Department Research Areas

Medical Imaging and Diagnostics

Medical and biomedical imaging play a critical role across nearly all areas of biomedical engineering. Advancing technologies to visualize and model conditions such as diseases, injuries, and even normal tissue is fundamental to achieving precise diagnoses. Biomedical imaging encompasses the field of radiology, which employs various imaging techniques, including X-ray radiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and ultrasound, and thermography. Our program currently focuses on the application of high-frequency ultrasound for preclinical models of various diseases.

Participating Faculty

The following faculty work on research around medical and biomedical imaging. Visit their profile pages to learn more about their specific areas of research.

Sample Projects

Magnetic Nanoparticles as Tracers for Magnetic Particle Imaging

Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is an imaging modality that can potentially offer improvements over current X-ray imaging and CT scan techniques. These improvements include real-time 3D imaging, increased image contrast and sensitivity, and no need for radioactive substances. Potential applications for MPI include cancer cell detection, blood perfusion modeling, and implanted cell tracking. The tracers used with MPI are superparamagnetic nanoparticles, as superparamagnetic properties are crucial to provide the resolution and sensitivity of an MPI image. To optimize the potential of MPI, the Biomedical Engineering and Material Science (BEAMS) research group is focused on the development and characterization of pure iron nanoparticle tracers.

Figure: TEM image of pure iron nanoparticles with an iron-oxide shell dispersed on a copper TEM grid.

Representative publications:

Oxidation rate of Fe nanoparticles. A.G. Williams, A.W. Evans, L. Liu, C. E. Johnson, and J. A. Johnson. Nano Research & Applications 8 43 (2022)

One-Pot Synthesis of Iron Core – Iron Oxide Shell Nanoparticles for Magnetic Imaging Applications. A. G. Williams, L. Liu, C. J. Johnson, and J. A. Johnson. Journal of Nanoparticle Research (2023) 25:201 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-023-05851-x

Investigation of Varying Alkyl-Chain Length Surfactants on Iron Nanoparticle Sizes for Magnetic Particle Imaging Applications. Aleia. G. Williams, Willem Graham, Sydney Henriques, Todd Giorgio, Charles E. Johnson, and Jacqueline A. Johnson. Journal of Nanoparticle Research. 27-54 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-025-06253-x