NUCLEAR-MAGNETIC-RESONANCE IMAGING IN PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH

Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging has important applications in pharmaceutical research since it allows specific tissue and disease characterization in animal models noninvasively with excellent anatomical resolution and therefore provides improved ability to monitor the efficacy of novel drugs. We demonstrate here the utility of NMR imaging in renal studies to monitor the mechanism of drug action and renal function in rats. We also discuss the extension of the resolution of an NMR image to microscopic domain at higher magnetic field strengths and the utility of NMR microimaging in cerebrovascular and tumour metastasis studies in mice.