In Vivo Multi-Color Molecular MR Imaging Using DIACEST Liposomes

A variety of (super)paramagnetic contrast agents are available for enhanced MR visualization of specific tissues, cells, or molecules. In order to develop alternative contrast agents without the presence of metal ions, liposomes were developed containing simple bioorganic and biodegradable compounds that produce diamagnetic Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (DIACEST) MR contrast. This DIACEST contrast is frequency-dependent, allowing the unique generation of “multi-color” images. The contrast can be turned on and off at will, and standard images do not show the presence of these agents. As an example, glycogen, L-arginine, and poly-L-Lysine were encapsulated inside liposomes and injected intradermally into mice to image the lymphatic uptake of these liposomes. Using a frequency-dependent acquisition scheme, it is demonstrated that multi-color MRI can differentiate between different contrast particles in vivo following their homing to draining lymph nodes. Being non-metallic and bioorganic, these DIACEST liposomes form an attractive novel platform for multi-color imaging in vivo .