Turnkey Preclinical CEST-MRF for Bruker ParaVision 360

Motivation: High-resolution molecular imaging with chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) and magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) is difficult to implement and analyze, even for preclinical studies. Making preclinical CEST-MRF easier would spur rapid development. Goal(s): We aimed to develop a Bruker ParaVision 360 method and corresponding processing pipeline to easily design a CEST-MRF experiment and quickly evaluate the results. Approach: The sequence includes a .txt read-in feature for CEST-MRF parameter specification. The MATLAB processing pipeline features a graphical user interface for easy image processing and statistics. Results: The imaging method and processing pipeline are available on GitHub and make CEST-MRF imaging easy to implement. Impact: The Bruker ParaVision 360 imaging method and processing pipeline we developed is publicly available and will facilitate CEST-MRF imaging development by making experiments easy to customize and analyze, spurring more rapid CEST-MRF development towards clinical imaging.