Investigation of microstructure of neuronal and collagenous tissues by NMR and MRI techniques

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is one of the most important diagnostic tools in modern hospitals and clinics. MRI provides superior soft-tissue contrast and is capable of totally non-invasive imaging of molecular functions in human and animals. The accuracy and sensitivity of current MRI to small and complex structural tissues, such as musculoskeletal tissues (cartilage, tendon) and neuronal tissues (e.g., optic and sciatic nerves) need fiirther improvement.

We suggest a novel MRI method based on a new imaging contrast for those parts of the tissues that contain water in nano-sized capillaries (fibrillous and neuronal tissues). This new method capitalizes on the utilization of the residual magnetic dipole-dipole interaction, which is sensitive to the specific properties associated with water resided in fiber-rich area.

The new method will be developed and verified in high-resolution MRI, and has the potential to be implemented on the existing hardware without the use of any external contrast agent. Success of this project will result in novel MRI techniques that provide accurate microstructural infonnation in tissues that the current MRI tools cannot, without harmful radiation. New MRI modalities will offer powerful tools in diagnostics of bone, brain, joint, and lung diseases and will be beneficial to the entire society.