Catalyst-Substrate Effects on Biocompatible SABRE Hyperpolarization

Abstract

The hyperpolarization technique, Signal Amplification by Reversible Exchange (SABRE), has the potential to improve clinical diagnosis by making molecular magnetic resonance imaging in vivo a reality. Essential to this goal is the ability to produce a biocompatible bolus for administration. We seek here to determine how the identity of the catalyst and substrate affects the cytotoxicity by in vitro study, in addition to reporting how the use of biocompatible solvent mixtures influence the polarization transfer efficiency. By illustrating this across five catalysts and 8 substrates, we are able to identify routes to produce a bolus with minimal cytotoxic effects.

Keywords: SABRE; biocompatibility; biomolecules; cytotoxicity; hyperpolarization.