Axel Joachim Krafft1, Jrgen Walter Jenne2,3, Florian Maier1, Marie Nicole Krause4, Ana Martin-Villalba4, Peter E. Huber2, Wolfhard Semmler1, Michael Bock1
1Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; 2Clinical Cooperation Unit Radiation Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; 3Mediri GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany; 4Molecular Neurobiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a cerebral cellular structure which is impenetrable for many therapeutic substances. Focused ultrasound has been demonstrated as a non-invasive tool for local and reversible BBB opening. MRI-guided BBB opening allows precise monitoring of signal changes after BBB disruption. The underlying dynamic processes of BBB opening are complex, and hence therapy control might be complicated. In this study, we compared short-term and long-term MRI signal dynamics of an interstitial and an intravascular MR contrast agent after BBB opening in mouse brain. Our results may help to define criterions for an optimized therapy control.