# Development and Translation of D-glucose as an MRI Contrast Agent for Multiple Sclerosis

> **NIH NIH R00** · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · 2020 · $248,848

## Abstract

Project Summary
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disabling neurological disorder that is estimated to affect more than 2.3 million people
worldwide. Gadolinium (Gd) contrast enhanced MRI is routinely used in the clinics and is the most sensitive test
for establishing diagnosis, predicting prognosis and evaluating treatment efficacy of MS disease. While Gd based
contrast agents have demonstrated to be very safe, they have the potential for adverse effects in patients with
kidney diseases. In addition, it recently has been reported that the Gd agent can be deposited in deep gray
matter nuclei after repeated administration to patients with intact renal function. Based on such issues, there is
an urgent need to develop safe alternative contrast agents, especially for MS disease since patients are
subjected to periodic scans. The overall goal for this research proposal is to develop and translate to the
clinic the use of D-glucose as an intravenous MRI contrast agent for imaging blood-brain-barrier (BBB)
disruption in MS. In addition, since the size of D-glucose molecules are smaller than Gd agents, they may be
more amenable to leak into lesions with minor BBB disruption, hence provide a more sensitive means to detect
lesions at an earlier stage.
 Preliminary data on mice and human subjects show that intravenous infusion of D-glucose provides MRI
contrast that distinguishes the tumor and MS lesions from the unaffected brain region using the chemical
exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI technique. The data shows that the CEST contrast is enhanced upon
D-glucose infusion in tumors and some MS lesions where BBB disruption is suspected. To achieve the goal of
the proposal, Dr. Xu will develop 3D whole brain, high resolution CEST MRI techniques that are suitable for
imaging MS lesions first at 7 Tesla and subsequently translate the technique to 3 Tesla scanners for patient
studies. During the R00 phase, the lesion enhancement patterns for both glucose CEST and Gd will be compared
in a cohort of MS patients to validate the feasibility of using D-glucose as a contrast agent.
 The successful completion of this project will: 1) provide a natural and biodegradable MRI contrast agent
for imaging MS lesions; 2) provide a 3D whole brain CEST MRI protocol for imaging MS and other neurological
disorders; 3) provide a possible means to capture MS lesions at an earlier stage than conventional Gd agents
and enhance our understanding of the correlation between MS pathology and clinical MRI findings. The new
skills and knowledge that Dr. Xu will develop during the training period of the project will not only be crucial for
the successful completion of the project and her immediate scientific goals, they will also become the pillars for
the research program she will build in her own independent laboratory. The career development activity and
mentorship during the award period will prepare her for the practical aspects of research leadership, mentoring
and fund raising, whi...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10247299
- **Project number:** 4R00EB026312-03
- **Recipient organization:** ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- **Principal Investigator:** Xiang Xu
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $248,848
- **Award type:** 4N
- **Project period:** 2020-09-30 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10247299

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10247299, Development and Translation of D-glucose as an MRI Contrast Agent for Multiple Sclerosis (4R00EB026312-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10247299. Licensed CC0.

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