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OBJECTIVE: To examine the feasibility of human cardiac MR (CMR) at 14.0 T using high-density radiofrequency (RF) dipole transceiver arrays in conjunction with static and dynamic parallel transmission (pTx). MATERIALS AND METHODS: RF arrays comprised of self-grounded bow-tie (SGBT) antennas, bow-tie (BT) antennas, or fractionated dipole (FD) antennas were used in this simulation study. Static and dynamic pTx were applied to enhance transmission field (B1+) uniformity and efficiency in the heart of the human voxel model. B1+ distribution and maximum specific absorption rate averaged over 10 g tissue (SAR10g) were examined at 7.0 T and 14.0 T. RESULTS: At 14.0 T static pTx revealed a minimum B1+ROI efficiency of 0.91 µT/√kW (SGBT), 0.73 µT/√kW (BT), and 0.56 µT/√kW (FD) and maximum SAR10g of 4.24 W/kg, 1.45 W/kg, and 2.04 W/kg. Dynamic pTx with 8 kT points indicate a balance between B1+ROI homogeneity (coefficient of variation < 14%) and efficiency (minimum B1+ROI > 1.11 µT/√kW) at 14.0 T with a maximum SAR10g < 5.25 W/kg. DISCUSSION: MRI of the human heart at 14.0 T is feasible from an electrodynamic and theoretical standpoint, provided that multi-channel high-density antennas are arranged accordingly. These findings provide a technical foundation for further explorations into CMR at 14.0 T.

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PURPOSE: Design, implementation, evaluation, and application of a 32-channel Self-Grounded Bow-Tie (SGBT) transceiver array for cardiac MR (CMR) at 7.0T. METHODS: The array consists of 32 compact SGBT building blocks. Transmission field ( B1+ ) shimming and radiofrequency safety assessment were performed with numerical simulations and benchmarked against phantom experiments. In vivo B1+ efficiency mapping was conducted with actual flip angle imaging. The array's applicability for accelerated high spatial resolution 2D FLASH CINE imaging of the heart was examined in a volunteer study (n = 7). RESULTS: B1+ shimming provided a uniform field distribution suitable for female and male subjects. Phantom studies demonstrated an excellent agreement between simulated and measured B1+ efficiency maps (7% mean difference). The SGBT array afforded a spatial resolution of (0.8 × 0.8 × 2.5) mm3 for 2D CINE FLASH which is by a factor of 12 superior to standardized cardiovascular MR (CMR) protocols. The density of the SGBT array supports 1D acceleration of up to R = 4 (mean signal-to-noise ratio (whole heart) ≥ 16.7, mean contrast-to-noise ratio ≥ 13.5) without impairing image quality significantly. CONCLUSION: The compact SGBT building block facilitates a modular high-density array that supports accelerated and high spatial resolution CMR at 7.0T. The array provides a technological basis for future clinical assessment of parallel transmission techniques.

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Localised extracellular interactions between nanoparticles and transmembrane signal receptors may well activate cancer cell growth. Herein, tiny LaF3 and PrF3 nanoparticles in DMEM+FBS suspensions stimulated tumour cell growth in three different human cell lines (A549, SW837 and MCF7). Size distribution of nanoparticles, activation of AKT and ERK signalling pathways and viability tests pointed to mechanical stimulation of ligand adhesion binding sites of integrins and EGFR via a synergistic action of an ensemble of tiny size nanoparticles (< 10 nm). While tiny size nanoparticles may be well associated with the activation of EGFR, integrin interplay with nanoparticles remains a multifaceted issue. A theoretical motif shows that, within the requisite pN force scale, each ligand adhesion binding site can be activated by a tiny size dielectric nanoparticle via electrical dipole interaction. The size of the active nanoparticle stayed specified by the amount of the surface charges on the ligand adhesion binding site and the nanoparticle, and also by the separating distance between them. The polar component of the electrical dipole force remained inversely proportional to the second power of nanoparticle's size, evincing that only tiny size dielectric nanoparticles might stimulate cancer cell growth via electrical dipole interactions. The work contributes towards recognising different cytoskeletal stressing modes of cancer cells.

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We study the influence of surface functionalization of a silica surface on insulin adsorption using accelerated molecular dynamics simulation. Three different functional groups are studied, CH3, OH, and COOH. Due to the partial charges of these groups, the surface polarity of silica is strongly altered. We find that the adsorption energies of insulin change in agreement with the decreasing surface polarity. Conformational changes in the adsorbed protein and the magnitude of the molecular dipole moment in the adsorbed state are consistent with this result. We conclude that protein adsorption on functionalized polar surfaces is governed by the induced changes in surface polarity.

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PURPOSE: To design, evaluate, and apply a bow tie antenna transceiver radiofrequency (RF) coil array tailored for cardiac MRI at 7.0 Tesla (T). METHODS: The radiofrequency (RF) coil array comprises 16 building blocks each containing a bow tie shaped λ/2-dipole antenna. Numerical simulations were used for transmission field homogenization and RF safety validation. RF characteristics were examined in a phantom study. The array's suitability for high spatial resolution two-dimensional (2D) CINE imaging and for real time imaging of the heart was examined in a volunteer study. RESULTS: The arrays transmission fields and RF characteristics are suitable for cardiac MRI at 7.0T. The coil performance afforded a spatial resolution as good as (0.8 × 0.8 × 2.5) mm(3) for segmented 2D CINE MRI at 7.0T which is by a factor of 12 superior versus standardized protocols used in clinical practice at 1.5T. The proposed transceiver array supports 1D acceleration factors of up to R = 6 without impairing image quality significantly. CONCLUSION: The 16-channel bow tie antenna transceiver array supports accelerated and high spatial resolution cardiac MRI. The array is compatible with multichannel transmission and provides a technological basis for future clinical assessment of parallel transmission techniques at 7.0 Tesla. Magn Reson Med 75:2553-2565, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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