Abstract
Alterations in Zn(2+) concentration are seen in normal tissues and in disease states, and for this reason imaging of Zn(2+) is an area of active investigation. Herein, enriched [1-(13) C]cysteine and [1-(13) C(2) ]iminodiacetic acid were developed as Zn(2+) -specific imaging probes using hyperpolarized (13) C magnetic resonance spectroscopy. [1-(13) C]cysteine was used to accurately quantify Zn(2+) in complex biological mixtures. These sensors can be employed to detect Zn(2+) via imaging mechanisms including changes in (13) C chemical shift, resonance linewidth, or T(1) .