Duke University

Vanderbilt University

Southern Illinois University

Warren S Warren

Boyd M Goodson

Eduard Y Chekmenev

Roman V Shchepin

Thomas Theis

Fan Shi

Aaron M Coffey

Milton L Truong

Danila A Barskiy

Provided are methods for nuclear spin polarization enhancement via signal amplification by reversible exchange at very low magnetic fields.

Method for creating hyperpolarization at microTesla magnetic fields

Provided are methods for nuclear spin polarization enhancement via signal amplification by reversible exchange at very low magnetic fields. The spin polarization is hyperpolarization of isotopically enriched heteronuclei by using a catalyst and parahydrogen to create a complex using iridium and applying magnetic fields in the microtesia range to transfer the spin order from parahydrogen to the complex.

Method for creating hyperpolarization at microtesla magnetic fields

Methods are described for preparing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or magnetic resonance spectroscopy contrast agents where the contrast agents are prepared from precursor molecules having at least four non-zero-spin nuclei that form two pairs of chemically equivalent or effectively equivalent nuclei, e.g., diphenylacetylene or diethyl oxalate. The precursor molecule is hyperpolarized and a sequence of one or more radiofrequency pulses is applied to transfer spin state population between the first and second pair of nuclei, thereby providing a non-equilibrium single state nuclear spin population. To detect the contrast agent, another sequence of one or more radiofrequency pulses is applied to transfer singlet order to polarization. No transformation of the molecular structure of the contrast agent is necessary for detection. Also described are methods of imaging targets using the contrast agents.

Contrast agents based on long-lived nuclear singlet states and related methods

The presently disclosed subject matter demonstrates that a spin state which has zero magnetic resonance signal, but an extremely long lifetime, can be used to store magnetization, which can then be recovered into an observable transition. Coupled with hyperpolarization techniques, this permits the preparation of a wide range of contrast agent molecules for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques that have long effective relaxation time.

Magnetic resonance imaging and/or spectroscopy contrast agents and methods of use thereof

Growing community of inventors

Durham, NC, United States of America

Warren S Warren