ENCAPSULATED PARAMAGNETIC IONS T0 ENHANCE NMR IMAGING

质子核磁共振成像正在迅速成为一种主要的健康诊断工具 在乎 该技术提供了高分辨率的图像，而无需使用 电离辐射 可通过造影增强诊断能力 试剂，如顺磁性离子，只要它们是定点的， 低毒性。 磷脂囊泡（脂质体）是小的亚显微镜 壳状结构可以封装和定位顺磁性 体内某些组织内的物质。 这项工作的目的是确定在多大程度上陷入 顺磁离子改变质子弛豫速率（与图像对比度相关） 对于已知具有显著的囊泡摄取的组织。 特别 感兴趣的是评价某些囊泡制剂， 被至少十种鼠肿瘤类型摄取。 在某些情况下， 放射性标记囊泡总注射剂量的15%已累积在 肿瘤 如果成功的话，这项研究将提供一个新的机会， 核磁共振成像的诊断特异性。 除了有针对性或 改变生物分布，囊泡中的造影剂很可能 毒性较低。 这些优点加上低风险， 通过核磁共振成像的患者代表了一个大的和非常有用的商业 满足放射科医生长期需求的企业。

Proton NMR Imaging is rapidly becoming a major diagnostic tool in health care. The technique offers high resolution images without the use of ionizing radiation. Diagnostic capability can be enhanced with Contrast Agents, such as paramagnetic ions, provided they are site-directed and show low toxicity. Phospholipid Vesicles (liposomes) are small submicroscopic shell-like structures which can encapsulate and localize paramagnetic materials within certain tissues in the body. The aim of this work is to determine the extent to which entrapped paramagnetic ions alter proton relaxation rates (related to image contrast) for tissue known to have marked uptake of vesicles. Of particular interest, is evaluating certain vesicle formulations which have significant uptake by at least ten murine tumor types. In some instances, as much as 15% of the total injected dose of radiolabeled vesicle have accumulated in the tumor. If successful, the research offers a new opportunity for improving diagnostic specificity with NMR imaging. In addition to targeted or altered biodistribution, contrast agents in vesicles will very likely exhibit lower toxicity. These advantages coupled with the low risk to patients by NMR imaging represent a large and very useful commercial enterprise fulfilling a long standing need by radiologists.