# Interventional real-time molecular MRI for targeting early myocardial injury in a pig model

## TL;DR

Researchers used MRI with a special contrast agent to detect early heart tissue damage in pigs, showing a new way to spot inflammation quickly after a heart event.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel molecular MRI approach using P-selectin-targeted contrast agents to detect early myocardial injury in a pig model.

## Key findings

- T1 mapping was most sensitive for detecting tissue injury shortly after ischemia/reperfusion.
- P-selectin MPIO contrast agent selectively enhanced ischemic areas in iron-sensitive MRI.
- Early myocardial inflammation was detected beyond traditional edema-sensitive imaging methods.

## Abstract

Myocardial ischemia induces tissue injury with subsequent inflammation and recruitment of immune cells. Besides myocardial tissue characterization, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows for functional assessment using molecular imaging contrast agents. Here, we assessed ischemic cardiac lesions non-invasively directly after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in a porcine model by advanced MRI techniques and molecular imaging, targeting the cell adhesion molecule P-selectin functionalized with microparticles of iron oxide (MPIO). We used a closed-chest model of I/R by temporary coronary balloon-occlusion, real time 3T MRI-guided coronary injection of MPIO-based contrast agents, as well as injury, edema and iron-sensitive MRI. Within the first hours after I/R, we found T1 mapping to be most sensitive for tissue injury, with no changes in edema-sensitive MRI. Intriguingly, P-selectin MPIO contrast agent selectively enhanced the ischemic area in iron-sensitive MRI. In conclusion, this approach allows for sensitive detection of early myocardial inflammation beyond traditional edema-sensitive imaging.