Small animal imaging with hyperpolarized 129Xe magnetic resonance

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Chemistry
• Material Science
• Biomedical Imaging

Background:

• High-sensitivity nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) utilizing hyperpolarized (HP) gaseous atoms is a versatile research tool.
• Hyperpolarized (HP) noble gases, specifically Helium-3 (3He) and Xenon-129 (129Xe), serve as inhalable contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• Lung MRI with HP gases has evolved into a widely applicable diagnostic technique across various scales, from preclinical mouse models to human subjects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in HP (129)Xe MR measurements.
• To focus on methodologies for assessing pulmonary dysfunctions in mice using HP (129)Xe MRI.

Main Methods:

• Development of advanced hyperpolarization techniques for gaseous atoms.
• Implementation of high-sensitivity nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) for gaseous samples.
• Application of hyperpolarized (129)Xe for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lungs.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated the utility of HP (129)Xe MRI for probing pulmonary dysfunctions.
• Advanced the methodology for high-sensitivity MR measurements of gaseous (129)Xe.
• Established HP (129)Xe MRI as a valuable tool for preclinical lung research.

Conclusions:

• Hyperpolarized (129)Xe MRI is a powerful noninvasive tool for diagnosing pulmonary diseases.
• Our group's advancements enhance the capability of HP (129)Xe MR for studying lung health and disease.
• The developed methodologies are crucial for probing pulmonary dysfunctions in mouse models.