Novel Manganese Porphyrins as Potential MR Contrast Agents for Diagnostic Evaluation of Myocardial Perfusion and Viability

Talaignair N. Venkatraman¹, Haichen Wang², Artak G. Tovmasyan³, Ines Batinic-Haberle³, Chris D. Lascola¹

In this study, we present initial results investigating the use of two novel, water-soluble, lipophilic manganese-based porphyrins with remarkably high T1 relaxation properties and strong avidity for cardiac mitochondria. We present initial results investigating the use of two novel, water-soluble, lipophilic manganese-based porphyrins (MnTMOHex-PyP and MnTButOE-PyP) with remarkably high T1 relaxation properties and strong avidity for cardiac mitochondria. In Vitro and in vivo quantitative MR imaging experiments demonstrate the potential of a novel class of manganese-based porphyrins for diagnostic characterization of myocardial perfusion and viability. The time course of myocardial enhancement and washout, as determined both qualitatively and quantitatively using a novel 3D variable flip angle steady state acquisition technique, would allow for the use of physiological rather than pharmaceutical stress, and also offer the possibility of quantitation at high isotropic resolution.