Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Electrolysis
Date
2015-02-09
Authors
Meir, Arie
Hjouj, Mohammad
Rubinsky, Liel
Rubinsky, Boris
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Abstract
This study explores the hypothesis that Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can image the process of
electrolysis by detecting pH fronts. The study has relevance to real time control of cell ablation with
electrolysis. To investigate the hypothesis we compare the following MR imaging sequences: T1 weighted,
T2 weighted and Proton Density (PD), with optical images acquired using pH-sensitive dyes embedded in a
physiological saline agar solution phantom treated with electrolysis and discrete measurements with a pH
microprobe. We further demonstrate the biological relevance of our work using a bacterial E. Coli model,
grown on the phantom. The results demonstrate the ability of MRI to image electrolysis produced pH
changes in a physiological saline phantom and show that these changes correlate with cell death in the E. Coli
model grown on the phantom. The results are promising and invite further experimental research.