Fluorine Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Biomedical Applications

Fluorine magnetic resonance imaging (19F MRI) leverages the unique magnetic properties of the fluorine-19 nucleus to generate highly specific and quantifiable signals in biological tissues. Unlike conventional proton (1H) MRI, which images abundant endogenous hydrogen nuclei, 19F MRI offers background-free detection owing to the negligible endogenous fluorine content in most tissues. This capacity allows for direct quantification of exogenous fluorinated agents or labelled cells with minimal interference, facilitating applications in drug tracking, cell therapy, inflammation imaging and molecular diagnostics. Advances in fluorinated probe chemistry, including the development of perfluorocarbon emulsions and polymeric platforms, have enhanced sensitivity by increasing local fluorine concentration and optimising relaxation properties. Concurrent improvements in hardware—such as dedicated 19F/1H coil designs—and pulse sequences, notably ultrashort echo time (UTE) imaging, have accelerated signal acquisition and improved spatial resolution. Collectively, these technological and chemical innovations have propelled 19F MRI from proof-of-concept studies to translational and early clinical investigations, offering a non-ionising approach to track therapeutic cells, map drug biodistribution and monitor inflammatory processes in real time.

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Fluorine Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Biomedical Applications publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in fluorine magnetic resonance imaging in biomedical applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

19F MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging technique that detects signals from the fluorine-19 nucleus to produce highly specific, background-free images.

Perfluorocarbon nanoemulsion: Colloidal suspension of fluorinated carbon chains used as an MRI probe to increase local fluorine concentration and enable cell or tissue labelling.

Ultrashort echo time (UTE): MRI pulse sequence designed to capture signals with very short transverse relaxation times, improving detection sensitivity for nuclei with rapid signal decay.

Relaxivity: Measure of how effectively a contrast agent alters the relaxation times of surrounding nuclei, influencing MRI signal intensity and contrast.

Theranostics: Integrated approach combining therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities in a single agent or platform, enabling simultaneous treatment delivery and imaging.

References

1. First in vivo fluorine-19 magnetic resonance imaging of the multiple sclerosis drug siponimod. Theranostics (2023).
2. Fluorine-19 MRI for detection and quantification of immune cell therapy for cancer. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (2018).
3. Fluorine polymer probes for magnetic resonance imaging: quo vadis?. Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine (2018).
4. Recent Advances in 19Fluorine Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Perfluorocarbon Emulsions. Engineering (2015).