Medical applications of electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI)

Radicals play crucial roles in a wide variety of physiological functions such as inflammatory response and regulation of blood flow, but are also involved in the pathology of various diseases such as atherosclerosis, cancer and Alzheimer´s disease. EPRI has also successfully been used to quantitatively image oxygen pressure in tumours in small animals (e.g. mice). Imaging of radical distributions and identification of radical species is therefore valuable for applications in a large number of medical disciplines. The first Scandinavian electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI) spectrometer, with unique possibilities for imaging of radical distributions in vivo and in vitro, was installed at Linköping University during 2010. The specific aim of the present proposal is to use this new equipment for medical applications. Three specific applications are proposed: Imaging of radical distributions in atherosclerotic plaques for a better understanding of the evolving inflammatory reaction leading to atherosclerosis, imaging of radical distributions in matter irradiated with ionizing radiation for dosimetry and imaging of oxygen pressure in tumours in mice.

• Staff:

Håkan Gustafsson , Ph. D.		Principal Investigator		CMIV & IMH
Natallia Kolbun , M.Sc.		Researcher		CMIV & IMH
Anders Lund , Professor Emiratus		Researcher		IFM

• Former Staff:

• Project Description:

The proposed research project will establish new research around the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and imaging (EPRI) facilities recently installed at Linköping University.

Collaboration with (in alphabetic order):

Kirsti Berg, Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway

Alexandru Dasu, Linköping University Hospital

Ebo de Muinck, CMIV, Linköping University

Maria Engström, CMIV, Linköping University

Madelene Ericsson, Department of Medical Biosciences, Physiological Chemistry, Umeå University

Ewelina Grzywna, Neurosurgery and Neurotraumatology Dept. University Hospital in Cracow, Poland

Per Hammarström, Protein Chemistry, IFM, Linköping University

Krzysztof Kruczała, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Poland

Mikael Lindgren, IFM Chemistry, Linköping University

Fredrik Palm, Drug Research, Clinical Pharmacology, IMH, Linköping University

Helene Zachrisson, Linköping University Hospital

Karin Öllinger, Experimental Pathology, IKE, Linköping University