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Development And Optimization Of 19f-Mri For Tracking Cellular Therapeutics, Jeffrey M. Gaudet

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Introduction: This thesis aims to advance magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for imaging cellular therapeutics. Traditional, proton-based, MRI provides detailed anatomical images, particularly of soft tissue. However, in order to obtain information at a cellular level specialized imaging agents are required to detect the cells of interest. Perfluorocarbons containing non-radioactive fluorine-19 (¹⁹F) are both biologically safe and MR sensitive. Methods: Pre-clinical ¹⁹F-MRI was implemented on a Varian 9.4T MRI scanner, using a dual ¹⁹F/¹H-tuned birdcage volume coil. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) were pre-labeled with a commercial, FDA approved ¹⁹F-perfluorocarbon emulsion, then implanted intramuscularly into …