Parahydrogen-Polarized Fumarate for Preclinical Metabolic Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

We present a versatile method for the preparation of hyperpolarized [1-C]fumarate as a contrast agent for preclinical MRI, using parahydrogen-induced polarization (PHIP). To benchmark this process, we compared a prototype PHIP polarizer to a state-of-the-art dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (d-DNP) system. We found comparable polarization, volume, and concentration levels of the prepared solutions, while the preparation effort is significantly lower for the PHIP process, which can provide a preclinical dose every 10 min, opposed to around 90 min for d-DNP systems. With our approach, a 100 mM [1-C]-fumarate solution of volumes up to 3 mL with 13-20% C-hyperpolarization after purification can be produced. The purified solution has a physiological pH, while the catalyst, the reaction side products, and the precursor material concentrations are reduced to nontoxic levels, as confirmed in a panel of cytotoxicity studies. The usage of the hyperpolarized fumarate as a perfusion agent in healthy mice and the metabolic conversion of fumarate to malate in tumor-bearing mice developing regions with necrotic cell death is demonstrated. Furthermore, we present a one-step synthesis to produce the C-labeled precursor for the hydrogenation reaction with high yield, starting from CO as a cost-effective source for C-labeled compounds.