Registration of sheep brain MR images for cell tracking using ferrite-composite micro-beads as markers

In the recent molecular imaging studies of the magnetic resonance imaging field, in-vivo cell tracking is becoming an issue for the observation of cell therapy and disease behavior. In order to perform cell tracking, high resolution images and long-term studies are required, because those images make better performance than low resolution images in the recognition of cells and cells are traced at least two weeks. Image registration is an essential image processing technique for long-term imaging. In this study, we proposed the image registration technique using ferrite-composite micro- beads which could be used as substitutes for the cells labeling MR contrast agent such as superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles. Registration of sheep brain images tagging micro-beads was performed with the sufficient accuracy for cell tracking.