This talk focuses on application of new techniques and probes to assess tissue oxygenation and hypoxia using proton (1H) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) developed in our lab. For the quantitative assessment of tissue oxygenation, we have developed a technique called Proton Imaging of Siloxanes to map Tissue Oxygenation Levels (PISTOL), which uses siloxanes as a 1H MR based pO2 reporter molecules in a variety of embodiments (neat liquid injections, nanoemulsions, dispersed in PDMS matrix etc.). These probes were then used in vivo to show to measure in a variety of applications including tumor oximetry, cellular hydrogel implants and brain electrodes. Our strategy for qualitative imaging of hypoxia has been the development and use of 2-nitroimidazole based MRI contrast agents which selectively accumulate in hypoxic regions and “highlight” them on images. We have developed gadolinium based GdDO3NI, as well as iron based FOBNI, as a novel hypoxia targeting MRI contrast agents. Further, we demonstrated the utility of GdDO3NI in non-invasive monitoring of hypoxia in tumors and traumatic brain injury.
Dr. Kodibagkar joined ASU’s School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering (SBHSE) in 2011, where he established the Prognostic BioEngineering (ProBE) lab. Currently he is a Professor and Research Director in SBHSE and Professor in the John Shufeldt School of Medicine and Medical Engineering. His research interests include cellular and molecular imaging, oximetry, MRI sequence development and image reconstruction techniques. He holds an MSc in Physics from IIT Bombay and a PhD in Physics from Washington University, St. Louis. Prior to joining ASU, he was a research faculty at the UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas. His research is currently supported by R01s from NCI, NIDDK and NIBIB. Past funding includes NSF CAREER and DOD IDEA awards.