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T1 measurements in cell cultures: A new tool for characterizing contrast agents at 1.5T
Author(s) -
Schmalbrock Petra,
Hines Jennifer V.,
Lee ShuMing,
Ammar Ghada M.,
Kwok Edmund WingChi
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.1229
Subject(s) - pellets , nuclear magnetic resonance , materials science , fast spin echo , monolayer , magnetic resonance imaging , electron paramagnetic resonance , paramagnetism , biomedical engineering , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , nanotechnology , chromatography , medicine , radiology , physics , composite material , quantum mechanics
The objective of this work was to assess the feasibility and accuracy of T1 and relaxivity measurements in cell cultures using 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the long‐term goal to develop a tool for evaluation of novel paramagnetic agents in a realistic macromolecular environment. This initial study was carried out using MCF‐7 cells treated with independently determined concentrations of Gd‐DTPA. Two cell culture systems were evaluated: cell pellets and single layers of cells grown on microporous inserts. High‐resolution T1 measurements of cell cultures were acquired with two dimensional Inversion Recovery Fast Spin Echo (2D‐IR‐FSE), three dimensional Inversion Recovery Fast Spin Echo (3D‐IR‐FSE), and 3D‐SPGR sequences. The T1 and relaxivity accuracy of these sequences was confirmed with aqueous Gd‐DTPA samples of known concentration. Relaxivities of 1.71 ± 0.15 [mM −1 second −1 ] and 1.55 ± 0.50 [mM −1 second −1 ] were measured in the cell pellets and cell monolayers, respectively, and were different from the value of 4.3 [mM −1 second −1 ] for Gd‐DTPA in water. Both cell pellets and monolayers are suitable for initial assessment of novel MR contrast agents. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;14:636–648. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.