Johns Hopkins University

Kennedy Krieger Institute, Inc.

Jeff W M Bulte

Michael T McMahon

Xiaolei Song

Assaf A Gilad

Amnon Bar-Shir

The invention features a novel non-invasive approach for imaging, detecting and/or sensing metal ions with improved sensitivity and specificity in a biological sample or tissue. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a MR contrast-based approach for imaging, detecting and/or sensing metal ions in the biological sample/tissue containing various background ions by usingF-based chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) technique.

Non-invasive sensing of free metal ions using ion chemical exchange saturation transfer

An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a method for obtaining a magnetic resonance image (MRI) or spectrum. The method includes a step of performing a chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) or magnetization transfer (MT) magnetic labeling experiment of a subject using an MRI machine. When performing the CEST or MT magnetic labeling experiment aspects of a saturation pulse or a serial saturation pulse sequence, such as length (t), number (N), offset (&#x394;&#x3c9;), modulation frequency (&#x3c9;) and power (B) can be varied in specific-designed schemes. Data is generated from the CEST magnetic labeling experiment and is transmitted to a data processing unit. The data is processed to generate a visual representation of the data.

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Fulton, MD, United States of America

Jeff W M Bulte