Positive contrast visualization of iron oxide-labeled stem cells using inversion-recovery with ON-resonant water suppression (IRON)

Matthias Stuber, Wesley D. Gilson, Michael Schär, Dorota A. Kedziorek, Lawrence V. Hofmann, Saurabh Shah, Evert Jan Vonken, Jeff W.M. Bulte, Dara L. Kraitchman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

192 Scopus citations

Abstract

In proton magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) metallic substances lead to magnetic field distortions that often result in signal voids in the adjacent anatomic structures. Thus, metallic objects and superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-labeled cells appear as hypointense artifacts that obscure the underlying anatomy. The ability to illuminate these structures with positive contrast would enhance noninvasive MR tracking of cellular therapeutics. Therefore, an MRI methodology that selectively highlights areas of metallic objects has been developed. Inversion-recovery with ON-resonant water suppression (IRON) employs inversion of the magnetization in conjunction with a spectrally-selective on-resonant saturation prepulse. If imaging is performed after these prepulses, positive signal is obtained from off-resonant protons in close proximity to the metallic objects. The first successful use of IRON to produce positive contrast in areas of metallic spheres and SPIO-labeled stem cells in vitro and in vivo is presented.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1072-1077
Number of pages6
JournalMagnetic resonance in medicine
Volume58
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2007

Keywords

  • Metallic objects
  • Off-resonance imaging
  • Positive contrast imaging
  • SPIO-labeled stem cells
  • White-marker objects

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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