Clinical-Scale Batch-Mode Production of Hyperpolarized Propane Gas for MRI

NMR spectroscopy and imaging (MRI) are two of the most important methods to study structure, function, and dynamics from atom to organism scale. NMR approaches often suffer from an insufficient sensitivity, which, however, can be transiently boosted using hyperpolarization techniques. One of these t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Analytical chemistry (Washington) 2019-04, Vol.91 (7), p.4741-4746
Main Authors: Salnikov, Oleg G, Nikolaou, Panayiotis, Ariyasingha, Nuwandi M, Kovtunov, Kirill V, Koptyug, Igor V, Chekmenev, Eduard Y
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chemistry
Contrast agents
Diagnostic systems
Dynamic structural analysis
Food additives
Hyperpolarization
Induced polarization
Magnetic resonance imaging
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy
NMR spectroscopy
Optical pumping
Polarization
Propane
Rare gases
Spin exchange
Structure-function relationships
Xenon 129
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Summary:NMR spectroscopy and imaging (MRI) are two of the most important methods to study structure, function, and dynamics from atom to organism scale. NMR approaches often suffer from an insufficient sensitivity, which, however, can be transiently boosted using hyperpolarization techniques. One of these techniques is parahydrogen-induced polarization, which has been used to produce catalyst-free hyperpolarized propane gas with proton polarization that is 3 orders of magnitude greater than equilibrium thermal polarization at a 1.5 T field of a clinical MRI scanner. Here we show that more than 0.3 L of hyperpolarized propane gas can be produced in 2 s. This production rate is more than an order of magnitude greater than that demonstrated previously, and the reported production rate is comparable to that employed for in-human MRI using HP noble gas (e.g., 129Xe) produced via a spin exchange optical pumping (SEOP) hyperpolarization technique. We show that high polarization values can be retained despite the significant increase in the production rate of hyperpolarized propane. The enhanced signals of produced hyperpolarized propane gas were revealed by stopped-flow MRI visualization at 4.7 T. Achieving this high production rate enables the future use of this compound (already approved for unlimited use in foods by the corresponding regulating agencies, e.g., FDA in the USA, and more broadly as an E944 food additive) as a new inhalable contrast agent for diagnostic detection via MRI.
ISSN:0003-2700
1520-6882
DOI:10.1021/acs.analchem.9b00259