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SUMMARY:Detecting low-concentration compounds with water sensitivity and s
 pectroscopic specificity using CEST-MRI - Peter van Zijl\, Johns Hopkins U
 niversity and Kennedy Krieger Institute
DTSTART:20131213T130000Z
DTEND:20131213T140000Z
UID:TALK48731@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Laura Blackburn
DESCRIPTION:Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) agents exploit ex
 changeable protons to achieve MRI contrast. This is accomplished by using 
 radiofrequency saturation at the resonance frequency of these protons and 
 monitoring the transfer of this saturation to the water protons imaged in 
 MRI. Strong sensitivity enhancements (factors of hundred to hundreds of th
 ousands) can be attained to image micromolar to millimolar concentrations 
 of compounds with molar sensitivity. Contrary to conventional paramagnetic
  MRI agents\, CEST compounds do not perturb the image contrast of anatomic
 al images and can be turned on and off. CEST agents have been broadly clas
 sified in terms of containing paramagnetic metals (paraCEST) or not (diaCE
 ST). Unlike paramagnetic metallic contrast agents\, diaCEST agents provide
  natural\, non-metallic labels. As a consequence\, this methodology has al
 ready allowed the use of many agents _in vivo_ in animals\, while endogeno
 us markers such as cellular amino acids\, peptides and sugar derivatives a
 re even being studied in humans. Recent data suggest that amide proton tra
 nsfer (APT) may provide a biomarker for separating tumor recurrence from t
 reatment necrosis in the brain. Based on its non-invasive character\, diaC
 EST is expected to be useful not only in the pre-clinical arena but also t
 o revolutionize the rapid translation of contrast agents to the clinic. Th
 e field is evolving rapidly and many novel exogenous agents and endogenous
  markers are expected to be discovered in the near future.
LOCATION:Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute\, Lecture Theatre
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