Eduard Y. Chekmenev1, Henry Chan1, Shawn R. Wagner1, Wanda F. Reynolds2, Brian D. Ross1, Pratip Bhattacharya1
1Enhanced MR Unit, Huntington Medical Research Institutes, Pasadena, CA, USA; 2Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, San Diego, CA, USA
We report on the novel in vivo application of 13C hyperpolarized agents to target atherosclerotic plaque. We demonstrate that 13C hyperpolarized tetrafluoropropyl propionate (TFPP) interacts with excess lipid in genetically engineered low-density lipoprotein deficient mice by detecting a lipid specific MR resonance 3 ppm away from the main solution peak. Moreover, in vivo 13C spectroscopy of hyperpolarized TFPP and ex vivo 19F spectroscopy provide evidence that this technique is capable of differentiating lipid content in low-density lipoprotein deficient and control mice. Additional work is in progress in our laboratory to provide statistically relevant results.