Applications and perspective of silicon particles in hyperpolarized Si-29 magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

Silicon particles in combination with the dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) method have recently attracted attention as promising biomedical platforms for drug delivery and medical diagnostics in magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and MR imaging (MRI). In the present review, silicon particles were investigated as potential diagnostic probes for Si-29 MRI to research in vivo and in vitro diverse bimolecular processes. Hyperpolarization characteristics of silicon particles based on their size, morphology, and physicochemical properties, were broadly demonstrated. Moreover, in vivo applications with the hyperpolarized silicon materials indicate the potential of the new diagnostic platform and will be of significant value for early diagnosis of diseases, including cancer.