The technique of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or short MRI, is a useful and widely used tool in clinical diagnostics. However, the current MRI techniques are not sensitive enough to detect low concentrations of drugs or disease related molecules. LEIF SCHRÖDER explains that MRI is typically based on the detection of water molecules. However, the high water concentration that is always present in the body creates a strong background signal obstructing the signal of dilute molecules so only substances at higher concentrations can be found. In the new approach presented in this video, the researchers used the noble gas Xenon, manipulated its magnetic properties and paired it with a contrast agent which senses specific molecules related to cancer. With this technique, they managed to visualize also molecules in very low concentrations as it is the case for early onset cancer. This approach can help to spot diseases at a very early stage or support drug development.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21036/LTPUB10327

Researcher

Leif Schröder is a Research Group Leader of the Molecular Imaging Group at the Leibnitz Institute for Molecular Pharmacology in Berlin. Previously, he spent four years at the University of California at Berkeley, partly supported by an Emmy Noether Fellowship from the German Research Foundation, where he worked on new magnetic resonance imaging techniques based on hyperpolarized xenon biosensors. In 2009, he returned to Germany to join the Leibnitz Institute where he led the Starting Grant Project BiosensorImaging funded by the European Research Council until 2015.
His research is dedicated to Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and imaging where he currently takes a special interest in hyperpolarised biosensors for NMR and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Institution

Leibniz Institute for Molecular Pharmacology (FMP)

The FMP conducts basic research in Molecular Pharmacology with the aim to identify novel bioactive molecules and to characterize their interactions with their biological targets in cells or organisms. These compounds are useful tools in basic biomedical research and may be further developed for the treatment, prevention, or diagnosis of disease. To this aim FMP researchers study key biological processes and corresponding diseases, such as cancer, aging including osteoporosis, or neurodegeneration. They also develop and apply advanced technologies ranging from screening technologies over NMR based methods to proteomics and in vivo models. (Source: FMP)
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Original publication

Identification, Classification, and Signal Amplification Capabilities of High-turnover Gas Binding Hosts in Ultra-sensitive NMR

Kunth Martin, Witte Christopher, Schröder Leif and Hennig Andreas
Chemical Science
Published in 2015

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Live-cell MRI with Xenon Hyper-CEST Biosensors Targeted to Metabolically Labeled Cell-Surface Glycans

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Identification, Classification, and Signal Amplification Capabilities of High-turnover Gas Binding Hosts in Ultra-sensitive NMR

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Genetically Encoded Reporters for Hyperpolarized Xenon Magnetic Resonance Imaging

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Multichannel MRI Labeling of Mammalian Cells by Switchable Nanocarriers for Hyperpolarized Xenon

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Nano Letters
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Development of An Antibody-based, Modular Biosensor for 129Xe NMR Molecular Imaging of Cells at Nanomolar Concentrations

Witte Christopher, Rossella Federica, Schröder Leif, Klippel Stefan, Freund Christian and Rose Honor M.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Published in 2014

Molecular Imaging Using a Targeted Magnetic Resonance Hyperpolarized Biosensor

Schröder Leif, Pines Alexander, Hilty Christian, Wemmer David E. and Lowery Thomas J.
Science
Published in 2006

Analysis of Cancer Metabolism by Imaging Hyperpolarized Nuclei: Prospects for Translation to Clinical Research

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