Phase II year
1988
(last award dollars: 1989)
Efforts to enhance the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in clinical medicine can involve the use of contrast agents. In Phase 1, we identified a ferrite based material which can be used to enhance the detection of hepatic tumors by MRI. We further established that the ferrite based agent was highly detectable by MR and biodegradable. In Phase 2, we shall examine the utility of this contrast agent and related agents to enhance MR images in non- hepatic tissues such as spleen, lung, and bone marrow and in the gastrointestinal tract. Animal models of human diseases will be used to evaluate contrast enhancement in such conditions as abcesses, diffuse splenic disease and focal splenic disease. Studies o the metabolism and toxicity of ferrites will be conducted. Ferrite based agents will also be explored for their ability to enhance volume localization in magnetic resonance spectroscopy. A variety of nontoxic ferrite based contrast agents can be envisioned that will be useful in medical conditions where MRI currently has major shortcomings.
Thesaurus Terms:Animals, Chordates, Mammals, Carnivores, Dogs Animals, Chordates, Mammals, Lagomorphs Animals, Chordates, Mammals, Rodents, Myomorpha, Mice (Laboratory) Animals, Chordates, Mammals, Rodents, Myomorpha, Rats (Laboratory) Biomagnetism Cardiovascular Disorders, Embolism Chemical Synthesis, Design And Production Chemistry, Analytical Methods, Spectrometry, Nmr Diagnostic Quality-Standards Diagnostic Quality-Standards, Diagnostic Procedures Safety Gastrointestinal Visualization Histology Iron Metabolism Iron Oxides Liver Disorders, Liver Abscess Liver Visualization Metabolism, Biotransformation Models, Disease Models Neoplasms Diagnosis Neoplasms Of Biliary Tract, Liver Neoplasms Neoplasms Of Blood And Re System, Lymphoma Neoplasms Of Blood And Re System, Spleen Neoplasms Optics, Image Enhancement Optics, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Mri) Physical And/Or Chemical Agents Interaction (Biological And Ecological) Physical Properties, Particles Radiography, Contrast Media Radiotracers Respiratory Visualization ToxicologyNational Cancer Institute (NCI)