NMR imaging: recent developments and future prospects - Free radicals imaged in vivo in the rat by using proton-electron double-resonance imaging

A new technique called proton—electron double-resonance imaging is described for imaging free radicals in aqueous samples. The method is a combination of proton NMR imaging with nuclear electron double resonance. The results of using this technique to image free radicals in vivo in the rat are presented. Rats were injected intravenously with a nitroxide free radical solution and a series of images was obtained from which the clearance of the free radical through the liver and kidneys could be observed.