To overcome the inherent low sensitivity of MR experiments, dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) has been utilized to polarize the thermal spin population difference, thereby increasing the sensitivity.  Previously DNP had been limited to non-clinical research due to polarization transfer occurring at cold temperatures (~1 K); however, with the advent of a fast dissolution procedure that quickly warms up polarized materials to physiological conditions, DNP has become relevant in clinical research, especially in the field of metabolism.  Hyperpolarized 13C-labeled metabolites, in particular 1-13C-pyruvate, have been used as metabolic probes as they can monitor metabolic pathways in vitro and in vivo.  Since the dysregulation of metabolic pathways is indicative of pathological disease states, these diagnostic metabolic probes are of great importance.  With the intent of diagnostically monitoring glycolysis in vivo, we have designed and synthesized a hyperpolarized probe for glycolysis.  Since the short longitudinal relaxation time (T1) of 13C nuclei in glucose are short, we synthesized a 3,4-13C-labeled-2,3,4,5,6,6-D-labeled glucose.  Deuteration of germinal and vicinal protons diminishes the dipolar contributions to relaxation, which, in turn lengthens the T1 of the 13C nuclei and allows for a longer acquisition window.  Herein we report the synthesis and metabolic data acquired for this novel glucose analog.

Design and synthesis of a hyperpolarized carbon-13 probe for glycolysis

247th National Meeting (2014)

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