Magnetic resonance microimaging of cartilage

Overview

Topic status: We're looking for students to study this topic.

Project Summary: Our group is working on the development of novel techniques for microimaging of articular cartilage - a connective tissue that covers the articulating surfaces of long bones.

The aim of this research is three-fold:

(1) to improve the understanding of molecular architecture of cartilage biopolymers, collagen and proteoglycan; (2) to study the relationship between the biopolymeric scaffold and the load-processing function of cartilage; and (3) to develop MRI techniques for early diagnosis of osteoarthritis - a debilitating disease of the joints that affects approximately 5% of the general population.

As part of this project, you will participate in the development of new methods of cartilage microimaging, including the mechanical-load MRI of cartilage. Research opportunities include experimental micro-MRI, development of mechanical-testing instrumentation, development of data processing algorithms, theoretical and computational studies of cartilage biopolymers, and application of micro-MRI to tissue-engineered cartilage (in collaboration with QUT's Cartilage Engineering group).

References:

  • SK de Visser, RW Crawford, JM Pope. Osteoarthr. Cartilage, 16, 83-89 (2008)
  • SK de Visser, JC Bowden, E Wentrup-Byrne, L Rintoul, T Bostrom, JM Pope, KI Momot. Osteoarthr. Cartilage, 16, 689-697 (2008)
  • KI Momot, JM Pope, RM Wellard. NMR in Biomed., in press (2009)
Study level
PhD
Supervisors
QUT
Organisational unit

Science and Engineering Faculty

Research area

Physics

Contact
Please contact the supervisor.