Magnetic nanoparticles are increasingly finding applications in various biomedical fields, particularly in diagnosis and therapy. In the course of these applications, the biodegradation and clearance of nanoparticles within the body can occur. In this context, the development of a portable, non-invasive, non-destructive, and contactless imaging device becomes highly relevant for tracking nanoparticle distribution before and after medical procedures. We introduce a method for in vivo imaging of nanoparticles utilizing the magnetic induction technique and provide insights on how to optimize it for magnetic permeability tomography, thereby enhancing permeability selectivity.
To demonstrate the feasibility of our approach, we have designed and constructed a prototype tomograph. This device encompasses data collection, signal processing, and image reconstruction components. It has been successfully tested on phantoms and small animals, yielding both useful selectivity and high resolution. Importantly, this imaging device can monitor the presence of magnetic nanoparticles without necessitating specific sample preparations. Thus, our results suggest that magnetic permeability tomography has the potential to become a powerful tool in assisting medical procedures.