Near-Infrared Spectroscopy for the In Vivo Monitoring of Biodegradable Implants in Rats.

Magnesium (Mg) alloys possess unique properties that make them ideal for use as biodegradable implants in clinical applications. However, reports on the in vivo assessment of these alloys are insufficient. Thus, monitoring the degradation of Mg and its alloys in vivo is challenging due to the dynamic process of implant degradation and tissue regeneration. Most current works focus on structural remodeling, but functional assessment is crucial in providing information about physiological changes in tissues, which can be used as an early indicator of healing. Here, we report continuous wave near-infrared spectroscopy (CW NIRS), a non-invasive technique that is potentially helpful in assessing the implant-tissue dynamic interface in a rodent model. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects on hemoglobin changes and tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) after the implantation of Mg-alloy (WE43) and titanium (Ti) implants in rats' femurs using a multiwavelength optical probe. Additionally, the effect of changes in the skin on these parameters was evaluated. Lastly, combining NIRS with photoacoustic (PA) imaging provides a more reliable assessment of tissue parameters, which is further correlated with principal component analysis.

Assessment of tissue response in vivo: PET-CT imaging of titanium and biodegradable magnesium implants.

To study in vivo the bioactivity of biodegradable magnesium implants and other possible biomaterials, we are proposing a previously unexplored application of PET-CT imaging, using available tracers to follow soft tissue and bone remodelling and immune response in the presence of orthopaedic implants. Female Wistar rats received either implants (Ti6Al7Nb titanium or WE43 magnesium) or corresponding transcortical sham defects into the diaphyseal area of the femurs. Inflammatory response was followed with [18F]FDG and osteogenesis with [18F]NaF, over the period of 1.5 months after surgery. An additional pilot study with [68Ga]NODAGA-RGD tracer specific to αvß3 integrin expression was performed to follow the angiogenesis for one month. [18F]FDG tracer uptake peaked on day 3 before declining in all groups, with Mg and Ti groups exhibiting overall higher uptake compared to sham. This suggests increased cellular activity and tissue response in the presence of Mg during the initial weeks, with Ti showing a subsequent increase in tracer uptake on day 45, indicating a foreign body reaction. [18F]NaF uptake demonstrated the superior osteogenic potential of Mg compared to Ti, with peak uptake on day 7 for all groups. [68Ga]NODAGA-RGD pilot study revealed differences in tracer uptake trends between groups, particularly the prolonged expression of αvß3 integrin in the presence of implants. Based on the observed differences in the uptake trends of radiotracers depending on implant material, we suggest that PET-CT is a suitable modality for long-term in vivo assessment of orthopaedic biomaterial biocompatibility and underlying tissue reactions. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The study explores the novel use of positron emission tomography for the assessment of the influence that biomaterials have on the surrounding tissues. Previous related studies have mostly focused on material-related effects such as implant-associated infections or to follow the osseointegration in prosthetics, but the use of PET to evaluate the materials has not been reported before. The approach tests the feasibility of using repeated PET-CT imaging to follow the tissue response over time, potentially improving the methodology for adopting new biomaterials for clinical use.

In Vivo Imaging of Biodegradable Implants and Related Tissue Biomarkers.

Non-invasive longitudinal imaging of osseointegration of bone implants is essential to ensure a comprehensive, physical and biochemical understanding of the processes related to a successful implant integration and its long-term clinical outcome. This study critically reviews the present imaging techniques that may play a role to assess the initial stability, bone quality and quantity, associated tissue remodelling dependent on implanted material, implantation site (surrounding tissues and placement depth), and biomarkers that may be targeted. An updated list of biodegradable implant materials that have been reported in the literature, from metal, polymer and ceramic categories, is provided with reference to the use of specific imaging modalities (computed tomography, positron emission tomography, ultrasound, photoacoustic and magnetic resonance imaging) suitable for longitudinal and non-invasive imaging in humans. The advantages and disadvantages of the single imaging modality are discussed with a special focus on preclinical imaging for biodegradable implant research. Indeed, the investigation of a new implant commonly requires histological examination, which is invasive and does not allow longitudinal studies, thus requiring a large number of animals for preclinical testing. For this reason, an update of the multimodal and multi-parametric imaging capabilities will be here presented with a specific focus on modern biomaterial research.

Evaluation of image quality with four positron emitters and three preclinical PET/CT systems.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the image quality of 11C, 68Ga, 18F and 89Zr, which have different positron fractions, physical half-lifes and positron ranges. Three small animal positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) systems were used in the evaluation, including the Siemens Inveon, RAYCAN X5 and Molecubes ß-cube. The evaluation was performed on a single scanner level using the national electrical manufacturers association (NEMA) image quality phantom and analysis protocol. Acquisitions were performed with the standard NEMA protocol for 18F and using a radionuclide-specific acquisition time for 11C, 68Ga and 89Zr. Images were assessed using percent recovery coefficient (%RC), percentage standard deviation (%STD), image uniformity (%SD), spill-over ratio (SOR) and evaluation of image quantification. RESULTS: 68Ga had the lowest %RC (< 62%) across all systems. 18F had the highest maximum %RC (> 85%) and lowest %STD for the 5 mm rod across all systems. For 11C and 89Zr, the maximum %RC was close (> 76%) to the %RC with 18F. A larger SOR were measured in water with 11C and 68Ga compared to 18F on all systems. SOR in air reflected image reconstruction and data correction performance. Large variation in image quantification was observed, with maximal errors of 22.73% (89Zr, Inveon), 17.54% (89Zr, RAYCAN) and - 14.87% (68Ga, Molecubes). CONCLUSIONS: The systems performed most optimal in terms of NEMA image quality parameters when using 18F, where 11C and 89Zr performed slightly worse than 18F. The performance was least optimal when using 68Ga, due to large positron range. The large quantification differences prompt optimization not only by terms of image quality but also quantification. Further investigation should be performed to find an appropriate calibration and harmonization protocol and the evaluation should be conducted on a multi-scanner and multi-center level.