Fluorine Magnetic Resonance Imaging

<p>Image-based biomarkers that report on specific cell phenotypes in the body are highly valued for disease detection and monitoring cytotherapies. Towards this need there is sustained scientific interest in fluorine-19 (19F) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for <i>in vivo </i>molecular–cellular imaging applications. The attraction of 19F tracer MRI is its ability to produce pure ‘hot-spot’ images an absence of false-positive signals robust quantification and tracer safety. For molecular–cellular applications fluorine MRI does not require a pre-scan prior to tracer administration thus offering several advantages over metal–ion-based proton (1H) contrast-agent approaches. Key applications of 19F MRI include cell tracking inflammation detection and biosensing. Fluorinated imaging tracers can also serve as therapeutic agents or drug-delivery vehicles. Over the past decade the field of 19F MRI has seen remarkable innovation in tracer designs and detection methods as well as the realization of its clinical potential.</p><p>This book is an interdisciplinary compendium detailing cutting-edge science and biomedical research in the emerging field of 19F MRI and includes technical issues such as pulse sequence considerations and limits of detection of the techniques; synthesis of novel 19F MRI tracer agents; inflammation cancer and stroke imaging; regenerative brain repair; theranostic nanomedicine; and clinical perspectives. The book will appeal to investigators involved in MRI physics biomedicine immunology pharmacology and probe chemistry as well as general readers.</p>