title: Fluorine (19F) MRS and MRI in biomedicine.
abstract: Shortly after the introduction of (1)H MRI, fluorinated molecules were tested as MR-detectable tracers or contrast agents. Many fluorinated compounds, which are nontoxic and chemically inert, are now being used in a broad range of biomedical applications, including anesthetics, chemotherapeutic agents, and molecules with high oxygen solubility for respiration and blood substitution. These compounds can be monitored by fluorine ((19)F) MRI and/or MRS, providing a noninvasive means to interrogate associated functions in biological systems. As a result of the lack of endogenous fluorine in living organisms, (19)F MRI of 'hotspots' of targeted fluorinated contrast agents has recently opened up new research avenues in molecular and cellular imaging. This includes the specific targeting and imaging of cellular surface epitopes, as well as MRI cell tracking of endogenous macrophages, injected immune cells and stem cell transplants.
authors.affiliation: Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology, Division of MR Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205-2195, USA.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Cabello
authors.forename: Brad P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Bottomley
authors.forename: Jeff W M
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bulte
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005461:Fluorine; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008511:Medicine; D051379:Mice; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D051381:Rats; D012995:Solubility; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D005461:Fluorine