Phosphoric acid may improve detection of cancer cells in magnetic resonance imaging. This was reported by the press service of the RNF.
The MRI machine allows you to obtain a three-dimensional image of the internal structure of the human body. However, it can “see” far from all types of molecules – only those whose atoms have a non-zero spin and, therefore, can change their state under the influence of a magnetic field rectified by the apparatus. . Basically, in this way, the distribution density of water, the most abundant substance in the body, is mapped. The more the core changes the state, the brighter the response, and it is important that problem areas of the body such as tumors stand out clearly. Therefore, alternatively, it is possible to monitor the signal from, for example, phosphorus and not water, as it accumulates in cancer cells. In this way, the tumor can be seen at an early stage, where it is not yet noticed by the amount of water.
Specialists of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and colleagues from other universities proposed to increase the contrast in phosphorus detection using parahydrogen. It differs from ordinary hydrogen only in its magnetic properties: in orthohydrogen, the spin magnetic moments have one direction, and in parahydrogen they have two opposite directions. This substance does not give a signal in magnetic resonance spectroscopy on its own, but if it binds to any other compound, the signal level increases hundreds or even thousands of times due to the effect of hyperpolarization.
So the scientists decided to add parahydrogen to a phosphoric acid derivative and then transfer the hyperpolarization to the phosphorus-containing part of the molecule. After that, as a result of interaction with water (hydrolysis), they separate pure hyperpolarized phosphate, a residue of phosphoric acid, which is very abundant in all cells of our body.
With the introduction of such a solution into the blood, the MRI response of all phosphorus compounds will increase significantly, which will facilitate the diagnosis of cancer at an early stage. Now scientists need to solve the final stage of the reaction – the elimination of inorganic phosphate, which must be introduced into the body, after which the method will be ready for testing.
ancient biologists raised artificial fat for test tube meat.