CONCEPTS IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE PART B-MAGNETIC RESONANCE ENGINEERING, sa.1, ss.1-8, 2003 (SCI-Expanded)
We describe the use of planar submillimeter diameter radio frequency (RF) microcoils at 500 MHz (11.74 T) to image biologic samples, specifically late-stage frog oocytes (typical diameter 750-1000 mum) and isolated rat pancreatic islets (typical diameter 150-200 mum). For the frog oocyte we obtained a 25 x 25 mum in-plane resolution on a 100 mum slice in 34 min, and for the pancreatic islets we obtained a 14 x 14 mum in-plane resolution on a 100-mum slice in 68 min. These results demonstrate that it is possible to obtain images of living cells with high temporal and spatial resolution under conditions where viability in maintained and functional stimulation is possible. The extension of these studies to smaller diameter microcoils or arrays of microcoils may allow magnetic resonance imaging to be performed on individual cells in culture, and could lead to in vivo assessment of cell function within biocapsules or tissue implants. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.