Hyperpolarized MRI molecular probes for investigation of biological phenomena and pathological diagnosis

Abstract

Hyperpolarization techniques dramatically improve the sensitivity of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMR/MRI) molecular probes enabling in vivo detection that is typically difficult with conventional NMR/MRI. Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) , one of hyperpolarization techniques, has been applied for real-time monitoring of metabolic reactions and pathological diagnosis through metabolic analysis of highly sensitive molecular probes. For example, [1-¹³C] pyruvate, a representative DNP-NMR molecular probe, has been utilized for pathological diagnosis of various cancers based on its metabolic rate to [1-¹³C] lactate. However, there are very few practical DNP-NMR molecular probes, and their design guidelines have not been established. We have developed various DNP-NMR molecular probes through precise molecular design. In this manuscript, we introduce examples of DNP-NMR molecular probes with long hyperpolarization lifetimes and fast enzymatic reactions developed based on relaxation theory and mechanistic insight into molecular recognition.