NANOMA:Proposal Mansfield

Overview

The proposal "Mansfield" has been proposed as a Marie Curie International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES). The goal of these projects is to foster international collaboration. Mansfield was originally meant as an addition to the NSF PIRE Miroma project proposed by Northeastern University and Brigham&Women's Hospital, which did not get accepted though. It was part of the ideas developed in the NANOMA Collaboration.

The initial plan was:

• funding for US researchers to go to europe is acquired by NSF PIRE Miroma
• funding for european researchers to go to the US and Canada is funded by EU Marie Curie IRSES Mansfield

Funding Modalities

The Marie Curie IRSES grants cover travels by european researchers to international partners through a monthly lump sum. Travels from international researchers to Europe will not be funded.

Partners

• BWH - Brigham&Women's Hospital (Nobuhiko Hata)
• NEU - Northeastern University (Dinos Mavroidis)
• EPM - Polytechnique Montreal (Sylvain Martel)
• UORL - University Orleans (Antoine Ferreira)
• ETHZ - ETH Zurich (Bradley Nelson)
• UNOL - University Oldenburg (Sergej Fatikow)
• OFFIS - OFFIS e.V. Oldenburg

Proposal

The proposal deals with the following topics:

• Imaging of magnetic particles (UNOL, OFFIS, BWH, EPM)
• Recognition and tracking of magnetic particles (UNOL)
• Controller design for the magnetic propulsion of the particles (UORL, EPM)
• Navigation of the magnetic particles (BWH)
• Magnetic particle design and manufacturing (ETHZ, NEU)
• Magnetic particle magnetic actuation

The objective for these topics is to research the possibilities and foundations, and to validate the approaches in theory and experiments.

Original Project Structure

Work packages and tasks as mentioned in the proposal (ER=Experienced Researcher, ESR=Early Stage Researcher, taken from the originally supplied list of researchers which may be involved):

• WP 1: MRI based Imaging and Tracking of Magnetic Nanobots
  • Task 1.1: Research on the MRI possibilities for imaging of magnetic objects (ESR1, UniOl)
  • Task 1.2: Experiments on MRI imaging of magnetic objects (ESR3, OFFIS)
  • Task 1.3: Evaluation and categorization of the artifacts for automated analysis using image processing and computer vision techniques (ER4, BWH, ESR3, OFFIS)
  • Task 1.4: Evaluation of different nanobot designs for MRI imaging (ESR6, EPM)
  • Task 1.5: Evaluation of existing object tracking algorithms for real-time processing of MRI images containing magnetic objects (ESR1, UniOl)
• WP 2: Control Strategies for MRI-driven Magnetic Nanobots
  • Task 2.1: Evaluation of the MRI as actuating device from the controller standpoint (ESR14, UORL)
  • Task 2.2: Evaluation and testing of existing controller algorithms for use in the MRI (ESR7, EPM)
  • Task 2.3: Development of new controller concepts tailored to MRI actuation (ESR5, UORL)
  • Task 2.4: Validation of novel controller concepts (ESR14, UORL)
  • Task 2.5: Development of concepts for MRI based navigation (ESR8, BWH)
• WP 3: Design of Magnetic Nanobots with Actuation and Feedback
  • Task 3.1: Research of the theory of nanobot design for application in MRI (ER6, ETHZ)
  • Task 3.2: Analysis of existing nanobot designs for MRI applications (ESR10, NEU)
  • Task 3.3: Computational studies about optimal nanocapsules (ESR11, NEU)
  • Task 3.4: Manufacturing of nanobot prototypes (ER7, ETHZ)
• WP 4: Actuation and Propulsion of Nanobots in the MRI
  • Task 4.1: Survey on the different possibilities of nanobot actuation in the MRI (ER3, EPM, ER1, UniOl)
  • Task 4.2: Research of the theoretical foundations of the different propulsion methods (ER5, NEU, ER2, ETHZ)
  • Task 4.3: Analysis of the best suitable methods for use in medical applications(ESR9, BWH, ESR4, OFFIS)
  • Task 4.4: Experimental validation of possible methods (ESR2, UniOl)
• WP 5: Dissemination of Results
  • Task 5.1: 1st Year annual workshop, presenting the foundations of the research in all four theme blocks
  • Task 5.2: 2nd Year annual workshop, presenting the project progress with a special focus on propulsion technologies
  • Task 5.3: 3rd Year annual workshop, presenting the project progress with a special focus on imaging and control strategies
  • Task 5.4: 4th Year annual workshop, presenting the project progress with a special focus on nanobot design and manufacturing, and on the future possibilities
  • Task 5.5: Organization of open seminars at the partner organizations

Revised task plan

• The following task plan is created based on Noby Hata and Christian Dahmen's phone call on August 23, 2010. Any input from the members of the project are appreciated.
• First Year: one post-doc each from UNOL, ETH, UORL selected, and get initial training.

Control expert from UORL visits Mntreal, Vision expert from UMOL visits BWH, Material expert from ETH visit NEU. With some delay?

• After one year of stay, they either go back to their home institution at EU, or move on to another insitutiion in North America to translate technology acquired.
• End of Year 1: All hands meeting after/before IROS, ICRA, MICCAI, BioRob, ISMRM. This all hands meeting continues as the conference moves EU and US.

• Specific Aims #1: Material (ETH)
  • Magnetic particle design and manufacturing
• Specific Aims #2: Vision (UMOL)
  • Imaging of magnetic particles
  • Recognition and tracking of magnetic particles
• Navigation of the magnetic particles
  • Specific Aims #3: control (UROL)
• Magnetic particle magnetic actuation
  • Controller design for the magnetic propulsion of the particles