An Analytical Approach Towards Pulsed-SL/CEST Quantification

Volkert Brar Roeloffs¹, Moritz Zaiss¹, Peter Bachert¹

Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) experiments provide a NMR-imaging technique capable of detecting dilute metabolite protons. Off-resonant spinlock experiments are in a similar way sensitive to chemical exchange. However, within the clinical context, RF pulse duration and power are limited due to SAR-restrictions. For this reason, in this work the effect of pulsed spinlock saturation has been modeled theoretically. The findings were validated experimentally and a method of quantifying exchange rates was proposed, which might be an important step towards a contrast-agent free imaging technique that allows in vivo quantification of physiological relevant exchange rates and metabolite concentrations.