Mechanisms of magnetization transfer in brain tissue

• Grant number: 12/06965-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2012
• End date: June 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics
• Principal Investigator: Renata Ferranti Leoni
• Grantee: Maíra Siqueira Pinto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The magnetization transfer as magnetic resonance technique in order to estimate the fraction of bound protons and thus correlation with macromolecular content. The use of this technique in a quantitative manner opens a path in the search for new mechanisms of contrast in magnetic resonance images, especially in the brain. At the current stage of this project will be studied the effect of physical parameters of the magnetization transfer pulse experiments in vitro using tissue simulant materials of known composition in order to fit the current model of two populations or others to be proposed. As a result to be compared with the expected, parameters that will be obtained: relaxation times (T1 and T2) of both compartments, the equilibrium magnetization of the semi-solid compartment, and rate of magnetization transfer between them.(AU)