Resonancia magnética de ²³ Na de alta resolución espacial para la detección de lesiones cerebrales isquémicas

High spatial resolution sodium ( ²³ Na) imaging of brain lesions remains challenging due to the intrinsically low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of ²³ Na-MRI compared with conventional proton ( ¹ H) MRI. In this study, we established a high-resolution ²³ Na-MRI platform based on 14 T preclinical scanner using a dual-tuned head-implanted RF coil. This configuration enables the acquisition of ¹ H-based T ₂ -weighted anatomical and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), as well as ²³ Na-MRI, from the same animal. Brain-wide ²³ Na-MRI with 300×300 µm ² in-plane resolution was performed within the first 4 hours after acute middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) induced ischemic stroke induction. Hyperintense ²³ Na-MRI signals were observed in the ischemic brain regions, presenting a contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) that exceeded that of T ₂ -weighted images. Infarct regions can be well-identified in the elevated ²³ Na signal, which is spatially consistent with regions of reduced apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values, indicating water restriction in the ischemic core. This work established implanted double-tuned ¹ H/ ²³ Na RF coils as a powerful approach for high-resolution ²³ Na-MRI readout, facilitating the early detection of ischemic brain injury.