Protocol for detecting substrates in living cells by targeted molecular probes through hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI

Hyperpolarized Xenon-129 Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (HyperCEST) Molecular Imaging: Achievements and Future Challenges

“…It is non-toxic, highly soluble in biological tissues, capable of dissolving in blood, and can diffuse across membranes. Its stable isotope, 129 Xe (with a natural abundance of 26.4%), exhibits favorable nuclear magnetic resonance properties, making it suitable for molecular imaging. It has a gyromagnetic ratio of 11.77 MHz/T [29], spin of ½, no quadrupole moment, and a wide chemical shift range, allowing it to be used as a versatile contrast agent.…”

“…This creates a metastable nuclear spin-polarized (hyperpolarized; HP) state, resulting in a substantial increase in nuclear magnetization. It is possible to hyperpolarize carbon-13 ( 13 C), fluorine-19 ( 19 F), and noble gases such as 129 Xe [20,22,23] and helium-3 ( 3 He) [24,25] using a dynamic nuclear polarization [18,26] and a spin-exchange optical pumping [23,27] techniques, respectively. While the increase in the MRI signal due to HP is substantial and on its own allows the conduction of molecular and metabolic imaging, it is possible to further increase its sensitivity by several orders of magnitude in the case of dissolved-phase HP 129 Xe MRI.…”

“…It is possible to hyperpolarize carbon-13 ( 13 C), fluorine-19 ( 19 F), and noble gases such as 129 Xe [20,22,23] and helium-3 ( 3 He) [24,25] using a dynamic nuclear polarization [18,26] and a spin-exchange optical pumping [23,27] techniques, respectively. While the increase in the MRI signal due to HP is substantial and on its own allows the conduction of molecular and metabolic imaging, it is possible to further increase its sensitivity by several orders of magnitude in the case of dissolved-phase HP 129 Xe MRI. In order to achieve this, supramolecular macrocycles that are capable of reversibly binding 129 Xe can be implemented as contrast agents.…”

“…While the increase in the MRI signal due to HP is substantial and on its own allows the conduction of molecular and metabolic imaging, it is possible to further increase its sensitivity by several orders of magnitude in the case of dissolved-phase HP 129 Xe MRI. In order to achieve this, supramolecular macrocycles that are capable of reversibly binding 129 Xe can be implemented as contrast agents. In 2006, Schröder et al [28] introduced a pioneering method known as hyperpolarized chemical exchange saturation transfer (HyperCEST), which provides an extra sensitivity boost of up to three orders of magnitude for HP 129 Xe MRI signal.…”

“…In order to achieve this, supramolecular macrocycles that are capable of reversibly binding 129 Xe can be implemented as contrast agents. In 2006, Schröder et al [28] introduced a pioneering method known as hyperpolarized chemical exchange saturation transfer (HyperCEST), which provides an extra sensitivity boost of up to three orders of magnitude for HP 129 Xe MRI signal.…”