Chunlei Han

Carimas is a multi-purpose medical imaging data processing tool, which can be used to visualize, analyze, and model different medical images in research. Originally, it was developed only for positron emission tomography data in 2009, but the use of this software has extended to many other tomography imaging modalities, such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Carimas is especially well-suited for analysis of three- and four-dimensional image data and creating polar maps in modeling of cardiac perfusion. This article explores various parts of Carimas, including its key features, program structure, and application possibilities.

Hypoxia-induced cancer stem cells have been known to be involved in tumour metastasis, resistance to chemo/radio therapy and tumour recurrence. Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a widely used imaging tool for cancers in clinics and research. To develop T1-positive and T2-negative dual mode MRI agents for more comprehensive and accurate diagnostic information under hypoxic conditions, a hypoxia-inducible factor-1α based aptamer and Mn(II)-modified nanoparticles D-Fe₃O₄@PMn were synthesized and characterized. In vitro and in vivo studies show that D-Fe₃O₄@PMn NPs are biocompatible and less cytotoxic and can produce significant contrast enhancement in T1- and T2-weighted MR imaging. Furthermore, the D-Fe₃O₄@PMn NPs enable targeted dual-contrast T1- and T2-weighted MR imaging of cancer cells expressing high levels of HIF-1α and cancer stem cell-related proteins under hypoxic condition. In conclusion, NPs with HIF-1α and Mn(II) are promising diagnostic agents for dual-mode T1 and T2 imaging by targeting cancer stem cells as they are non-toxic and biocompatible.