Charged Gold Nanoparticles for Target Identification-Alignment and Automatic Segmentation of CT Image-Guided Adaptive Radiotherapy in Small Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
Jianjun LaiZhizeng LuoJiping LiuHaili HuHao JiangPengyuan LiuLi HeWeiyi ChengWeiye RenYajun WuJi-Gang PiaoZhibing WuPublished in: Nano letters (2024)
Because of the challenges posed by anatomical uncertainties and the low resolution of plain computed tomography (CT) scans, implementing adaptive radiotherapy (ART) for small hepatocellular carcinoma (sHCC) using artificial intelligence (AI) faces obstacles in tumor identification-alignment and automatic segmentation. The current study aims to improve sHCC imaging for ART using a gold nanoparticle (Au NP)-based CT contrast agent to enhance AI-driven automated image processing. The synthesized charged Au NPs demonstrated notable in vitro aggregation, low cytotoxicity, and minimal organ toxicity. Over time, an in situ sHCC mouse model was established for in vivo CT imaging at multiple time points. The enhanced CT images processed using 3D U-Net and 3D Trans U-Net AI models demonstrated high geometric and dosimetric accuracy. Therefore, charged Au NPs enable accurate and automatic sHCC segmentation in CT images using classical AI models, potentially addressing the technical challenges related to tumor identification, alignment, and automatic segmentation in CT-guided online ART.
Keyphrases
- deep learning
- artificial intelligence
- computed tomography
- dual energy
- contrast enhanced
- image quality
- convolutional neural network
- machine learning
- big data
- positron emission tomography
- gold nanoparticles
- magnetic resonance imaging
- early stage
- high resolution
- mouse model
- radiation therapy
- locally advanced
- oxidative stress
- mass spectrometry
- oxide nanoparticles
- social media
- high throughput