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NMR Nanocoil Arrays for Neurotransmitter Brain Mapping

Technology Benefits

Providesreal time monitoring of metabolism and neurotransmitter releaseArraycan be placed into an MRI scanner and used to select the coil location and tointerrogate itNMRcoils can be manufactured at 10 microns in diameter Capableof detecting chemical activity of the brain3Dimagining of the brain is possibleCan be performed on anywild-type or transgenic animalNo need to clone or purchaseexpensive or rare animals for testing

Detailed Technology Description

A novel Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Arrayto be used in the mapping of brain metabolism.

*Abstract

Thistechnology has the potential to monitor metabolism and neurotransmitter release inreal time on a cell by cell basis to measure the chemical signaling that takesplace during signal transduction from cell to cell. Advantages over the existing “optogenetic”methods include the ability to image the time dependent 3D distributions of alarge variety of small molecules in the brain giving near cellular resolutionfor brain mapping. These NMR array coils can be manufactured at a diameter of 10 microns,eliminating the problems caused by the small size of brain cells. This invention allows for the detection of notjust the electrical activity, but the chemical activity at a resolutiondictated by the dimensions of the microcoils.

*Background

Brain mapping is a set of neuroscience techniquesthat use the biological processes, for either humans or non-humans, of thebrain resulting in maps. Using these maps allows for a much clearer understanding ofthe relationships between brain structures and how these structuresfunction.  Neuroscientists have maderemarkable progress in recent years toward understanding how the brain works.   Currently, technologies exist that can showdetails as small as 20 micrometers that can provide scientists with afar more accurate road map for studying the brain’s different functions; however,technologies that can depict true cellular resolution is desired. While thereare optical techniques that probe brain anatomy, there is at present a marketneed for refinements in brain mapping technologies that can allow scientists tostudy and understand the brain’s metabolism in three-dimensions.  These advancements would allow for earlierdetection and treatment of psychological and psychiatric disorders, diseases,and surgical interventions.

Country/Region

USA