IPE/ KIT

MausFUS

  • contact:

    PD Dr. Nicole Ruiter

  • funding:

    HeiKa Research Bridge MTH

  • Partner:

    Prof. M. Fatar, Neurologische Klinik, Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim

  • startdate:

    2020

  • enddate:

    2020

Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's are on the rise in the western world. Stem cell therapy can be significantly improved by a reversible local opening of the blood-brain barrier through focused ultrasound.

Magnetic resonance-guided opening of the blood-brain barrier using focused ultrasound for cell-based therapy of brain diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases are on the rise in the Western world. Stem cells represent an effective regenerative therapy for Alzheimer's disease. However, the blood-brain barrier hinders the effectiveness of this therapy. Focused Ultrasound (FUS) offers a new strategy for stem cell application because it can open the blood-brain barrier in a non-invasive, local and transient way. Combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), it enables real-time guidance, alignment and monitoring (MRgFUS). This HEiKA project in collaboration with the Mannheim Medical Faculty aims to develop and evaluate a non-invasive and reliable opening of the blood-brain barrier in mice to enable the systemic administration of stem cells to the brain parenchyma.

At the IPE, a mouse specific acoustic irradiation design based on ultrasound simulation is being developed. For this purpose, the MRIs for each mouse are automatically segmented and a model for the simulation is generated. Together with the properties of the focused ultrasound transducer, the simulations can be used to derive the optimal parameters for the acoustic irradiation.

Technology: Ultrasonic therapy systems