Chemical exchange saturation transfer technique is tailored to obtain chemical exchange saturation transfer contrast and redox status of tumors. Tissue is imaged in such a way to characterize its heterogeneity and correlate with the redox state of the tumor with sensitivity to the corona and core structure of the tumor. The method includes creating a detectable chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast with frequency selective saturation of exchangeable protons associated with a redox reaction of a tissue, identifying metabolites in the tissue that express CEST MRI contrast in vivo, and quantifying a redox state of the tissue based on the MRI contrast.
NON-INVASIVE IMAGING OF TISSUE REDOX STATE BY MRI