Across-cities transportable ¹³C hyperpolarization using UV-induced labile radicals

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Radiology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Hyperpolarized ¹³C Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging (HP ¹³C-MRSI) offers noninvasive metabolic disease detection.
• Clinical use is limited by short hyperpolarization lifetimes and the need for on-site polarizers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop transportable hyperpolarized molecular contrast agents for HP ¹³C-MRSI.
• To enable decentralized and scalable HP ¹³C-MRSI workflows.

Main Methods:

• Utilized dissolution Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (dDNP) with UV-induced labile radicals for long-lived hyperpolarization.
• Developed transportable contrast agents ([1-¹³C]HP001 and [U-¹³C, d₇]glucose).
• Conducted the first across-cities in vivo HP ¹³C-MRSI experiments in rats.

Main Results:

• Achieved long-lived ¹³C-hyperpolarization allowing for hours-long storage and transport.
• Successfully demonstrated across-cities in vivo HP ¹³C-MRSI.
• Validated the use of both perfusion/angiography and metabolic agents.

Conclusions:

• The developed approach enables centralized pre-polarization and transport of HP agents.
• This innovation removes the infrastructure barrier, advancing decentralized HP MRI workflows.
• Facilitates broader clinical adoption of HP ¹³C-MRSI for disease diagnosis.