Estimation of the magnitude of quadrupole relaxation enhancement in the context of magnetic resonance imaging contrast

Danuta Kruk, Elzbieta Masiewicz, Evrim Umut, Andreas Petrovic, Rupert Kargl, Hermann Scharfetter

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is one of the most powerful diagnostic tools providing maps of 1H relaxation times of human bodies. The method needs, however, a contrast mechanism to enlarge the difference in the relaxation times between healthy and pathological tissues. In this work, we discuss the potential of a novel contrast mechanism for MRI based on Quadrupole Relaxation Enhancement (QRE) and estimate the achievable value of QRE under the most favorable conditions. It has turned out that the theoretically possible enhancement factors are smaller than those of typical paramagnetic contrast agents, but in turn, the field-selectivity of QRE-based agents makes them extremely sensitive to subtle changes of the electric field gradient in the tissue. So far, QRE has been observed for solids (in most cases for 14N) as a result of very slow dynamics and anisotropic spin interactions, believed to be necessary for QRE to appear. We show the first evidence that QRE can be achieved in solutions of compounds containing a high spin nucleus (209Bi) as the quadrupole element. The finding of QRE in a liquid state is explained in terms of spin relaxation theory based on the stochastic Liouville equation. The results confirm the relaxation theory and motivate further exploration of the potential of QRE for MRI.

Original languageEnglish
Article number184306
JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics
Volume150
Issue number18
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 May 2019

Keywords

  • Bismuth/chemistry
  • Contrast Media/chemistry
  • Hydrogen/chemistry
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods
  • Nanoparticles/chemistry
  • Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physics and Astronomy(all)
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

Fields of Expertise

  • Human- & Biotechnology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Estimation of the magnitude of quadrupole relaxation enhancement in the context of magnetic resonance imaging contrast'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this