Mark D. Lingwood1, Samuel T. Tokuyama2, Elliott R. Brown3, Songi Han1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA; 2Pacifica Hosiptal of the Valley, Sun Valley, CA, USA; 3Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
We are developing instruments and methods for in-vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using hyperpolarized water that is prepared by continuous-flow Overhauser dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) under ambient conditions. Our compact and portable 0.35T DNP setup can be implemented in the fringe field any MRI system, and produces radical-free hyperpolarized water with 1H enhancements of up to -40 fold. In contrast to the dissolution DNP approach, where samples are polarized for hours at 1.2K, our method can continuously generate DNP-enhanced water under ambient conditions. We present our progress in developing the specialized equipment for this procedure and display our initial results.