Multidisciplinary Laboratory for Development of New Generation MRI Contrast Agents for Biomedical Imaging

University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
What the facility does

Development and evaluation of MRI contrast agents, and organic/inorganic chemical synthesis and characterization.

Areas of expertise

Our lab focuses on the development of molecular probes for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) sensing, to detect diseases and to monitor important cellular/molecular events in vivo. Our recent contributions include development of Gd-free MRI contrast agents based on Mn-porphyrin, and novel NMR sensors for detecting anions and pH.

Research services

MRI contrast agents evaluation; providing novel MRI contrast agents with high sensitivity and low toxicity; strategic NMR probe development; NMR pH measurement; organic synthesis; inorganic synthesis; structural analysis; fluorescent sensor development; customized porphyrin synthesis. 

Sectors of application
  • Chemical industries
  • Clean technology
  • Energy
  • Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
  • Manufacturing and processing
Name of specialized lab Name of equipment in use Description of function
Molecular Imaging Lab (ZXa Lab) Field-cycling NMR relaxometer Measuring sensitivity of MRI contrast agents in a wide range of magnetic field up to 3 T
  Infrastructure for Chemical Synthesis Synthesis, purification and characterization of organic and inorganic molecules
  Tissue Culture Facility Live cells studies
  Fluorescent microscope Optical imaging of cells and materials
Teaching and Research in Analytical Chemical and Environmental Sciences (TRACES Lab) at UTSC NMR, MS, High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, IR, UV-vis, Florescence, Raman, etc. Core facility for chemical analysis
  • University of Toronto
  • Western University
  • University of Rochester
  • The Ohio State University
  • University at Buffalo
  • State University of New York
Title URL
MRI Contrast Agent Makes Stem Cells Visible Inside the Body http://www.americanlaboratory.com/187206-MRI-Contrast-Agent-Makes-Stem-Cells-Visible-Inside-the-Body/
When it comes to developing stem cell treatments, seeing is half the battle http://ose.utsc.utoronto.ca/ose/story.php?id=8486
Tiny sensor may have big impact in tackling cancer, cystic fibrosis https://www.utoronto.ca/news/tiny-sensor-may-have-big-impact-tackling-cancer-cystic-fibrosis
Tattoo treatment could boost stem cell research https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/07/06/tattoo-treatment-could-boost-stem-cell-research.html