Hyperpolarized 13C MRS acceleration via SABRE-Hyperpolarization and a DIY perfusion system

Motivation: Hyperpolarized (HP) in vitro MRS procedures have limited throughput e.g. for drug effect monitoring and longitudinal studies. Goal(s): Our Objective is to facilitate longitudinal HP in vitro MRS studies through rapid delivery of hyperpolarized molecules and integration of a cost-effective, continuous-flow perfusion system. Approach: We have merged fast 13C SABRE-Hyperpolarization of [1-13C]-pyruvate-d3 with a, budget friendly DIY system, allowing for continuous NMR tube perfusion and batch-mode injection of hyperpolarized agents. Results: Our work demonstrates the successful detection of multiple highly polarized pyruvate injections at repetition times as short as 6 minutes, holding potential for HP agent development and studying cell metabolism under therapies. Impact: By combining rapid 13C agent hyperpolarization through SABRE with a cost-effective DIY perfusion system, our approach significantly increases the throughput and temporal resolution of hyperpolarized 13C MRS, unlocking new avenues for imaging agent development, metabolic studies and drug effect monitoring.