Hyperpolarized magnetic resonance: Enhancing MRI signals by >10,000-fold for real-time in vivo biochemical imaging and assessment of cancer

Authors

  • Lloyd Lumata ⋅ US Department of Physics, University of Texas at Dallas, USA

Abstract

In vivo or in vitro nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and imaging (MRI) of nuclei other than a proton is hampered by the low signal sensitivity due to the minute differences in spin populations between the nuclear Zeeman energy levels. Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) or hyperpolarization, an offshoot of a technology used in particle physics and nuclear scattering experiments, has solved this insensitivity problem by amplifying the magnetic resonance signals of insensitive nuclei such as carbon-13 by 10,000-fold or higher. The trick is to transfer the high electron thermal polarization to the nuclear spins via microwave irradiation at low temperature (close to 1 K) and high magnetic field (>1 T), then rapidly dissolve the frozen polarized samples into hyperpolarized liquids at physiologically tolerable temperature. In this talk, I will delve into the discussion of the physics, instrumentation and engineering aspects, optimization methods, and biomedical applications of the DNP technology. This cutting-edge physics technology is currently improving cancer diagnostics by providing biochemical and metabolic information at the molecular level with superb sensitivity and high specificity.

About the Speaker

Lloyd Lumata, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Dallas, USA

Lloyd Lumata obtained his BS in Physics at the Western Mindanao State University, Philippines in 2002. He went to graduate school at the National High Magnetic Field Lab in Florida State University (FSU) in 2004 wherein he studied nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) of organic conductors under the supervision of Prof. James Brooks at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. He earned his PhD in Condensed Matter Physics at FSU in 2008. In 2009, he moved to Dallas for a postdoc position at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW). At UTSW, he assembled an MRI signal-enhancing instrumentation called hyperpolarizer that amplifies the MRI signals by >10,000-fold. This machine was used for high resolution cardiac and cancer imaging. In 2014, he moved to the neighboring University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics wherein he leads a research group that applies this hyperpolarization technology for non-invasive diagnostic assessment of cancer. He was promoted to Associate Professor of Physics with tenure at UT Dallas in 2020.

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Issue

Article ID

SPP-2024-INV-2A-02

Section

Invited Presentations

Published

2024-07-03

How to Cite

[1]
L Lumata, Hyperpolarized magnetic resonance: Enhancing MRI signals by >10,000-fold for real-time in vivo biochemical imaging and assessment of cancer, Proceedings of the Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 42, SPP-2024-INV-2A-02 (2024). URL: https://proceedings.spp-online.org/article/view/SPP-2024-INV-2A-02.