1
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Lechuga LM, Cho MM, Vail DM, Captini CM, Fain SB, Begovatz P. Feasibility and optimization of 19F MRI on a clinical 3T with a large field-of-view torso coil. Phys Med Biol 2024; 69:125002. [PMID: 38759675 PMCID: PMC11149172 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/ad4d50] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Objective.The objective of this work is to: (1) demonstrate fluorine-19 (19F) MRI on a 3T clinical system with a large field of view (FOV) multi-channel torso coil (2) demonstrate an example parameter selection optimization for a19F agent to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)-efficiency for spoiled gradient echo (SPGR), balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP), and phase-cycled bSSFP (bSSFP-C), and (3) validate detection feasibility inex vivotissues.Approach.Measurements were conducted on a 3.0T Discovery MR750w MRI (GE Healthcare, USA) with an 8-channel1H/19F torso coil (MRI Tools, Germany). Numerical simulations were conducted for perfluoropolyether to determine the theoretical parameters to maximize SNR-efficiency for the sequences. Theoretical parameters were experimentally verified, and the sensitivity of the sequences was compared with a 10 min acquisition time with a 3.125 × 3.125 × 3 mm3in-plane resolution. Feasibility of a bSSFP-C was also demonstrated in phantom andex vivotissues.Main Results. Flip angles (FAs) of 12 and 64° maximized the signal for SPGR and bSSFP, and validation of optimal FA and receiver bandwidth showed close agreement with numerical simulations. Sensitivities of 2.47, 5.81, and 4.44ms-0.5mM-1 and empirical detection limits of 20.3, 1.5, and 6.2 mM were achieved for SPGR, bSSFP, and bSSFP-C, respectively. bSSFP and bSSFP-C achieved 1.8-fold greater sensitivity over SPGR (p< 0.01).Significance.bSSFP-C was able to improve sensitivity relative to simple SPGR and reduce both bSSFP banding effects and imaging time. The sequence was used to demonstrate the feasibility of19F MRI at clinical FOVs and field strengths withinex-vivotissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence M Lechuga
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Monica M Cho
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - David M Vail
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Christian M Captini
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, United States of America
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin School of Engineering, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Sean B Fain
- Department of Radiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States of America
| | - Paul Begovatz
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, United States of America
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2
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Heaton AR, Lechuga LM, Tangsangasaksri M, Ludwig KD, Fain SB, Mecozzi S. A stable, highly concentrated fluorous nanoemulsion formulation for in vivo cancer imaging via 19F-MRI. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2024; 37:e5100. [PMID: 38230415 PMCID: PMC10987282 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.5100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a routine diagnostic modality in oncology that produces excellent imaging resolution and tumor contrast without the use of ionizing radiation. However, improved contrast agents are still needed to further increase detection sensitivity and avoid toxicity/allergic reactions associated with paramagnetic metal contrast agents, which may be seen in a small percentage of the human population. Fluorine-19 (19F)-MRI is at the forefront of the developing MRI methodologies due to near-zero background signal, high natural abundance of 100%, and unambiguous signal specificity. In this study, we have developed a colloidal nanoemulsion (NE) formulation that can encapsulate high volumes of the fluorous MRI tracer, perfluoro-[15-crown-5]-ether (PFCE) (35% v/v). These nanoparticles exhibit long-term (at least 100 days) stability and high PFCE loading capacity in formulation with our semifluorinated triblock copolymer, M2F8H18. With sizes of approximately 200 nm, these NEs enable in vivo delivery and passive targeting to tumors. Our diagnostic formulation, M2F8H18/PFCE NE, yielded in vivo 19F-MR images with a high signal-to-noise ratio up to 100 in a tumor-bearing mouse model at clinically relevant scan times. M2F8H18/PFCE NE circulated stably in the vasculature, accumulated in high concentration of an estimated 4-9 × 1017 19F spins/voxel at the tumor site, and cleared from most organs over the span of 2 weeks. Uptake by the mononuclear phagocyte system to the liver and spleen was also observed, most likely due to particle size. These promising results suggest that M2F8H18/PFCE NE is a favorable 19F-MR diagnostic tracer for further development in oncological studies and potential clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa R. Heaton
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101 University Ave Madison WI 53706, USA
| | - Lawrence M. Lechuga
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Ave Madison WI 53705, USA
| | | | - Kai D. Ludwig
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Ave Madison WI 53705, USA
| | - Sean B. Fain
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Ave Madison WI 53705, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Drive Iowa City IA 52242, USA
| | - Sandro Mecozzi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101 University Ave Madison WI 53706, USA
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Ave Madison WI 53705, USA
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3
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Strasser P, Schinegger V, Friske J, Brüggemann O, Helbich TH, Teasdale I, Pashkunova-Martic I. Superfluorinated, Highly Water-Soluble Polyphosphazenes as Potential 19F Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Contrast Agents. J Funct Biomater 2024; 15:40. [PMID: 38391893 PMCID: PMC10890119 DOI: 10.3390/jfb15020040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
"Hot spot" 19F magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has garnered significant attention recently for its ability to image various disease markers quantitatively. Unlike conventional gadolinium-based MRI contrast agents, which rely on proton signal modulation, 19F-MRI's direct detection has a unique advantage in vivo, as the human body exhibits a negligible background 19F-signal. However, existing perfluorocarbon (PFC) or PFC-based contrast materials suffer from several limitations, including low longitudinal relaxation rates and relatively low imaging efficiency. Hence, we designed a macromolecular contrast agent featuring a high number of magnetically equivalent 19F-nuclei in a single macromolecule, adequate fluorine nucleus mobility, and excellent water solubility. This design utilizes superfluorinated polyphosphazene (PPz) polymers as the 19F-source; these are modified with sodium mercaptoethanesulfonate (MESNa) to achieve water solubility exceeding 360 mg/mL, which is a similar solubility to that of sodium chloride. We observed substantial signal enhancement in MRI with these novel macromolecular carriers compared to non-enhanced surroundings and aqueous trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) used as a positive control. In conclusion, these novel water-soluble macromolecular carriers represent a promising platform for future MRI contrast agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Strasser
- Institute of Polymer Chemistry, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Straße 69, 4040 Linz, Austria
| | - Verena Schinegger
- Institute of Polymer Chemistry, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Straße 69, 4040 Linz, Austria
| | - Joachim Friske
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Division of Structural and Molecular Preclinical Imaging, Medical University of Vienna and General Hospital of Vienna, 18-20 Währinger Gürtel, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Oliver Brüggemann
- Institute of Polymer Chemistry, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Straße 69, 4040 Linz, Austria
| | - Thomas H Helbich
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Division of Structural and Molecular Preclinical Imaging, Medical University of Vienna and General Hospital of Vienna, 18-20 Währinger Gürtel, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ian Teasdale
- Institute of Polymer Chemistry, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Straße 69, 4040 Linz, Austria
| | - Irena Pashkunova-Martic
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Division of Structural and Molecular Preclinical Imaging, Medical University of Vienna and General Hospital of Vienna, 18-20 Währinger Gürtel, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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4
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Maxouri O, Bodalal Z, Daal M, Rostami S, Rodriguez I, Akkari L, Srinivas M, Bernards R, Beets-Tan R. How to 19F MRI: applications, technique, and getting started. BJR Open 2023; 5:20230019. [PMID: 37953866 PMCID: PMC10636348 DOI: 10.1259/bjro.20230019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a significant role in the routine imaging workflow, providing both anatomical and functional information. 19F MRI is an evolving imaging modality where instead of 1H, 19F nuclei are excited. As the signal from endogenous 19F in the body is negligible, exogenous 19F signals obtained by 19F radiofrequency coils are exceptionally specific. Highly fluorinated agents targeting particular biological processes (i.e., the presence of immune cells) have been visualised using 19F MRI, highlighting its potential for non-invasive and longitudinal molecular imaging. This article aims to provide both a broad overview of the various applications of 19F MRI, with cancer imaging as a focus, as well as a practical guide to 19F imaging. We will discuss the essential elements of a 19F system and address common pitfalls during acquisition. Last but not least, we will highlight future perspectives that will enhance the role of this modality. While not an exhaustive exploration of all 19F literature, we endeavour to encapsulate the broad themes of the field and introduce the world of 19F molecular imaging to newcomers. 19F MRI bridges several domains, imaging, physics, chemistry, and biology, necessitating multidisciplinary teams to be able to harness this technology effectively. As further technical developments allow for greater sensitivity, we envision that 19F MRI can help unlock insight into biological processes non-invasively and longitudinally.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Leila Akkari
- Division of Tumor Biology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - René Bernards
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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5
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Croci D, Santalla Méndez R, Temme S, Soukup K, Fournier N, Zomer A, Colotti R, Wischnewski V, Flögel U, van Heeswijk RB, Joyce JA. Multispectral fluorine-19 MRI enables longitudinal and noninvasive monitoring of tumor-associated macrophages. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabo2952. [PMID: 36260692 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abo2952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
High-grade gliomas, the most common and aggressive primary brain tumors, are characterized by a complex tumor microenvironment (TME). Among the immune cells infiltrating the glioma TME, tumor-associated microglia and macrophages (TAMs) constitute the major compartment. In patients with gliomas, increased TAM abundance is associated with more aggressive disease. Alterations in TAM phenotypes and functions have been reported in preclinical models of multiple cancers during tumor development and after therapeutic interventions, including radiotherapy and molecular targeted therapies. These findings indicate that it is crucial to evaluate TAM abundance and dynamics over time. Current techniques to quantify TAMs in patients rely mainly on histological staining of tumor biopsies. Although informative, these techniques require an invasive procedure to harvest the tissue sample and typically only result in a snapshot of a small region at a single point in time. Fluorine isotope 19 MRI (19F MRI) represents a powerful means to noninvasively and longitudinally monitor myeloid cells in pathological conditions by intravenously injecting perfluorocarbon-containing nanoparticles (PFC-NP). In this study, we demonstrated the feasibility and power of 19F MRI in preclinical models of gliomagenesis, breast-to-brain metastasis, and breast cancer and showed that the major cellular source of 19F signal consists of TAMs. Moreover, multispectral 19F MRI with two different PFC-NP allowed us to identify spatially and temporally distinct TAM niches in radiotherapy-recurrent murine gliomas. Together, we have imaged TAMs noninvasively and longitudinally with integrated cellular, spatial, and temporal resolution, thus revealing important biological insights into the critical functions of TAMs, including in disease recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Croci
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland.,Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland.,Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
| | - Rui Santalla Méndez
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland.,Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland.,Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Temme
- Department of Anesthesiology, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany.,Experimental Cardiovascular Imaging, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany
| | - Klara Soukup
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland.,Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland.,Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
| | - Nadine Fournier
- Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland.,Bioinformatics Core Facility, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
| | - Anoek Zomer
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland.,Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland.,Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
| | - Roberto Colotti
- In Vivo Imaging Facility (IVIF), Department of Research and Training, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
| | - Vladimir Wischnewski
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland.,Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland.,Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
| | - Ulrich Flögel
- Experimental Cardiovascular Imaging, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany.,Institute for Molecular Cardiology, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany
| | - Ruud B van Heeswijk
- Department of Radiology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
| | - Johanna A Joyce
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland.,Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland.,Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
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6
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Parsa J, O'Reilly T, Webb A. Very low field 19F MRI of perfluoro-octylbromide: Minimizing chemical shift effects and signal loss due to scalar coupling. JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE (SAN DIEGO, CALIF. : 1997) 2021; 325:106946. [PMID: 33676267 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmr.2021.106946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
19F images have been obtained from perflurooctylbromide (PFOB) at very low magnetic field (50 mT). The small spectral dispersion (in Hz) means that all fluorine nuclei contribute to the signal without chemical shift artifacts or the need for specialized imaging sequences. Turbo spin echo trains with short interpulse intervals and full 180° refocussing pulses suppress scalar coupling, leading to long apparent T2 values and highly efficient data collection. Overall, the detection efficiency of PFOB is very similar that of water in tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javad Parsa
- C.J. Gorter Center for High-Field MRI, Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Radiology, Albinusdreef 22333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Thomas O'Reilly
- C.J. Gorter Center for High-Field MRI, Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Radiology, Albinusdreef 22333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Andrew Webb
- C.J. Gorter Center for High-Field MRI, Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Radiology, Albinusdreef 22333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands.
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7
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Modo M. 19F Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy in Neuroscience. Neuroscience 2021; 474:37-50. [PMID: 33766776 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
1H magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has established itself as a key diagnostic technique, affording the visualization of brain anatomy, blood flow, activity and connectivity. The detection of other atoms (e.g. 19F, 23Na, 31P), so called hetero-nuclear MRI and spectroscopy (MRS), provides investigative avenues that complement and extend the richness of information that can be gained from 1H MRI. Especially 19F MRI is increasingly emerging as a multi-nuclear (1H/19F) technique that can be exploited to visualize cell migration and trafficking. The lack of a 19F background signal in the brain affords an unequivocal detection suitable for quantification. Fluorine-based contrast material can be engineered as nanoemulsions, nanocapsules, or nanoparticles to label cells in vitro or in vivo. Fluorinated blood substitutes, typically nanoemulsions, can also carry oxygen and serve as a theranostic in poorly perfused brain regions. Brain tissue concentrations of fluorinated pharmaceuticals, including inhalation anesthetics (e.g. isoflurane) and anti-depressants (e.g. fluoxetine), can also be measured using MRS. However, the low signal from these compounds provides a challenge for imaging. Further methodological advances that accelerate signal acquisition (e.g. compressed sensing, cryogenic coils) are required to expand the applications of 19F MR imaging to, for instance, determine the regional pharmacokinetics of novel fluorine-based drugs. Improvements in 19F signal detection and localization, combined with the development of novel sensitive probes, will increase the utility of these multi-nuclear studies. These advances will provide new insights into cellular and molecular processes involved in neurodegenerative disease, as well as the mode of action of pharmaceutical compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Modo
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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8
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Darçot E, Yerly J, Hilbert T, Colotti R, Najdenovska E, Kober T, Stuber M, van Heeswijk RB. Compressed sensing with signal averaging for improved sensitivity and motion artifact reduction in fluorine-19 MRI. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2021; 34:e4418. [PMID: 33002268 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Fluorine-19 (19 F) MRI of injected perfluorocarbon emulsions (PFCs) allows for the non-invasive quantification of inflammation and cell tracking, but suffers from a low signal-to-noise ratio and extended scan time. To address this limitation, we tested the hypotheses that a 19 F MRI pulse sequence that combines a specific undersampling regime with signal averaging has both increased sensitivity and robustness against motion artifacts compared with a non-averaged fully sampled pulse sequence, when both datasets are reconstructed with compressed sensing. As a proof of principle, numerical simulations and phantom experiments were performed on selected variable ranges to characterize the point spread function of undersampling patterns, as well as the vulnerability to noise of undersampling and reconstruction parameters with paired numbers of x signal averages and acceleration factor x (NAx-AFx). The numerical simulations demonstrated that a probability density function that uses 25% of the samples to fully sample the k-space central area allowed for an optimal balance between limited blurring and artifact incoherence. At all investigated noise levels, the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) strongly depended on the regularization parameters and acceleration factor. In phantoms, the motion robustness of an NA8-AF8 undersampling pattern versus NA1-AF1 was evaluated with simulated and real motion patterns. Differences were assessed with the DSC, which was consistently higher for the NA8-AF8 compared with the NA1-AF1 strategy, for both simulated and real cyclic motion patterns (P < 0.001). Both strategies were validated in vivo in mice (n = 2) injected with perfluoropolyether. Here, the images displayed a sharper delineation of the liver with the NA8-AF8 strategy than with the NA1-AF1 strategy. In conclusion, we validated the hypotheses that in 19 F MRI the combination of undersampling and averaging improves both the sensitivity and the robustness against motion artifacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emeline Darçot
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jérôme Yerly
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Lausanne and Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Tom Hilbert
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Advanced Clinical Imaging Technology (HC CMEA SUI DI PI), Siemens Healthcare AG, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Signal Processing Laboratory 5 (LTS5), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Roberto Colotti
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Elena Najdenovska
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Lausanne and Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Kober
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Advanced Clinical Imaging Technology (HC CMEA SUI DI PI), Siemens Healthcare AG, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Signal Processing Laboratory 5 (LTS5), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Stuber
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Lausanne and Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ruud B van Heeswijk
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Lausanne and Geneva, Switzerland
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9
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Wu L, Liu F, Liu S, Xu X, Liu Z, Sun X. Perfluorocarbons-Based 19F Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Biomedicine. Int J Nanomedicine 2020; 15:7377-7395. [PMID: 33061385 PMCID: PMC7537992 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s255084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluorine-19 (19F) magnetic resonance (MR) molecular imaging is a promising noninvasive and quantitative molecular imaging approach with intensive research due to the high sensitivity and low endogenous background signal of the 19F atom in vivo. Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) have been used as blood substitutes since 1970s. More recently, a variety of PFC nanoparticles have been designed for the detection and imaging of physiological and pathological changes. These molecular imaging probes have been developed to label cells, target specific epitopes in tumors, monitor the prognosis and therapy efficacy and quantitate characterization of tumors and changes in tumor microenvironment noninvasively, therefore, significantly improving the prognosis and therapy efficacy. Herein, we discuss the recent development and applications of 19F MR techniques with PFC nanoparticles in biomedicine, with particular emphasis on ligand-targeted and quantitative 19F MR imaging approaches for tumor detection, oxygenation measurement, smart stimulus response and therapy efficacy monitoring, et al.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Wu
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Molecular Probe and Targeted Theranostics, Molecular Imaging Research Center (MIRC), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150028, People's Republic of China.,TOF-PET/CT/MR Center, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150028, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang Liu
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Molecular Probe and Targeted Theranostics, Molecular Imaging Research Center (MIRC), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150028, People's Republic of China.,Department of Medical Imaging, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150028, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuang Liu
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Molecular Probe and Targeted Theranostics, Molecular Imaging Research Center (MIRC), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150028, People's Republic of China.,TOF-PET/CT/MR Center, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150028, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiuan Xu
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Molecular Probe and Targeted Theranostics, Molecular Imaging Research Center (MIRC), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150028, People's Republic of China.,Department of Medical Imaging, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150028, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaoxi Liu
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Molecular Probe and Targeted Theranostics, Molecular Imaging Research Center (MIRC), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150028, People's Republic of China.,TOF-PET/CT/MR Center, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150028, People's Republic of China
| | - Xilin Sun
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Molecular Probe and Targeted Theranostics, Molecular Imaging Research Center (MIRC), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150028, People's Republic of China.,TOF-PET/CT/MR Center, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150028, People's Republic of China
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10
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Wüst RCI, Calcagno C, Daal MRR, Nederveen AJ, Coolen BF, Strijkers GJ. Emerging Magnetic Resonance Imaging Techniques for Atherosclerosis Imaging. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2020; 39:841-849. [PMID: 30917678 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.118.311756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a prevalent disease affecting a large portion of the population at one point in their lives. There is an unmet need for noninvasive diagnostics to identify and characterize at-risk plaque phenotypes noninvasively and in vivo, to improve the stratification of patients with cardiovascular disease, and for treatment evaluation. Magnetic resonance imaging is uniquely positioned to address these diagnostic needs. However, currently available magnetic resonance imaging methods for vessel wall imaging lack sufficient discriminative and predictive power to guide the individual patient needs. To address this challenge, physicists are pushing the boundaries of magnetic resonance atherosclerosis imaging to increase image resolution, provide improved quantitative evaluation of plaque constituents, and obtain readouts of disease activity such as inflammation. Here, we review some of these important developments, with specific focus on emerging applications using high-field magnetic resonance imaging, the use of quantitative relaxation parameter mapping for improved plaque characterization, and novel 19F magnetic resonance imaging technology to image plaque inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rob C I Wüst
- From the Biomedical Engineering and Physics (R.C.I.W., M.R.R.D., B.F.C., G.J.S.), Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Claudia Calcagno
- Department of Radiology, Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (C.C., G.J.S.)
| | - Mariah R R Daal
- From the Biomedical Engineering and Physics (R.C.I.W., M.R.R.D., B.F.C., G.J.S.), Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Aart J Nederveen
- Radiology and Nuclear Medicine (A.J.N.), Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Bram F Coolen
- From the Biomedical Engineering and Physics (R.C.I.W., M.R.R.D., B.F.C., G.J.S.), Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Gustav J Strijkers
- From the Biomedical Engineering and Physics (R.C.I.W., M.R.R.D., B.F.C., G.J.S.), Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Radiology, Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (C.C., G.J.S.)
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11
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Darçot E, Colotti R, Brennan D, Deuchar GA, Santosh C, van Heeswijk RB. A characterization of ABL-101 as a potential tracer for clinical fluorine-19 MRI. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2020; 33:e4212. [PMID: 31724252 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The two main challenges that prevent the translation of fluorine-19 (19 F) MRI for inflammation monitoring or cell tracking into clinical practice are (i) the relatively low signal-to-noise ratio generated by the injected perfluorocarbon (PFC), which necessitates long scan times, and (ii) the need for regulatory approval and a high biocompatibility of PFCs that are also suitable for MRI. ABL-101, an emulsion of perfluoro(t-butylcyclohexane), is a third-generation PFC that is already used in clinical trials, but has not yet been used for 19 F MRI. The objective of this study was therefore to assess the performance of ABL-101 as a 19 F MRI tracer. At magnetic field strengths of 3, 9.4 and 14.1 T, the CF3 groups of ABL-101 generated a large well-separated singlet with T2 /T1 ratios of >0.27, >0.14 and > 0.05, respectively. All relaxation times decreased with the increase in magnetic field strength. The detection limit of ABL-101 in a 0.25 mm3 voxel at 3 T, 37°C and with a 3-minute acquisition time was 7.21mM. After intravenous injection, the clearance half-lives of the ABL-101 19 F MR signal in mouse (n = 3) spleen and liver were 6.85 ± 0.45 and 3.20 ± 0.35 days, respectively. These results demonstrate that ABL-101 has 19 F MR characteristics that are similar to those of PFCs developed specifically for MRI, while it has clearance half-lives similar to PFCs that have previously been used in large doses in non-MRI clinical trials. Overall, ABL-101 is thus a very promising candidate tracer for future clinical trials that use 19 F MRI for cell tracking or the monitoring of inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emeline Darçot
- Department of Radiology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Roberto Colotti
- Department of Radiology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - David Brennan
- Department of Neuroradiology, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK
- Aurum Biosciences Ltd, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Celestine Santosh
- Department of Neuroradiology, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK
- Aurum Biosciences Ltd, Glasgow, UK
| | - Ruud B van Heeswijk
- Department of Radiology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Biomedical Imaging (CIBM), Lausanne and Geneva, Switzerland
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12
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Darçot E, Colotti R, Pellegrin M, Wilson A, Siegert S, Bouzourene K, Yerly J, Mazzolai L, Stuber M, van Heeswijk RB. Towards Quantification of Inflammation in Atherosclerotic Plaque in the Clinic - Characterization and Optimization of Fluorine-19 MRI in Mice at 3 T. Sci Rep 2019; 9:17488. [PMID: 31767900 PMCID: PMC6877590 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53905-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluorine-19 (19F) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of injected perfluorocarbons (PFCs) can be used for the quantification and monitoring of inflammation in diseases such as atherosclerosis. To advance the translation of this technique to the clinical setting, we aimed to 1) demonstrate the feasibility of quantitative 19F MRI in small inflammation foci on a clinical scanner, and 2) to characterize the PFC-incorporating leukocyte populations and plaques. To this end, thirteen atherosclerotic apolipoprotein-E-knockout mice received 2 × 200 µL PFC, and were scanned on a 3 T clinical MR system. 19F MR signal was detected in the aortic arch and its branches in all mice, with a signal-to-noise ratio of 11.1 (interquartile range IQR = 9.5–13.1) and a PFC concentration of 1.15 mM (IQR = 0.79–1.28). Imaging flow cytometry was used on another ten animals and indicated that PFC-labeled leukocytes in the aortic arch and it branches were mainly dendritic cells, macrophages and neutrophils (ratio 9:1:1). Finally, immunohistochemistry analysis confirmed the presence of those cells in the plaques. We thus successfully used 19F MRI for the noninvasive quantification of PFC in atherosclerotic plaque in mice on a clinical scanner, demonstrating the feasibility of detecting very small inflammation foci at 3 T, and advancing the translation of 19F MRI to the human setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emeline Darçot
- Department of Radiology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Roberto Colotti
- Department of Radiology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Maxime Pellegrin
- Division of Angiology, Heart and Vessel Department, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anne Wilson
- Flow Cytometry Facility, Department of Formation and Research, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Stefanie Siegert
- Flow Cytometry Facility, Department of Formation and Research, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Karima Bouzourene
- Division of Angiology, Heart and Vessel Department, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jérôme Yerly
- Department of Radiology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland.,Center for Biomedical Imaging (CIBM), Lausanne and Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Lucia Mazzolai
- Division of Angiology, Heart and Vessel Department, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Stuber
- Department of Radiology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland.,Center for Biomedical Imaging (CIBM), Lausanne and Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ruud B van Heeswijk
- Department of Radiology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
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13
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Cho MH, Shin SH, Park SH, Kadayakkara DK, Kim D, Choi Y. Targeted, Stimuli-Responsive, and Theranostic 19F Magnetic Resonance Imaging Probes. Bioconjug Chem 2019; 30:2502-2518. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.9b00582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mi Hyeon Cho
- National Cancer Center, 323 Ilsan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 10408, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo Hyun Shin
- National Cancer Center, 323 Ilsan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 10408, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Hyun Park
- National Cancer Center, 323 Ilsan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 10408, Republic of Korea
| | - Deepak Kana Kadayakkara
- Department of Medicine, Bridgeport Hospital−Yale New Haven Health, Bridgeport, Connecticut 06610, United States
| | - Daehong Kim
- National Cancer Center, 323 Ilsan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 10408, Republic of Korea
| | - Yongdoo Choi
- National Cancer Center, 323 Ilsan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 10408, Republic of Korea
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Application of Trifluoroacetic Acid as a Theranostic Agent for Chemical Ablation of Solid Tissue. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2019; 31:169-175. [PMID: 31537410 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvir.2019.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as a theranostic chemical ablation agent and determine the efficacy of TFA for both noninvasive imaging and tissue destruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fluorine-19 magnetic resonance imaging (19F-MRI) was optimized at 7 T using a custom-built volume coil. Fluorine images were acquired with both rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement and balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) sequences with varying parameters to determine the optimal sequence for TFA. The theranostic efficacy of chemical ablation was examined by injecting TFA (100 μL; 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0M) into ex vivo porcine liver. 19F and proton MRI were acquired and superimposed to visualize distribution of TFA in tissue and quantify sensitivity. Tissue damage was evaluated with gross examination, histology, and fluorescence microscopy. RESULTS The optimal 19F-MRI sequence was found to be bSSFP with a repetition time of 2.5 ms and flip angle of 70°. The minimum imageable TFA concentration was determined to be 6.7 ± 0.5 mM per minute of scan time (0.63×0.63×5.00 mm voxel), and real-time imaging (temporal resolution of at least 1 s-1) was achieved with 2M TFA both in vitro and in ex vivo tissue. TFA successfully coagulated tissue, and damage was locally confined. In addition to hepatic cord disruption, cytoskeletal collapse and chromatin clumping were observed in severely damaged areas in tissues treated with 0.5M or higher TFA concentrations. CONCLUSIONS TFA was determined to be a theranostic agent for chemical ablation of solid tissue. Ablation was both efficacious and imageable in ex vivo healthy tissue, even at low concentrations or with high temporal resolution.
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15
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Ghuman H, Hitchens TK, Modo M. A systematic optimization of 19F MR image acquisition to detect macrophage invasion into an ECM hydrogel implanted in the stroke-damaged brain. Neuroimage 2019; 202:116090. [PMID: 31408717 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
19F-MR imaging of perfluorocarbon (PFC)-labeled macrophages can provide a unique insight into their participation and spatio-temporal dynamics of inflammatory events, such as the biodegradation of an extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel implanted into a stroke cavity. To determine the most efficient acquisition strategy for 19F-MR imaging, five commonly used sequences were optimized using a design of experiment (DoE) approach and compared based on their signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The fast imaging with steady-state precession (FISP) sequence produced the most efficient detection of a 19F signal followed by the rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (RARE) sequence. The multi-slice multi-echo (MSME), fast low angle shot (FLASH), and zero echo time (ZTE) sequences were significantly less efficient. Imaging parameters (matrix/voxel size; slice thickness, number of averages) determined the accuracy (i.e. trueness and precision) of object identification by reducing partial volume effects, as determined by analysis of the point spread function (PSF). A 96 × 96 matrix size (0.35 mm3) produced the lowest limit of detection (LOD) for RARE (2.85 mM PFPE; 119 mM 19F) and FISP (0.43 mM PFPE; 18.1 mM 19F), with an SNR of 2 as the detection threshold. Imaging of a brain phantom with PFC-labeled macrophages invading an ECM hydrogel further illustrated the impact of these parameter changes. The systematic optimization of sequence and imaging parameters provides the framework for an accurate visualization of 19F-labeled macrophage distribution and density in the brain. This will enhance our understanding of the contribution of periphery-derived macrophages in bioscaffold degradation and its role in brain tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harmanvir Ghuman
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - T Kevin Hitchens
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Michel Modo
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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16
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Fluorinated MRI contrast agents and their versatile applications in the biomedical field. Future Med Chem 2019; 11:1157-1175. [DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2018-0463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
MRI has been recognized as one of the most applied medical imaging techniques in clinical practice. However, the presence of background signal coming from water protons in surrounding tissues makes sometimes the visualization of local contrast agents difficult. To remedy this, fluorine has been introduced as a reliable perspective, thanks to its magnetic properties being relatively close to those of protons. In this review, we aim to give an overall description of fluorine incorporation in contrast agents for MRI. The different kinds of fluorinated probes such as perfluorocarbons, fluorinated dendrimers, polymers and paramagnetic probes will be described, as will their imaging applications such as chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) imaging, physico-chemical changes detection, drug delivery, cell tracking and inflammation or tumors detection.
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17
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Maunder A, Rao M, Robb F, Wild JM. Optimization of steady-state free precession MRI for lung ventilation imaging with 19 F C 3 F 8 at 1.5T and 3T. Magn Reson Med 2019; 81:1130-1142. [PMID: 30387911 PMCID: PMC6491987 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To optimize 19 F imaging pulse sequences for perfluoropropane (C3 F8 ) gas human lung ventilation MRI considering intrinsic in vivo relaxation parameters at both 1.5T and 3T. METHODS Optimization of the imaging parameters for both 3D spoiled gradient (SPGR) and steady-state free precession (SSFP) 19 F imaging sequences with inhaled 79% C3 F8% and 21% oxygen was performed. Phantom measurements were used to validate simulations of SNR. In vivo parameter mapping and sequence optimization and comparison was performed by imaging the lungs of a healthy adult volunteer. T1 and T2* mapping was performed in vivo to optimize sequence parameters for in vivo lung MRI. The performance of SSFP and SPGR was then evaluated in vivo at 1.5T and 3T. RESULTS The in vivo T2* of C3 F8 was shown to be dependent upon lung inflation level (2.04 ms ± 36% for residual volume and 3.14 ms ± 28% for total lung capacity measured at 3T), with lower T2* observed near the susceptibility interfaces of the diaphragm and around pulmonary blood vessels. Simulation and phantom measurements indicate that a factor of ~2-3 higher SNR can be achieved with SSFP when compared with optimized SPGR. In vivo lung imaging showed a 1.7 factor of improvement in SNR achieved at 1.5T, while the theoretical improvement at 3T was not attained due to experimental SAR constraints, shorter in vivo T1 , and B0 inhomogeneity. CONCLUSION SSFP imaging provides increased SNR in lung ventilation imaging of C3 F8 demonstrated at 1.5T with optimized SSFP similar to the SNR that can be obtained at 3T with optimized SPGR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Maunder
- POLARIS, Unit of Academic Radiology, Department of IICDUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUnited Kingdom
| | - Madhwesha Rao
- POLARIS, Unit of Academic Radiology, Department of IICDUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUnited Kingdom
| | - Fraser Robb
- POLARIS, Unit of Academic Radiology, Department of IICDUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUnited Kingdom
- GE HealthcareAuroraOhio
| | - Jim M. Wild
- POLARIS, Unit of Academic Radiology, Department of IICDUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUnited Kingdom
- Insigneo Institute for In silico medicineSheffieldUnited Kingdom
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18
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Jahromi AH, Wang C, Adams SR, Zhu W, Narsinh K, Xu H, Gray DL, Tsien RY, Ahrens ET. Fluorous-Soluble Metal Chelate for Sensitive Fluorine-19 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Nanoemulsion Probes. ACS NANO 2019; 13:143-151. [PMID: 30525446 PMCID: PMC6467752 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.8b04881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Fluorine-19 MRI is an emerging cellular imaging approach, enabling lucid, quantitative "hot-spot" imaging with no background signal. The utility of 19F-MRI to detect inflammation and cell therapy products in vivo could be expanded by improving the intrinsic sensitivity of the probe by molecular design. We describe a metal chelate based on a salicylidene-tris(aminomethyl)ethane core, with solubility in perfluorocarbon (PFC) oils, and a potent accelerator of the 19F longitudinal relaxation time ( T1). Shortening T1 can increase the 19F image sensitivity per time and decrease the minimum number of detectable cells. We used the condensation between the tripodal ligand tris-1,1,1-(aminomethyl)ethane and salicylaldehyde to form the salicylidene-tris(aminomethyl)ethane chelating agent (SALTAME). We purified four isomers of SALTAME, elucidated structures using X-ray scattering and NMR, and identified a single isomer with high PFC solubility. Mn4+, Fe3+, Co3+, and Ga3+ cations formed stable and separable chelates with SALTAME, but only Fe3+ yielded superior T1 shortening with modest line broadening at 3 and 9.4 T. We mixed Fe3+ chelate with perfluorooctyl bromide (PFOB) to formulate a stable paramagnetic nanoemulsion imaging probe and assessed its biocompatibility in macrophages in vitro using proliferation, cytotoxicity, and phenotypic cell assays. Signal-to-noise modeling of paramagnetic PFOB shows that sensitivity enhancement of nearly 4-fold is feasible at clinical magnetic field strengths using a 19F spin-density-weighted gradient-echo pulse sequence. We demonstrate the utility of this paramagnetic nanoemulsion as an in vivo MRI probe for detecting inflammation macrophages in mice. Overall, these paramagnetic PFC compounds represent a platform for the development of sensitive 19F probes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Haghighat Jahromi
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Chao Wang
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Stephen R. Adams
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Wenlian Zhu
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Kazim Narsinh
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Hongyan Xu
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Danielle L. Gray
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Roger Y. Tsien
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Eric T. Ahrens
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Corresponding Author: (E. T. Ahrens) Phone: (858) 246-0279.
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19
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Toward 19F magnetic resonance thermometry: spin-lattice and spin-spin-relaxation times and temperature dependence of fluorinated drugs at 9.4 T. MAGNETIC RESONANCE MATERIALS IN PHYSICS BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2018; 32:51-61. [PMID: 30515642 DOI: 10.1007/s10334-018-0722-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2018] [Revised: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study examines the influence of the environmental factor temperature on the 19F NMR characteristics of fluorinated compounds in phantom studies and in tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS 19F MR mapping and MR spectroscopy techniques were used to characterize the 19F NMR characteristics of perfluoro-crown ether (PFCE), isoflurane, teriflunomide, and flupentixol. T1 and T2 mapping were performed, while temperature in the samples was changed (T = 20-60 °C) and monitored using fiber optic measurements. In tissue, T1 of PFCE nanoparticles was determined at physiological temperatures and compared with the T1-measured at room temperature. RESULTS Studies on PFCE, isoflurane, teriflunomide, and flupentixol showed a relationship between temperature and their physicochemical characteristics, namely, chemical shift, T1 and T2. T1 of PFCE nanoparticles was higher at physiological body temperatures compared to room temperature. DISCUSSION The impact of temperature on the 19F NMR parameters of fluorinated compounds demonstrated in this study not only opens a trajectory toward 19F MR-based thermometry, but also indicates the need for adapting MR sequence parameters according to environmental changes such as temperature. This will be an absolute requirement for detecting fluorinated compounds by 19F MR techniques in vivo.
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20
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Lorton O, Hyacinthe JN, Desgranges S, Gui L, Klauser A, Celicanin Z, Crowe LA, Lazeyras F, Allémann E, Taulier N, Contino-Pépin C, Salomir R. Molecular oxygen loading in candidate theranostic droplets stabilized with biocompatible fluorinated surfactants: Particle size effect and application to in situ 19F MRI mapping of oxygen partial pressure. JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE (SAN DIEGO, CALIF. : 1997) 2018; 295:27-37. [PMID: 30096550 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmr.2018.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Revised: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Perfluorocarbon nano- and micron-sized emulsions are a new field of investigation in cancer treatment due to their ability to be used as imaging contrast agents, or as delivery vectors for pharmaceuticals. They also demonstrated capability to enhance the efficiency of high intensity focused ultrasound thermo-therapy. In the context of new biomedical applications we investigated perfluorooctyl bromide (PFOB) theranostic droplets using 19F NMR. Each droplet contains biocompatible fluorinated surfactants composed of a polar Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane head unit and hydrophobic perfluorinated tail (abbreviated as F-TAC). The influence of the droplet size on the oxygen loading capacity was determined from longitudinal relaxation (T1) data of 19F NMR signal. MATERIAL AND METHODS Liquid PFOB and five samples of PFOB droplets of average diameter 0.177, 0.259, 1.43, 3.12 and 4.53 µm were tested with different oxygen levels. A dedicated gas exchange system was validated to maintain steady state oxygen concentrations, including a spatial gradient of oxygen concentration. A prototyped transmit-receive switchable 19F/1H quadrature coil was integrated on a 3 T clinical scanner. The coil is compatible with focused ultrasound sonication for future application. A spectroscopy FID inversion-recovery (IR) sequence was used to measure the T1 value per sample and per value of equilibrium oxygen pressure. Pixel wise, spatial T1 mapping was performed with magnetization prepared 2D gradient echo sequences in tissue mimicking gels doped with theranostic droplets. RESULTS Experimental data indicated that the longitudinal relaxation rate of 19F signal of the investigated theranostic droplets depended approximately linearly on the oxygen level and its slope decreased with the particle size according to a second order polynomial over the investigated range. This semi-empirical model was derived from general thermodynamics and weak electrostatic forces theory and fitted the experimental data within 0.75% precision. The capacity of oxygen transportation for the described theranostic droplets tended to that of pure PFOB, while micron-sized droplets lost up to 50% of this capacity. In a specific setup producing a steady state gradient of oxygen concentration, we demonstrated spatial mapping of oxygen pressure gradient of 6 kPa/mm with 1 mm in-plane resolution. CONCLUSION The size-tunable PFOB theranostic droplets stabilized with F-TAC surfactants could be characterized by 19F MRI in a clinical setup readily compatible with interventional in vivo studies under MR guidance. Current precision and spatial resolution of T1 mapping are promising. A potential challenge for further in vivo studies is the reduction of the imaging time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orane Lorton
- Image Guided Interventions Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Jean-Noël Hyacinthe
- Image Guided Interventions Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland; School of Health Sciences, HES-SO // University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western, Switzerland
| | - Stéphane Desgranges
- Image Guided Interventions Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland; University of Avignon, CBSA-IBMM (UMR5247), Avignon, France
| | - Laura Gui
- Image Guided Interventions Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Antoine Klauser
- Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, University of Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Zarko Celicanin
- Department of Radiological Physics, University Hospital of Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lindsey A Crowe
- Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, University of Geneva, Switzerland
| | - François Lazeyras
- Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, University of Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Eric Allémann
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Taulier
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, INSERM, Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale (LIB), F-75006 Paris, France
| | | | - Rares Salomir
- Image Guided Interventions Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland; University Hospitals of Geneva, Radiology Department, Geneva, Switzerland
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Quantitative 19F MRI of perfluoro-15-crown-5-ether using uniformity correction of the spin excitation and signal reception. MAGNETIC RESONANCE MATERIALS IN PHYSICS BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2018; 32:25-36. [DOI: 10.1007/s10334-018-0696-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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22
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Fast, quantitative, murine cardiac 19F MRI/MRS of PFCE-labeled progenitor stem cells and macrophages at 9.4T. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0190558. [PMID: 29324754 PMCID: PMC5764257 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To a) achieve cardiac 19F-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of perfluoro-crown-ether (PFCE) labeled cardiac progenitor stem cells (CPCs) and bone-derived bone marrow macrophages, b) determine label concentration and cellular load limits, and c) achieve spectroscopic and image-based quantification. Methods Theoretical simulations and experimental comparisons of spoiled-gradient echo (SPGR), rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (RARE), and steady state at free precession (SSFP) pulse sequences, and phantom validations, were conducted using 19F MRI/Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) at 9.4 T. Successful cell labeling was confirmed using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. For CPC and macrophage concentration quantification, in vitro and post-mortem cardiac validations were pursued with the use of the transfection agent FuGENE. Feasibility of fast imaging is demonstrated in murine cardiac acquisitions in vivo, and in post-mortem murine skeletal and cardiac applications. Results SPGR/SSFP proved favorable imaging sequences yielding good signal-to-noise ratio values. Confocal microscopy confirmed heterogeneity of cellular label uptake in CPCs. 19F MRI indicated lack of additional benefits upon label concentrations above 7.5–10 mg/ml/million cells. The minimum detectable CPC load was ~500k (~10k/voxel) in two-dimensional (2D) acquisitions (3–5 min) using the butterfly coil. Additionally, absolute 19F based concentration and intensity estimates (trifluoroacetic-acid solutions, macrophages, and labeled CPCs in vitro and post-CPC injections in the post-mortem state) scaled linearly with fluorine concentrations. Fast, quantitative cardiac 19F-MRI was demonstrated with SPGR/SSFP and MRS acquisitions spanning 3–5 min, using a butterfly coil. Conclusion The developed methodologies achieved in vivo cardiac 19F of exogenously injected labeled CPCs for the first time, accelerating imaging to a total acquisition of a few minutes, providing evidence for their potential for possible translational work.
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van Heeswijk RB, Colotti R, Darçot E, Delacoste J, Pellegrin M, Piccini D, Hernando D. Chemical shift encoding (CSE) for sensitive fluorine-19 MRI of perfluorocarbons with complex spectra. Magn Reson Med 2017; 79:2724-2730. [PMID: 28862351 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.26895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Revised: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 08/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To implement a fluorine-19 (19 F) chemical shift encoding (CSE) approach for the sensitive imaging of molecules with multi-resonance spectra to remove their chemical shift displacement (CSD) artifacts, and to characterize its sensitivity versus established pulse sequences. METHODS The feasibility of CSE spoiled gradient echo (GRE) and balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) was first demonstrated in a phantom study. The dependence of the sensitivity of CSE-bSSFP on several pulse sequence parameters was then established, after which the occurrence of out-of-plane excitation was assessed for 2D and 3D techniques. Next, the sensitivity (in mm-3 s-0.5 ) of both CSE techniques was compared to bSSFP ultrashort echo time (bSSFP-UTE) imaging and multi-chemical-shift-selective turbo spin echo (MCSS-TSE) in a second phantom study. Finally, the sensitivity of the CSE-bSSFP, bSSFP-UTE, and MCSS-TSE pulse sequences was compared in a preliminary in vivo mouse study. RESULTS Both CSE approaches were successfully implemented and resulted in negligible residual CSD artifacts, while large-volume 3D acquisitions should be considered to reduce problems related to out-of-plane excitation. CSE-bSSFP was shown to have a higher sensitivity than the bSSFP-UTE and MCSS-TSE pulse sequences (15.8 ± 1.3 vs. 11.7 ± 1.0 vs. 13.3 ± 0.9 mm-3 s-0.5 , respectively, P < 0.001), whereas CSE-GRE technique had a lower sensitivity (4.8 ± 1.1 mm-3 s-0.5 ). CONCLUSION CSE 19 F MR imaging enables the unambiguous visualization of compounds with complex spectra, and provides high sensitivity both in vitro and in vivo. Magn Reson Med 79:2724-2730, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruud B van Heeswijk
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Roberto Colotti
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Emeline Darçot
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jean Delacoste
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Maxime Pellegrin
- Division of Angiology, Heart and Vessel Department, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Davide Piccini
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland.,Advanced Clinical Imaging Technology, Siemens Healthcare AG, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Diego Hernando
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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Metelev V, Zhang S, Zheng S, Kumar AT, Bogdanov A. Fluorocarbons Enhance Intracellular Delivery of Short STAT3-sensors and Enable Specific Imaging. Am J Cancer Res 2017; 7:3354-3368. [PMID: 28900515 PMCID: PMC5595137 DOI: 10.7150/thno.19704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Short oligonucleotide sequences are now being widely investigated for their potential therapeutic properties. The modification of oligonucleotide termini with short fluorinated residues is capable of drastically altering their behavior in complex in vitro and in vivo systems, and thus may serve to greatly enhance their therapeutic potential. The main goals of our work were to explore: 1) how modification of STAT3 transcription factor-binding oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) duplexes (ODND) with one or two short fluorocarbon (FC)-based residues would change their properties in vitro and in vivo, and if so, how this would affect their intracellular uptake by cancer cells, and 2) the ability of such modified ODND to form non-covalent complexes with FC-modified carrier macromolecule. The latter has an inherent advantage of producing a 19F-specific magnetic resonance (MR) imaging signature. Thus, we also tested the ability of such copolymers to generate 19F-MR signals. Materials and Methods. Fluorinated nucleic acid residues were incorporated into ODN by using automated synthesis or via activated esters on ODN 5'-ends. To quantify ODND uptake by the cells and to track their stability, we covalently labeled ODN with fluorophores using internucleoside linker technology; the FC-modified carrier was synthesized by acylation of pegylated polylysine graft copolymer with perfluoroundecanoic acid (M5-gPLL-PFUDA). Results. ODN with a single FC group exhibited a tendency to form duplexes with higher melting points and with increased stability against degradation when compared to control non-modified ODNs. ODND carrying fluorinated residues showed complex formation with M5-gPLL-PFUDA as predicted by molecular dynamics simulations. Moreover, FC groups modulated the specificity of ODND binding to the STAT3 target. Finally, FC modification resulted in greater cell uptake (2 to 4 fold higher) when compared to the uptake of non-modified ODND as determined by quantitative confocal fluorescence imaging of A431 and INS-1 cells. Conclusion. ODND modification with FC residues enables fine-tuning of protein binding specificity to double-strand binding motifs and results in an increased internalization by A431 and INS-1 cells in culture. Our results show that modification of ODN termini with FC residues is both a feasible and powerful strategy for developing more efficient nucleic acid-based therapies with the added benefit of allowing for non-invasive MR imaging of ODND therapeutic targeting and response.
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