NMR of laser-polarized xenon in human blood

TitleNMR of laser-polarized xenon in human blood
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1996
AuthorsBifone A., Song Y.Q, Seydoux R., Taylor R.E, Goodson B.M, Pietrass T., Budinger T.F, Navon G., Pines A
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume93
Issue23
Pagination12932-12936
Date PublishedNov 12
ISBN Number0027-8424
Accession NumberWOS:A1996VT05400048
Keywordsgas
Abstract

By means of optical pumping with laser light it is possible to enhance the nuclear spin polarization of gaseous xenon by four to five orders of magnitude, The enhanced polarization has allowed advances in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including polarization transfer to molecules and imaging of lungs and other void spaces, A critical issue for such applications is the delivery of xenon to the sample while maintaining the polarization, Described herein is an efficient method for the introduction of laser-polarized xenon into systems of biological and medical interest for the purpose of obtaining highly enhanced NMR/MRI signals. Using this method, we have made the first observation of the time-resolved process of xenon penetrating the red blood cells in fresh human blood-the xenon residence time constant in the red blood cells was measured to be 20.4+/-2 ms. The potential of certain biologically compatible solvents for delivery of laser-polarized xenon to tissues for NMR/MRI is discussed in light of their respective relaxation and partitioning properties.

URL<Go to ISI>://WOS:A1996VT05400048
DOI10.1073/Pnas.93.23.12932
Short TitleNMR of laser-polarized xenon in human blood
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