Diffusion-weighted nuclear magnetic resonance has proven very successful in obtaining information about the microscopic structure of biological tissues. Pathological processes can alter the diffusion characteristics of water in tissue significantly. The most common method of diffusion weighting is based on a pair of two magnetic field gradient pulses. This project is based on two such pairs with different gradient direction. Theoretical and experimental pioneering work predicts that the measured signal can depend on the angle between these directions if diffusion is restricted by the boundaries of cells or compartments. The details of this angular dependence are determined by the size and shape of the compartments. The project sets out to develop new non-invasive methods for measuring cell size and shape in vivo on the basis of this phenomenon. Such techniques are anticipated to extend the existing methods for investigation and diagnosis of pathologically altered tissues, such as in cancer or degenerative diseases of the human brain. More info...

Scientists involved:

• Martin Koch, Institute of Medical Engineering
• Patricia Ulloa Almendras, Institute of Medical Engineering