A Novel MR Elastography Device for Preclinical Applications From Spheroids to Rodents: Design, Validation, and Performance Evaluation

ABSTRACT Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is a powerful technique for assessing tissue biomechanics noninvasively. To disentangle and understand the histopathological and cellular signature of changes in tissue biomechanics, preclinical studies remain indispensable. Yet, the preclinical research setting for MRE is currently characterized by a multitude of different hardware solutions designed by different research groups that are often tailored to a single preclinical application. This impedes comparability and reproducibility between the results obtained within the community. This study presents the design, fabrication, and validation of a novel multipurpose preclinical MRE device allowing the examination of rodents, ex vivo tissue samples, and spheroids/organoids. Validation, stability, and reproducibility experiments were conducted on ultrasound gel phantoms. Highly reproducible maps of tissue mechanics are also demonstrated in rodent models and ex vivo biological samples, showing a high degree of concordance with underlying anatomical structures. Beyond established preclinical MRE applications, this methodology opens new avenues for multicenter biomechanical studies in small animal models and ex vivo specimens, with potential applications in oncology, regenerative medicine, and drug testing.