Neurodegenerative diseases are on the rise in the Western world. Stem cells represent an effective regenerative therapy for Alzheimer's disease. However, the blood-brain barrier hinders the effectiveness of this therapy. Focused Ultrasound (FUS) offers a new strategy for stem cell application because it can open the blood-brain barrier in a non-invasive, local and transient way. Combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), it enables real-time guidance, alignment and monitoring (MRgFUS). This HEiKA project in collaboration with the Mannheim Medical Faculty aims to develop and evaluate a non-invasive and reliable opening of the blood-brain barrier in mice to enable the systemic administration of stem cells to the brain parenchyma.

At the IPE, a mouse specific acoustic irradiation design based on ultrasound simulation is being developed. For this purpose, the MRIs for each mouse are automatically segmented and a model for the simulation is generated. Together with the properties of the focused ultrasound transducer, the simulations can be used to derive the optimal parameters for the acoustic irradiation.

Technology: Ultrasonic therapy systems