Across-cities transportable <sup>13</sup>C hyperpolarization using UV-induced labile radicals.

Capozzi, Andrea; Karlsson, Magnus; Zhao, Yupeng; Kilund, Jan; Hansen, Esben Søvsø Szocska; Bertelsen, Lotte Bonde; Laustsen, Christoffer; Ardenkjær-Larsen, Jan Henrik et al. · Nat Commun · 2026

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Hyperpolarized <sup>13</sup>C Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging (HP <sup>13</sup>C-MRSI) has the potential to transform diagnostic radiology thanks to its unique ability to noninvasively detect a broad range of diseases entailing aberrant metabolism. However, clinical adoption has been hindered by the short lifetime of <sup>13</sup>C-hyperpolarization and the resulting need for on-site polarizer near the MR scanner. In this work, we present a solution for long-lived transportable HP molecular contrast agents that uses dissolution Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (dDNP) combined with UV-induced labile radicals. This approach allows centralized pre-polarization and transport under hours-long storage T<sub>1</sub> conditions. We validate this concept through the first across-cities HP <sup>13</sup>C-MRSI experiments in vivo, injecting healthy female rats with both a perfusion/angiography ([1-<sup>13</sup>C]HP001) and a metabolic ([U-<sup>13</sup>C, d<sub>7</sub>]glucose) contrast agent. Our findings advance the feasibility of decentralized, scalable HP MRI workflows, removing the barrier of on-site infrastructure.