GlucoCEST (chemical exchange saturation transfer imaging using glucose as a contrast agent) has shown potential in tumor imaging. However, glucose enters cells and is rapidly metabolized, leading to disappearance of the glucoCEST signal over time. Inulin, a polysaccharide, is non-toxic and acts like an intravascular tracer when injected intravenously. A phantom including both glucose and inulin at different pH and concentrations was scanned at 3T to investigate the potential of inulin as a CEST agent. This study indicates that inulin shows CEST contrast comparable to glucose on a per-OH-unit basis and has potential as a biodegradable CEST agent.
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