Magnetic resonance contrast-enhancing agents whose effects are altered by electric fields

The membrane potential is an important property of many cells and organelles. Changes in the potential of membranes control or accompany numerous biological processes including information transfer in neuronal networks. Magnetic resonance imaging (macroscopic and microscopic) is essentially a non-invasive 3-dimensional imaging modality and could record changes in membrane potential if they were accompanied by changes in water proton relaxation rates in the vicinity of the membrane, and thus become a powerful tool for studying neuronal activity and, ultimately, understanding how the brain functions. With that in mind, contrast-enhancing agents whose effects are changed by electric fields, similar in function to voltage sensitive dyes, were developed. It may also be possible to develop magnetic resonance contrast agents that respond to changes in temperature, pH, light, or concentrations of certain ions and molecules, as all these changes in the environment are known to induce volume phase transitions in some polyelectrolyte gels.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemistry

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Frank, Shachar

Contributors dc:contributor

• Lauterbur, Paul C.

• Chemistry, Physical

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1993 Frank, Shachar

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

AAI9401121
(UMI)AAI9401121

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/20210