Visit MILabs virtually, at the occasion of RSNA 2020, Nov. 29

Nobody will see it like you

At the occasion of the RSNA 2020 Virtual meeting, in-vivo imaging market-leader MILabs introduces a new clinical-bore animal SPECT imaging system. Based on MILabs’ latest gyro-free SPECT (G-SPECT) technology, this system can image subjects as large as humans with astonishing image resolution (down to 3 mm) or at very low radiopharmaceutical doses for both low and high energy gammas. In fact, it raises SPECT sensitivity to an all-new level, enabling for the first time, dynamic SPECT at sub-minute frame rates. For a preview of MILabs latest product line, watch our video or visit our booth:

MILabs enables theranostic imaging and dosimetry of radiotherapy isotopes

By scaling up MILabs industry-leading small animal SPECT from mice up to human-size subjects, G-SPECT will let you see more, with less dose, and provide extra insight with dynamic SPECT. No expensive equipment is required; no elaborate radiopharmaceutical facilities are needed. G-SPECT can handle all new and off-the-shelf diagnostic tracers. But still, it stands out from the crowd with high-resolution theranostic imaging of radiotherapy isotopes, including, e.g., ¹³¹I and ²²⁵Ac targeted alpha therapy, without the need for surrogate marker dosimetry.

Breakthrough performance born from small animals

G-SPECT’s groundbreaking design and performance come from resizing the MILabs’ award-winning small animal imaging U-SPECT technology. Used by hundreds of researchers worldwide, its scalable platform comes with four modalities, either available as stand-alone systems or in any combination.
Even in its simplest configuration – with X-ray CT only – many users claim that they can see more with less radiation dose, from small to medium-sized subjects. Below are just a couple of examples: in-vivo virtual lung endoscopy of ferrets for Covid-19 research, CT angiography of a revived pig brain after death; detailed anatomical images of a human spine and hand:

From left to right: 1) In-vivo virtual endoscopy ferret lung for Covid-19 research, Courtesy UAB, Birmingham, 2) BrainEx CT angiography of pig brain after death, Yale University, Nature 568, 336–343, 2019, 3) Human spine and hand anatomy, Courtesy of R. Bleys, Dept. of Clinical Anatomy, UMC Utrecht

High-impact science: translational and theranostic studies

As illustrated for CT, MILabs has a long history of innovation and advanced product support enabling its customers to achieve new imaging functionality levels. Exclusively, upgrading X-ray CT to Molecular CT with in-line PET, SPECT, or Optical Tomography leads to many innovative high-impact diagnostic and theranostic applications. Here is a concise overview of recently published research:

1. Theranostic Targeting of CUB Domain Containing Protein 1 (CDCP1) in Pancreatic Cancer. A. Moroz et al., Clin. Cancer Res., Jul 2020. ⁸⁹Zr-4A06 was initially used to detect expression on seven human pancreatic cancer tumors. Mice were then treated with ¹⁷⁷Lu-4A06 and ²²⁵Ac-4A06. A significant survival advantage was imparted by ²²⁵Ac-4A06 treatment.

2. Monosized Polymeric Microspheres Designed for Passive Lung Targeting: Biodistribution and Pharmacokinetics after Intravenous Administration. M. Agnoletti et al, ACS Nano. Jun 2020. This study demonstrated that intravenous administration of 12 μm PLGA lung-targeting micro-spheres is suitable for passive lung targeting and pulmonary therapy.

3. Disturbed gut microbiota and bile homeostasis in Giardia-infected mice contributes to metabolic dysregulation and growth impairment. A. Riba et al., Science Translational Med, Oct 2020. This U-CT study followed by Imalytics Preclinical fat segmentation illustrates that enteropathogen’s modulation of bile acid metabolism and lipid metabolism in the neonatal mouse host leads to an altered body composition, suggesting how G. lamblia infection could contribute to growth restriction in infants in endemic areas.

4. Early detection in a mouse model of pancreatic cancer by imaging DNA damage response signaling. J.C. Knight et al., J. Nucl. Med., Dec 2019. Concurrent PET/SPECT imaging with PET and SPECT co-registered in space and time illustrates that ¹⁸F-FDG is ineffective for improving early detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. On the other hand, as illustrated, ¹¹¹In-anti-γH2AX-TAT imaging enables non-invasive detection of DNA damage repair. It is a promising new tool to aid in the early detection and staging of pancreatic cancer.

5. A universal dual mechanism immunotherapy for the treatment of influenza virus infections. X. Liu et al., Nature Com., Nov 2020. In this study, the authors designed and synthesized a small bifunctional molecule by conjugating the neuraminidase inhibitor, zanamivir, with the highly immunogenic hapten, dinitrophenyl (DNP), which specifically targets the surface of free virus and viral-infected cells. They show that intranasal or intraperitoneal administration of two mice infected with 100x MLD50 virus is shown to eradicate advanced infections from representative strains of both influenza A and B viruses.

6. Protein sulfenic acid-mediated anchoring of gold nanoparticles for enhanced CT imaging and radiotherapy of tumors in vivo. J. Ding et al., Nanoscale, Nov 2020. Gold nanoparticles decorated with biocompatible folic acid (FA), and cyclohexanedione (CHD) become on-site immobilized in tumors. It is the first demonstration that tumor anchoring gold nanoparticles may serve as effective radiosensitizers for clinical theranostic applications.

7. Polymeric Nanoparticles with Neglectable Protein Corona. I. Alberg et al., Small, May 2020. Nanoparticle–protein interactions indicate that the particles rapidly adsorb proteins upon introduction into a living organism. The formed protein corona determines thereafter identity and fate of nanoparticles in the body. This work done with CT-guided Fluorescence Tomography underlines that polymeric nanoparticles can be synthesized, for which a protein corona formation does not take place. Deep-tissue in-vivo optical imaging showed an excellent correlation with ex-vivo acquired images.