We have developed new methods for studying cultured cancer cell metabolism with hyperpolarized 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy (HP 13C MRS) at low oxygen concentrations. Cells grown on the surfaces of microcarriers inside the spectrometer were perfused radially (rather than axially) in a modified NMR tube at controlled oxygen levels. Computational and experimental results demonstrated that cell mass oxygen profiles with radial flow were much more uniform than with conventional axial flow. The metabolism of HP [1-13C]pyruvate was markedly different between the two flow configurations, demonstrating the importance of avoiding large oxygen gradients in cell perfusion experiments.
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