Imaging Techniques for Biomedical Applications
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The main objective of the course is to provide the student with the basic knowledge in imaging techniques with optical, electronic, probe scanning, diffusion-MRI and functional-MRI imaging with reference to applications in the biomedical field. Visits will be made to laboratories equipped with the instruments described in the course. The course also includes a series of seminars of experts in the machine learning and lab-on-chip devices.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the Course, the student will learn the fundamental elements of imaging techniques with applications in particular to the biomedical field. The student will acquire the ability to evaluate the most suitable technique / methodology for structural and functional imaging of biological samples at the level of molecular, cellular, and tissue structures up to complex organs / organisms.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course aims in Module I to illustrate the imaging techniques used in the bio-medical field and in Module II to provide general approaches for image processing and analysis.
Module I prof. Cristina Lenardi
1. Image formation in a conventional optical microscope; optical aberrations.
2. Concepts of: resolution, magnification, point spread function (PSF).
3. Bright field, dark field, phase contrast, polarized light, differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy.
4. Fluorescence microscopy
5. Confocal microscopy (CLSM) and FRET, FRAP, FLIM techniques
6. Super-resolution microscopy TIRF, 2Ph, SIM, PALM/STORM, STED.
7. Introduction to electron microscopy.
8. Scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy.
9. Cryo-EM.
10. Scanning probe microscopies (STM and AFM).
Module II Dr. Antonio Sarno
1. Introduction to digital imaging in biomedical applications and common formats
2. Digital detectors for x-ray radiation in medical applications: physical principles and characteristics
3. Parameters for the evaluation of image quality: Contrast, spatial resolution and noise
4. Intensity transformations and spatial filtering
5. Introduction to the Fourier transform of 2D digital signals and filtering in the Fourier domain
6. Filters for noise reduction
7. Filters for digital images and quality evaluation: theory and practical implementation in Imagej
8. Introduction to the use of Matlab for image processing
9. Evaluation of spatial resolution by pre-sampled MTF: theory and practical implementation in Matlab
10. Tomographic reconstruction methods, with particular attention to the radiological image
Module I prof. Cristina Lenardi
1. Image formation in a conventional optical microscope; optical aberrations.
2. Concepts of: resolution, magnification, point spread function (PSF).
3. Bright field, dark field, phase contrast, polarized light, differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy.
4. Fluorescence microscopy
5. Confocal microscopy (CLSM) and FRET, FRAP, FLIM techniques
6. Super-resolution microscopy TIRF, 2Ph, SIM, PALM/STORM, STED.
7. Introduction to electron microscopy.
8. Scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy.
9. Cryo-EM.
10. Scanning probe microscopies (STM and AFM).
Module II Dr. Antonio Sarno
1. Introduction to digital imaging in biomedical applications and common formats
2. Digital detectors for x-ray radiation in medical applications: physical principles and characteristics
3. Parameters for the evaluation of image quality: Contrast, spatial resolution and noise
4. Intensity transformations and spatial filtering
5. Introduction to the Fourier transform of 2D digital signals and filtering in the Fourier domain
6. Filters for noise reduction
7. Filters for digital images and quality evaluation: theory and practical implementation in Imagej
8. Introduction to the use of Matlab for image processing
9. Evaluation of spatial resolution by pre-sampled MTF: theory and practical implementation in Matlab
10. Tomographic reconstruction methods, with particular attention to the radiological image
Prerequisites for admission
None
Teaching methods
The lessons will be delivered by means of slides. Visits are planned to the Imaging platform (NOLIMITS-UNITECH) and to the scanning probe microscopy laboratory (Dept. of Physics). The slides are uploaded to ARIEL.
Teaching Resources
Slides of the course uploaded on Ariel website
Module I
A. Diaspro et al. - Nanoscopy and Multidimensional Optical Fluorescence Microscopy. ed. Chapman and Hall/CRC
J.J. Bozzola et L. D. Russel - Electron Microscopy. Jones & Bartlett Learning
Module II
Digital Image Processing, Gonzalez RC and Woods RE
Module I
A. Diaspro et al. - Nanoscopy and Multidimensional Optical Fluorescence Microscopy. ed. Chapman and Hall/CRC
J.J. Bozzola et L. D. Russel - Electron Microscopy. Jones & Bartlett Learning
Module II
Digital Image Processing, Gonzalez RC and Woods RE
Assessment methods and Criteria
The evaluation of the student's performance is based on: i) the presentation of a paper dealing with recent studies using at least one of the techniques of imaging described in the course and ii) oral examination spanning all the topics covered in the course.
Examples of the examination test will be discussed during classes and made available to students.
Examples of the examination test will be discussed during classes and made available to students.
FIS/01 - EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS - University credits: 3
FIS/07 - APPLIED PHYSICS - University credits: 3
FIS/07 - APPLIED PHYSICS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 42 hours
Professors:
Lenardi Cristina, Sarno Antonio
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)