In Vitro and In Vivo Assessment of Nonionic Iodinated Radiographic Molecules as Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer Magnetic Resonance Imaging Tumor Perfusion Agents

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate 4 nonionic x-ray iodinated contrast agents (CAs), commonly used in radiographic procedures, as novel chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agents by assessing their in vitro exchange properties and preliminary in vivo use as tumor enhancing agents. Materials and Methods The CEST properties, as function of pH (range, 5.5-7.9) and of radio frequency conditions (irradiation field strength range of 1-9 mu T and time of 1-9 seconds), have been determined at 7 T and 310 K for 4 x-ray CAs commonly used in clinical settings, namely, iomeprol, iohexol, ioversol, and iodixanol. Their in vivo properties have been investigated upon intravenous injection in a murine HER2+ breast tumor model (n = 4 mice for each CA) using both computed tomography (CT) and MRI modalities. Results The prototropic exchange rates measured for the 4 investigated iodinated molecules showed strong pH dependence with base catalyzed exchange rate that was faster for monomeric compounds (20-4000 Hz in the pH range of 5.5-7.9). Computed tomography quantification showed marked (up to 2 mg I/mL concentration) and prolonged accumulation (up to 30 minutes postinjection) inside tumor regions. Among the 4 agents we tested, iohexol and ioversol display good CEST contrast properties at 7 T, and in vivo results confirmed strong and prolonged contrast enhancement of the tumors, with elevated extravasation fractions (74%-91%). A strong and significant correlation was found between CT and CEST-MRI tumor-enhanced images (R-2 = 0.70, P < 0.01). Conclusions The obtained results demonstrate that iohexol and ioversol, 2 commonly used radiographic compounds, can be used as MRI perfusion agents, particularly useful when serial images acquisitions are needed to complement CT information.