Novel J-PET scanner combined with positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy technique as a tool for morphometric imaging

Abstract

Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS) allows examining structure of materials at nano and sub-nanometer level. This technique is based on the lifetime and production intensity of ortho-positronium atoms in free volumes of given structures. It is mostly used for studies of organic materials. However there exist also few results, e.g. by groups of Y. C. Jean and R. Pietrzak, showing that morphology of cells is correlated with the PALS parameters. Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomograph (J-PET) is a multi-purpose detector which will be used for investigations with positronium atoms in life-sciences as well as for medical diagnostics. Such prototype based on plastic scintillators and fully compatible with MRI is currently being developed at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. In this talk results of the first experiments conducted by the J-PET collaboration will be presented. We performed PALS studies of well known structures such as silica and of some model micro-organisms, e.g. Saccharomyces cerevisiae both with dry and aqueous samples allowing to determine the correlation between hygroscopicity of the cell and PALS parameters. As a result, we proved that PALS can be successfully used for studies of living organisms their dynamics and its relation to the cells morphology. This result opens perspective for simultaneous determination of early and advanced stages of carcinogenesis by observing changes in biomechanical parameters between normal and tumour cells and standard PET examination. J-PET detection system combined with PALS technique will be more accurate and affordable for cancer diagnostics. Disclosure Authors disclose any relationship that may bias the presentation.