Molecular Imaging Equipment

The PET/CT Si78 features homogeneous, high resolution, and quantitative PET/CT imaging of mice (up to 4 mice in one imaging session) and rats with a large field of view of 80 x 150 mm (one bed position). The PET scanner is equipped with Lyso scintillation crystals with silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) providing up to 0.7 mm spatial resolution, up to 12% sensitivity and an energy resolution <17% with an ultrafast GPU reconstruction (MLEM, OSEM, and MAP). The scanner provides low dose, fast CT scans for longitudinal studies with a resolution of approximately 50 µm. The PET scanner uses molecular imaging probes labelled with positrons-emitting radionuclides produced by a cyclotron (i.e. ¹⁸F, ¹¹C, ⁶⁴Cu, Zr89, I124).

Available to all Australian researchers, this flagship PET/CT is funded as part of the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) and the National Imaging Facility, with financial contribution from the Commonwealth Government of Australia, the Queensland State Government and The University of Queensland

Higher resolution ex vivo and in vitro technologies are available at CAI for validation of pre-clinical in vivo PET imaging data:

• Biodistribution studies (Perkin Elmer Wizard Gamma well counter)
•  Ex vivo autoradiography (Leica cryostat and an Amersham Typhoon Biomolecular Imager) 

For information about the features of this instrument, please contact the Facility Manager.

The Si SPECT/CT features adaptive SPECT FOV from 25 mm to 120 mm (in one single bed position), with quantitative imaging of up to 4 mice in one imaging session. Single-pin hole collimator (max 200Kev), with resolution of 500-1000 µm and 9-fold pinhole collimator (max 175 Kev. with resolution of 650 to 1250 µm. 2D dynamic SPECT. The CT scanner provides up to 100 µm resolution with 80 (200) x 80 mm FOV single (multiple) bed positions.

The X-CUBE (CT) and ɣ-CUBE (SPECT) are benchtop scanners from Molecubes. The scanners are designed to work both as stand-alone units and in modular combinations. The X-CUBE is a high throughput CT allowing for fast whole body mouse (up to 3 mice in one imaging session) and rat CT imaging at extremely low dose and excellent soft tissue contrast. Advanced workflows, such as gated and dynamic contrast enhanced imaging, body composition analysis can be achieved in a functional and integrated setup. Axial FOV (37mm/1 bed) and Transaxial FOV (65mm), resolution of 50 μm.  The γ-CUBE is a high-sensitivity, high-resolution SPECT imager for whole body mouse (up to 3 mice in one imaging session) and rat imaging. All common SPECT-labelled therapeutic and diagnostic imaging tracers can be imaged. Axial FOV 6 mm(m) and 15 mm (r), transaxial FOV 35/60 mm (m/r), resolution  < 500 µm (m) / < 1mm (r), Peak sensitivity 1.2 / 0.12 / 0.05 % (HS mouse, GP mouse, GP rat collimators) and energy resolution < 11 %.

The Bruker Biospec MRI scanner consists of a 9.4 Tesla, 300 mm ultrashield refrigerated 30 cm magnet interfaced to a scalable Bruker Avance III spectrometer that allows unparalleled flexibility for MRI scanning of small and medium sized research animals and other samples.

The system incorporates a cryoprobe, which enables maximum signal and image quality to be achieved for rodent mouse brain imaging. The system also includes 8 parallel RF transmit and receive channels for multi-coil phased array imaging and numerous coils to investigate nuclei other than standard protons or "water" imaging, notably:

• Mouse and rat head and body coils for live animal and sample imaging
• 1 H mouse head cryoprobe, which enables maximum signal and image quality to be achieved for mouse brain imaging
• carbon-13 coils to investigate metabolism
• sodium-23 coils to investigate cell viability
• phosphorus-31 coils to investigate tissue energetics
• fluorine-19 coils for labeling of targeted tracers
• 8 parallel RF transmit and receive channels for multi-coil phased array

This system offers new potential for advancing preclinical research and molecular imaging in national and international researchers collaboration within The University of Queensland and is available for use through the Australian National Imaging Facility. The system was funded with assistance from the Queensland State Government under the Australian Commonwealth Government's Education Investment Fund scheme.

For more information, please contact the Facility Manager.

The University of Queensland commissioned a state-of-the-art 16.4T MRI spectrometer in October 2006. This powerful system is the only one of its kind in the southern hemisphere and one of six in the world.

The 700 MHz wide-bore micro-imaging system is capable of providing extremely detailed images of intact biological specimens. This spectrometer allows live mouse, fixed tissue and sample imaging from 4 mm to 30 mm diameter. Probes are available for imaging proton, fluorine and carbon.

Additionally, the Bruker Ultrashield Plus 700 WB Avance NMR spectrometer has a vertical open bore diameter of 89 mm. It has an available space of up to 34 mm diameter, which is optimal for live mouse imaging and various types of ex vivo samples.

The scanner is equipped with three types of gradient inserts: micro5, micro2.5 and mini0.5 which provide gradient strengths of 4.8, 2.5 and 0.5 mT/m/A.

To achieve highest sensitivity, the scanner is equipped with new generation SAW and quadrature microimaging coils (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 28 and 35 mm diameters). The 5-15 mm coils are suitable for imaging of excised (fixed tissue samples) such as brain, spinal cord and biopsy samples. The 20-35 mm coils are dedicated for mouse live imaging.

The 16.4T is also equipped with High Resolution Magic Angle Spectroscopy (HR-MAS), which can be used to obtain 1H, 13C and 31P spectroscopy information from biopsy samples.

The current 16.4T configuration is approximately twice as sensitive as the highest human MRI scanner (7T) available at CAI, and is predominantly used for microimaging, in particular, for in vivo / ex vivo mouse imaging and spectroscopy. Specific applications include high-resolution diffusion imaging, susceptibility-weighted imaging and 19F imaging.

Examples of imaging projects include:

• Diffusion microimaging of fixed embryo, brain, breast and prostate cancer tissue samples.
• Longitudinal studies of mouse models of spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease.
• Detection of abnormal brain development using diffusion imaging and fibretracking.
• Functional kidney and cardiac imaging
• HR-MAS study of liver and brain metabolites 

For further information, please contact the Facility Manager.

A Bruker Autoflex MALDI-TOF/TOF MSI facility is available for both advanced MSI and protein analysis. MSI enables the spatial distribution of ions to be imaged directly in tissue sections down to a resolution of 50 µm. Example applications include biomarker studies in cancer and drug distribution. Tissue sections analysed by MSI can be subsequently stained and examined by histology. The technology is an ideal platform for mass analysis of biomolecules and characterisation of protein folding and sequencing. A robotic LC-spotter allows full-scale proteomic experimentation.

 Capabilities: 

• MS analysis of a wide range of molecules by MALDI-MS spot analysis
• Top-down proteomics of purified proteins by MALDI-ISD-MS
• LC-MS analysis of complex samples by LC-MALDI-MS
• Bottom-up proteomics of enzymatically digested protein samples by LC-MALDI-MS/MS 
• Spatial distribution of molecules in tissues by imaging mass spectrometry

Combining X-Ray Computed Tomography (CT) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanners, this instrument enables registration and fusion of physiologic and anatomic information. The CT component is capable of providing three-dimensional computed tomography images. The PET scanner measures the distribution of PET radiopharmaceuticals. CAI has comprehensive cyclotron and radiochemistry facilities for the production of PET radiopharmaceuticals. The Biograph Horizon scanner system is equipped with Siemens multi-modality software, syngo. The scanner forms part of an ACRF Facility for human microdosing studies using molecular imaging. 

Technical specifications: 

• 700 mm CT-16/32 Slice
• PET axial Field of view (FOV) of 164 mm 
• Time of Flight (TOF) reconstruction capability
• UltraHD
• PET3 + TrueV (combination of technologies that offers the potential for short scan time and PET scans). 
• CT Safire (CT iterative reconstruction for up to 60% lower dose) 
• Respiratory gating option

The IVIS® Lumina™ X5 high-throughput 2D optical imaging system combines high-sensitivity bioluminescence and fluorescence with high resolution x-ray. This instrument is the workhorse for those undertaking preclinical assessment of novel therapeutics or imaging agents, with high-throughput enabled by the rapid screening of up to five mice simultaneously. 

Capabilities:

• High-throughput optical and x-ray
• High resolution, low dose X-ray with optical overlay
• Supports mouse or rat imaging (20 x 20cm FOV)
• Compute Pure Spectrum (CPS) spectral unmixing
• Full fluorescence tenability through the NIR spectrum (up to 900 nm)
• Rapid data acquisition, analysis with streamlined workflows

For any enquiries about this instrument, please contact the Facility Manager.

Multispectral Optoacoustic Imaging – iThera MSOT inVision 256-TF system The inVision 256-TF MSOT system offers unique imaging capabilities, combining tomographic acoustic imaging with optical sensitivity. The spectral resolution offered by this instrument provides a powerful methodology for elucidating the presence of both endogenous and exogenous probes. 

Capabilities: 

• Single wavelength optoacoustic imaging at 10 Hz 
• Real-time spectral component visualization 
• Penetration depth of up to 2–4 cm facilitating enhanced whole animal imaging
• Cross-sectional in-plane resolution of 150 µm 
• Tomographic ultrasound detector array with 256 elements 
• Rapid processing of temporal and spectral elements in imaging experiments

Large animal imaging research is available at CAI with the Centre’s 3T and 7T Whole Body MRI and Biograph Horizon PET/CT Large Bore Scanners. The scanners are used for CAI’s comparative oncology research program, assisting with the diagnosis of companion animals whilst contributing to cancer research

To find out more about large animal imaging, visit the human imaging page