Magnetic resonance imaging methods and compositions

Abstract

Methods and compositions are provided for magnetic resonance imaging of biological tissue, particularly methods and compositions for 23Na and 39K magnetic resonance imaging of cardiac tissue. In particular, methods of 23Na magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) cardiac imaging is presented for attenuating 23Na signals corresponding to ventricular cavity blood and viable well-perfused tissue and for visualizing myocardial infarction. Cardiac tissue is imaged using 23Na MRI after the introduction of an intravascular paramagnetic contrast agent. Optimally, the intravascular paramagnetic contrast agent is MION-46. The MION-46 suppresses the blood signal intensity in sodium images of ventricular cavities and signal for viable cardiac tissue. The quantity of MION-46 and the echo time (TE) for 23Na MRI of cardiac tissue may be selected to minimize signal intensity differences between ventricular cavity blood and well-perfused viable myocardium; maximize signal intensity differences between non-viable myocardium and ventricular cavity blood in myocardial infarction; and maximize signal intensity differences between non-viable myocardium and well-perfused viable myocardium in myocardial infarction.

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