关键词：阿尔茨海默病；脑；电脑断层扫描；X射线
摘 要：In this project, we proposed to develop the imaging method for early detection of amyloid plaque in Alzheimer's disease. As specified in SA1 and the project timeline, the major tasks of year 1 are the construction and optimization of a prototype x-ray phase contrast CT system to carry out the tasks specified in SA2 and 3. Thus far, the construction of the prototype x- ray phase contrast CT is progressing well and is in the optimization process as anticipated. The major challenge of building the prototype x-ray phase contrast CT is the fabrication of x-ray gratings at high precision and performance. Enabled by the cutting-edge opti-mechanical equipment and devices at the Nano- Technology Research Center of GaTech (see Fig. 1), we have gained a plenty of experience in fabricating the x-ray gratings through a trial and error optimization process. We have also built three modules that are ready for filling of ABeta-peptide and ABeta-peptide/fibril to make the ABeta-peptide phantoms to carry out the tasks specified in SA2. Thus far, under partial support of this award, two journal papers have been published in Medical Physics- one of the leading journals in medical imaging, and five papers published in leading international conferences. Overall, the project's progression has been in pace with the project timeline specified in statement of work (SOW).