In vivo 13C-MRI using SAMBADENA

PLoS One. 2018 Jul 12;13(7):e0200141. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200141. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a powerful imaging tool but suffers from a low sensitivity that severely limits its use for detecting metabolism in vivo. Hyperpolarization (HP) methods have demonstrated MRI signal enhancement by several orders of magnitude, enabling the detection of metabolism with a sensitivity that was hitherto inaccessible. While it holds great promise, HP is typically relatively slow (hours), expensive (million $, €) and requires a dedicated device ("polarizer"). Recently, we introduced a new method that creates HP tracers without an external polarizer but within the MR-system itself based on parahydrogen induced polarization (PHIP): Synthesis Amid the Magnet Bore Allows Dramatically Enhanced Nuclear Alignment (SAMBADENA). To date, this method is the simplest and least cost-intensive method for hyperpolarized 13C-MRI. HP of P13C > 20% was demonstrated for 5mM tracer solutions previously. Here, we present a setup and procedure that enabled the first in vivo application of SAMBADENA: Within seconds, a hyperpolarized angiography tracer was produced and injected into an adult mouse. Subsequently, fast 13C-MRI was acquired which exhibited the vena cava, aorta and femoral arteries of the rodent. This first SAMBADENA in vivo 13C-angiography demonstrates the potential of the method as a fast, simple, low-cost alternative to produce HP-tracers to unlock the vast but hidden powers of MRI.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carbon Isotopes*
  • Contrast Media
  • Equipment Design
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography / instrumentation
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography / methods*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / instrumentation
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Magnets
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Models, Animal
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Reproducibility of Results

Substances

  • Carbon Isotopes
  • Contrast Media
  • Hydrogen
  • Carbon-13

Grants and funding

Funding support by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG; HO 4604/1-1 and HO 4604/2-1), the German Consortium for Cancer Research (DKTK; https://dktk.dkfz.de/de/home) the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 642773 and the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung (ABS, P131623) is greatly acknowledged.