Mathieu Sarracanie1, 2, Andrew Martin3, Marion Tardieu2, Najat Salameh2, Roberta Santarelli2, Kyle Hill4, Jose-Manuel Perez-Sanchez2, Julien Sandeau5, Lionel Martin2, Emmanuel Durand2, Georges Caillibotte3, Daniel Isabey5, Luc Darrasse2, Jacques Bittoun2, Xavier Matre2
1Harvard University Department of Physics, Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, Massachussets, United States; 2IR4M (UMR8081), Univ Paris-Sud, CNRS, Orsay, France; 3Centre de Recherche Claude Delorme (CRCD), Air Liquide, Les Loges-en-Josas, France; 4Oxford Univ, Oxford MRI Centre, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom; 5Biomcanique Cellulaire et Respiratoire (U955), IMRB, Inserm, Crteil, France
Systemic delivery across the oronasal route is investigated for a growing number of indications. Final drug distribution in the lung strongly depends on a variety of parameters like the aerosol administration protocol, particle size, density, and physicochemical properties, as well as the airway geometry. Quantification and spatial localization are of critical importance to better control and optimize drug deposition. Hyperpolarized helium-3 MRI has been developed as a powerful tool to quantitatively characterize the lung function and morphology. We present a new imaging modality developed on the grounds of hyperpolarized helium-3 MRI to probe SPIOs labeled aerosols in vivo,in rat lungs.