LN) homing of tumor-specific dendritic cells (DCs) in a murine breast cancer model. Bone marrow DCs were labeled with paramagnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) or (111)In-oxine. Antigen loading was performed using tumor lysate. Mature DCs were injected into the footpads of transgenic tumor-bearing mice (MMTV-Ras) and DC migration was tracked by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Ex vivo analyses were performed to validate the imaging data. DC labeling, both with MNPs and with (111)In-oxine, did not affect DC phenotype or functionality. MRI and SPECT allowed the detection of iron and (111)In in both axillary and popliteal LNs. Immunohistochemistry and γ-counting revealed the presence of DCs in LNs. MRI and SPECT imaging, by allowing in vivo dynamic monitoring of DC migration, could further the development and optimization of efficient anti-cancer vaccines.Molecular imaging and biology: MIB: the official publication of the Academy of Molecular Imaging 05/2011; 14(2):183-96. · 2.47 Impact Factor -
Article: In vivo imaging of immune cell trafficking in cancer.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Tumour establishment, progression and regression can be studied in vivo using an array of imaging techniques ranging from MRI to nuclear-based and optical techniques that highlight the intrinsic behaviour of different cell populations in the physiological context. Clinical in vivo imaging techniques and preclinical specific approaches have been used to study, both at the macroscopic and microscopic level, tumour cells, their proliferation, metastasisation, death and interaction with the environment and with the immune system. Fluorescent, radioactive or paramagnetic markers were used in direct protocols to label the specific cell population and reporter genes were used for genetic, indirect labelling protocols to track the fate of a given cell subpopulation in vivo. Different protocols have been proposed to in vivo study the interaction between immune cells and tumours by different imaging techniques (intravital and whole-body imaging). In particular in this review we report several examples dealing with dendritic cells, T lymphocytes and macrophages specifically labelled for different imaging procedures both for the study of their physiological function and in the context of anti-neoplastic immunotherapies in the attempt to exploit imaging-derived information to improve and optimise anti-neoplastic immune-based treatments.European Journal of Nuclear Medicine 05/2011; 38(5):949-68. · 4.53 Impact Factor -
Article: Labeling protocols for in vivo tracking of human skeletal muscle cells (HSkMCs) by magnetic resonance and bioluminescence imaging.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We propose herein labeling protocols for multimodal in vivo visualization of human skeletal muscle cells (HSkMCs) by MRI and BLI to investigate the survival, localization, and proliferation/differentiation of these cells in cell-mediated therapy. HSkMCs were labeled with different quantities of Endorem® and transfection agents or infected with lentiviral vector expressing the luciferase gene under the myogenin promoter. Cells were evaluated before and after intra-arterial injection in NUDE mice with N₂-induced muscle inflammation. Neither iron labeling nor infection affected cell features; the number of iron-positive cells increased proportionally to the iron content in the medium and in the presence of transfection agents. Loaded cells were detected for up to 1 month by MRI and 2 months by BLI. These protocols could be used to visualize new stem cells, in vivo and over time, in preclinical studies of cell-based treatments for myopathies of different etiologies.Molecular imaging and biology: MIB: the official publication of the Academy of Molecular Imaging 02/2011; 14(1):47-59. · 2.47 Impact Factor
