Most current amide proton transfer (APT) imaging protocols, a variant of CEST-MRI, are essentially not quantitative and acquire qualitative APT-weighted images, limiting pH or concentration specificity. Herein, we propose a novel dictionary-free MRF concept to allow APT quantification by subgrouping proton exchange models (CEST-SPEM). The results of numerical phantom studies demonstrate that CEST-SPEM can enable absolute quantification of the APT exchange rate and concentration on 3T clinical scanners. The same model used for in vivo allows fast quantification of exchange rates and apparent concentrations for the combined solute components at the CEST frequency studied.
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