Gherase, M: Characterization of Hyperpolarized Xe-129 NMR Sp

This book describes the modeling and experimental effort in trying to use hyperpolarized Xe-129 (H-Xe) dissolved in Perfluorooctyl Bromide (PFOB) emulsions as an Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) contrast agent for cancer detection. H-Xe dissolved in PFOB emulsions stabilized with egg-yolk phospholipid (EYP) has been suggested as a possible in vivo NMR contrast agent. A two-compartment radial diffusive exchange model based on the generalized Bloch equations was developed. The model was used to investigate the NMR spectra of H-Xe dissolved in PFOB emulsions. The permeability of the EYP membrane was estimated by fitting the linewidths of the experimental NMR spectra with the modeled spectra linewidths. The experiments also showed that the linewidths of the NMR spectra of H-Xe in PFOB emulsions depend on the PFOB concentration because of the H-Xe diffusive exchange. Bulk water flow measurements were demonstrated by dynamic acquisition of H-Xe NMR spectra while the bolus formed of H-Xe gas in PFOB emulsions diluted during the passage through a coil.