UCSF

Purpose: Hyperpolarized 13C MRI is a promising non-invasive imaging technique that can interrogate tumor microenvironments, and is amenable to clinical translation. The aim of this study was to synthesize candidate probes and evaluate their effectiveness in zinc-binding and hyperpolarized study. Methods: Candidate probes are synthesized, purified, and characterized via NMR, followed by testing in various zinc concentrations and pH buffers. Promising probes are enriched with a 13C label and evaluated with a hyperpolarizer and NMR. Results: Several probes show significant chemical shift upon binding to zinc, as well as negligible shift to different pH conditions. Conclusion: Results from this study show that molecular imaging of zinc is possible, but require further optimization of 13C compound synthesis routes and hyperpolarized experiments.