Implementing fully endogenous hyperpolarized molecular probes for imaging cerebral metabolism

Motivation: Photo-induced non-persistent radicals for dissolution Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (dDNP) reduce the delay between the preparation and injection of hyperpolarized (HP) substrates by avoiding the need for filtering potentially toxic radicals. Goal(s): Our goal was the in vivo implementation of probes hyperpolarized with endogenous non-persistent polarizing agents. Approach: Brain metabolism of HP glucose was monitored in a group of 12h-fasted male mice. Results: The lactate-to-glucose ratio (LGR) was found similar to previously reported values, with a trend of higher LGR when glucose was hyperpolarized with alpha-ketoglutarate (aKG) than Trityl radicals. Impact: Our investigation demonstrates the successful in-vivo application of radical-free HP glucose, revealing metabolic responses comparable to those achieved with stable persistent radicals and indicating the potential benefits of hyperpolarizing glucose with aKG radicals.