The Influence of Bovine Serum Albumin on the T1 Relaxation of [1-13C]Pyruvate a Study at Low Fields

Benjamin M. Pullinger¹, Stephen J. Kadlecek¹, Nicholas N. Kuzma¹, Rahim R. Rizi¹

The effects of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on the T₁ relaxation of DNP-hyperpolarized [1-¹³C]Pyruvate are studied as a function of magnetic field at varying concentrations of BSA and the DNP radical OX063 trityl. At low fields of 27.0 and 15.8 gauss the carbon-13 relaxation times are shortened by factors of 3 and 4 after addition of only 3% BSA. Our data suggests that caution should be taken in transporting hyperpolarized [1-¹³C]Pyruvate in the presence of albumin.