Abstract #5062

Susceptibility Contrast at Ultra-low Magnetic field with Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles

David E. J. Waddington^1,2, Thomas Boele^2,3, Richard Maschmeyer¹, Zdenka Kuncic¹, and Matthew S. Rosen^2,4,5

¹Institute of Medical Physics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, ²A. A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States, ³ARC Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, ⁴Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States, ⁵Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States

MRI scanners operating at ultra-low fields (ULF) promise to reduce the cost and expand the clinical accessibility of MRI. Here, we use an ULF (6.5 mT) MRI scanner and an efficient balanced steady-state free precession MRI protocol to image superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONS) in solution. We observe strong susceptibility effects due to the highly-magnetized state of SPIONs even at ULF. These susceptibility effects enable the most sensitive imaging of a contrast agent at ULF that we are aware of. These results will broaden the clinical applications of ULF MRI, and have implications for drug tracking and delivery in nanotheranostics.

How to access this content:

For one year after publication, abstracts and videos are only open to registrants of this annual meeting. Registrants should use their existing login information. Non-registrant access can be purchased via the ISMRM E-Library.

After one year, current ISMRM & ISMRT members get free access to both the abstracts and videos. Non-members and non-registrants must purchase access via the ISMRM E-Library.

After two years, the meeting proceedings (abstracts) are opened to the public and require no login information. Videos remain behind password for access by members, registrants and E-Library customers.

Click here for more information on becoming a member.