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Micro-engineered local field control for high-sensitivity multispectral MRI

Nature volume 453, pages 1058–1063 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

In recent years, biotechnology and biomedical research have benefited from the introduction of a variety of specialized nanoparticles whose well-defined, optically distinguishable signatures enable simultaneous tracking of numerous biological indicators. Unfortunately, equivalent multiplexing capabilities are largely absent in the field of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Comparable magnetic-resonance labels have generally been limited to relatively simple chemically synthesized superparamagnetic microparticles that are, to a large extent, indistinguishable from one another. Here we show how it is instead possible to use a top-down microfabrication approach to effectively encode distinguishable spectral signatures into the geometry of magnetic microstructures. Although based on different physical principles from those of optically probed nanoparticles, these geometrically defined magnetic microstructures permit a multiplexing functionality in the magnetic resonance radio-frequency spectrum that is in many ways analogous to that permitted by quantum dots in the optical spectrum. Additionally, in situ modification of particle geometries may facilitate radio-frequency probing of various local physiological variables.

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Figure 1: Magnetic structure and field diagrams.
Figure 2: Microfabricated magnetic structures.
Figure 3: Multi-spectral MRI.
Figure 4: Engineered spectral shifting.
Figure 5: Controlling diffusion to turn tags on or off.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Mouse Imaging Facility at the NIH for use of the 4.7T magnet, and A. Silva for use of the 7T magnet. This work was supported in part by the NINDS NIH Intramural Research Program. G.Z. also acknowledges support from a National Research Council fellowship award.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Functional and Molecular Imaging, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA,

    Gary Zabow, Stephen Dodd & Alan Koretsky

  2. Electromagnetics Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA,

    Gary Zabow & John Moreland

Authors
  1. Gary Zabow
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  2. Stephen Dodd
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  3. John Moreland
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  4. Alan Koretsky
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Correspondence to Gary Zabow.

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Zabow, G., Dodd, S., Moreland, J. et al. Micro-engineered local field control for high-sensitivity multispectral MRI. Nature 453, 1058–1063 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature07048

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