Fast determination of the 1H relaxivities of MRI contrast agents

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive imaging modality which offers excellent spatial resolution and superior soft-tissue contrast without using any harmful radiation. In medical 1H MRI, image contrast largely depends on three parameters: the longitudinal relaxation time (T1), transverse relaxation time (T2) and spin density of the water protons within the tissue.[1,2] In cases where naturally occurring contrast between the diseased and normal tissue is not sufficient, contrast can be enhanced by injecting chemicals, mostly paramagnetic chelates, known as contrast agents (CAs). Most common paramagnetic MRI CAs work by enhancing the relaxation rates (1/Ti) of the surrounding water protons.