C-13 MR Technology is Nature Magazine Cover Story

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Magnetic resonance imaging of pH in vivo using
hyperpolarized 13C-labelled bicarbonate

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Ferdia A. Gallagher1,2,3*, Mikko I. Kettunen1,2*, Sam E. Day1,2{, De-En Hu1,2, Jan Henrik Ardenkj?r-Larsen4,
Rene′ in ‘t Zandt5, Pernille R. Jensen5, Magnus Karlsson5, Klaes Golman5, Mathilde H. Lerche5 & Kevin M. Brindle1,2

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As alterations in tissue pH underlie many pathological processes,
the capability to image tissue pH in the clinic could offer new ways
of detecting disease and response to treatment1. Dynamic nuclear
polarization is an emerging technique for substantially increasing
the sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging experiments2,3. Here
we show that tissue pH can be imaged in vivo from the ratio of
the signal intensities of hyperpolarized bicarbonate (H13CO3
2)
and 13CO2 following intravenous injection of hyperpolarized
H13CO3
2. The technique was demonstrated in a mouse tumour
model, which showed that the average tumour interstitial pH was
significantly lower than the surrounding tissue. Given that bicarbonate
is an endogenous molecule that can be infused in relatively
high concentrations into patients4, we propose that this technique
could be used clinically to image pathological processes that are
associated with alterations in tissue pH, such as cancer, ischaemia
and inflammation.

 

Full article on June 12th Nature Magazine.