Xenon-129 and Inert Fluorinated Gas Lung MRI: Study of Healthy Volunteers and Participants With Pulmonary Disease

February 26, 2026 updated by: Giles Santyr, The Hospital for Sick Children

Development of Hyperpolarized Xenon-129 and Inert Fluorinated Gas Lung Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Comparative Pilot Study of Healthy Volunteers and Participants With Pulmonary Disease

Aim of this study is to evaluate image quality and reproducibility of Xenon-129 and Inert fluorinated (19F) gas Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and to evaluate changes in lung structure and function in participants with cystic fibrosis (CF) and asthma compared to healthy controls.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Hyperpolarized noble gas magnetic resonance (MR) lung imaging is a relatively new imaging method that allows depiction of both lung function and morphology. Hyperpolarized gases are a new class of MR contrast agent which, when inhaled, provide high temporal and spatial resolution MR images of the lung airspaces. Since no ionizing radiation is involved, hyperpolarized gas MR imaging is ideal for the evaluation of lung diseases especially in children. With hyperpolarized gases, the nuclear spins of the gas atoms are brought into alignment outside of the MR scanner via a process called optical pumping; this yields high polarizations and permits visualization of the lung airspaces with MR imaging (despite the low physical density of the gas in the lung). Two non-radioactive (i.e. stable) isotopes of noble gases helium-3 and xenon-129 can be hyperpolarized. Until recently, higher polarizations could be achieved with helium-3 than with xenon-129, so in humans, helium-3 was more commonly used for hyperpolarized gas MR imaging of the lungs. Recently, the technology has been developed to provide large quantities of highly polarized xenon-129. Helium-3 gas is also extremely expensive and since there are limited reserves of the gas, difficult to procure for research. Unlike helium-3, since xenon-129 is naturally present in the atmosphere, it is less expensive and easier to procure for imaging.

Several applications of xenon-129 MR imaging are under development, including diffusion-weighted and relaxation-weighted imaging. These techniques take advantage of the fact that the rate of loss of xenon-129 polarization is significantly influenced by the local blood flow and concentration of molecular oxygen, as well as the restriction of xenon-129 diffusion by small airway space dimensions. These data can be used to create maps of the lung reflecting regional ventilation/perfusion and micro-airway sizes. Other data that can be obtained with xenon-129 MRI include the volumes of ventilated and unventilated lungs which can subsequently be analyzed to determine the homogeneity of gas distribution within the airspaces. These data can be used to study the structural and functional changes taking place in the lungs associated with pulmonary diseases like CF and asthma. It might provide a diagnostic tool that is able to detect pulmonary diseases more sensitively than the current gold standard measurements of spirometry and plethysmography, and thus prevent irreparable and irreversible damage to the lungs in the early stages of disease.

19F MRI is an emergent technology for the imaging of lung ventilation and function. Similar to HP 129Xe MRI, this technique involves the imaging of an inhaled tracer (inert fluorinated gases) to visualize the airspaces of the lungs. Fluorinated gases such as perfluoropropane have been approved for use as an investigational inhaled contrast at several institutions globally, including a Canadian institution in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Fluorinated gases are non-toxic, commercially available, relatively inexpensive, and have favourable physical/magnetic properties for MRI17-20. Most importantly, unlike 129Xe MRI, fluorinated gases do not require hyperpolarization prior to imaging to boost detectable signal, instead relying on a relatively high number of 19F atoms per molecule and rapid, repeated imaging to enable sufficient signal averaging3. This is a significant advantage compared to HP 129Xe MRI which requires special polarizing equipment; a major barrier to widespread implementation. Despite this, the achievable image quality is generally poorer than 129Xe MRI. Nevertheless, recent improvements in hardware, software and fluorinated gases may enable 19F MRI to provide similar and/or complimentary information compared to HP 129Xe MRI at lower cost and with reduced requirements for hardware and infrastructure21.

Additionally, the paramagnetism of molecular oxygen (O2), which detrimentally impacts the hyperpolarization of 129Xe, does not significantly impact inert fluorinated gases. Therefore, these gases may be prepared in normoxic mixtures prior to administration to participants, rather than in anoxic mixtures as is typically done with 129Xe. This, alongside the fact that irreversible loss of magnetization is not a concern with fluorinated gases, presents the opportunity to perform free-breathing, extended imaging of the lungs. Imaging data acquired during free-breathing can potentially resolve gas kinetics (i.e., gas-wash-in, wash-out, and fractional ventilation)22,23 in a manner that is more feasible and tolerable than with HP noble gases.

Due to the lack of studies evaluating 19F MRI in pediatric lung disease, in this study we aim to develop and test necessary hardware/software for 19F MRI of the lungs children with and without history of respiratory disease and compare to HP 129Xe MRI.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

30

Phase

  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Ontario
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 1X8
        • Recruiting
        • The Hospital for Sick Children
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Giles Santyr, PhD FCCPM

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

4 years and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Participants male and female aged 8 years old and older.
  2. Participants have no smoking history.
  3. For participants with CF and asthma, a clinical diagnosis is necessary and they should be at their baseline level of symptom control based on history.
  4. Participants should have a FEV1%pred value greater than 40%.
  5. Participant understands the study procedures and is willing to participate in the study as indicated by signature on the informed consent or assent.
  6. Participant must be able to perform a breath hold for 20s or less.
  7. Participant able to perform reproducible pulmonary function tests (i.e., the 3 best acceptable spirograms have FEV1 values that do not vary more than 5% of the largest value or more than 100 ml, whichever is greater).

For the PEx sub-cohort, admission to the Hospital for Sick Children for a pulmonary exacerbation (based on clinical or pulmonary function assessment). Children who will be admitted and then discharged on home IV antibiotics may also be included in this study.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Participant is, in the opinion of the investigator, mentally or legally incapacitated, preventing informed consent/assent from being obtained, or cannot read or understand the written material.
  2. Participant has a history of cardiovascular disorders including coronary insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmias, severe hypertension.
  3. Other than for the PEx sub-cohort, participant has had a cold or respiratory infection in the last four weeks.
  4. Participant requires supplemental oxygen or has a daytime room air oxygen saturation ≤ 95%.
  5. Participant is unable to perform spirometry or plethysmography maneuvers.
  6. Participant is pregnant or lactating.
  7. In the investigator's opinion, participant suffers from any physical, psychological or other condition(s) that might prevent performance of the MRI, such as severe claustrophobia.

  8. Participant has an MRI incompatible device or any metal in their body which cannot be removed, including but not limited to pacemakers, neurostimulators, biostimulators, implanted insulin pumps, aneurysm clips, bio prosthetic, artificial limb, metallic fragment or foreign body, shunt, surgical staples (including clips or metallic sutures and/or ear implants).

    -

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Healthy
Healthy Participants ages 8 and older. Participants with inhale hyperpolarized xenon-129 which is used as a contrast agent for lung imaging. Perfluoropropane will also be used as a contrast agent for MRI. Perfluoropropane will be inhaled as a normoxic mixture (21% O2 and 79% perfluoropropane). Participants will undergo magnetic resonance imaging and lung clearance index.
Device: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Lung imaging will be performed for participants using MRI for all 3 arms
Other Names:
  • MRI
Device: Lung Clearance Index
Lung clearance index (measure of lung health) will be performed for all participants of all 3 arms
Other Names:
  • LCI
Drug: Xenon-129 and Perfluoropropane (19F)
Xenon gas and perfluoropropane to be inhaled by research participants
Other Names:
  • 129Xe and 19F
Active Comparator: Cystic Fibrisos
Participants with cystic fibrosis ages 8 and older.Participants with inhale hyperpolarized xenon-129 which is used as a contrast agent for lung imaging. Perfluoropropane will also be used as a contrast agent for MRI. Perfluoropropane will be inhaled as a normoxic mixture (21% O2 and 79% perfluoropropane). Participants will undergo magnetic resonance imaging and lung clearance index.
Device: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Lung imaging will be performed for participants using MRI for all 3 arms
Other Names:
  • MRI
Device: Lung Clearance Index
Lung clearance index (measure of lung health) will be performed for all participants of all 3 arms
Other Names:
  • LCI
Drug: Xenon-129 and Perfluoropropane (19F)
Xenon gas and perfluoropropane to be inhaled by research participants
Other Names:
  • 129Xe and 19F
Active Comparator: Asthma
Participants with asthma ages 8 and older.Participants with inhale hyperpolarized xenon-129 which is used as a contrast agent for lung imaging. Perfluoropropane will also be used as a contrast agent for MRI. Perfluoropropane will be inhaled as a normoxic mixture (21% O2 and 79% perfluoropropane). Participants will undergo magnetic resonance imaging and lung clearance index.
Device: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Lung imaging will be performed for participants using MRI for all 3 arms
Other Names:
  • MRI
Device: Lung Clearance Index
Lung clearance index (measure of lung health) will be performed for all participants of all 3 arms
Other Names:
  • LCI
Drug: Xenon-129 and Perfluoropropane (19F)
Xenon gas and perfluoropropane to be inhaled by research participants
Other Names:
  • 129Xe and 19F

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Significant differences in lung function between CF and healthy group and asthma and healthy group for ventilation defect percent (VDP) measurement
Time Frame: 1 year
To evaluate image quality and reproducibility of 129Xe and inert fluorinated (19F) gas MRI and to evaluate changes in lung structure and function in participants with cystic fibrosis (CF) and asthma compared to healthy controls.
1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

The Hospital for Sick Children

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Giles Santyr, PhD, The Hospital for Sick Children

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

August 1, 2015

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 19, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 12, 2016

First Posted (Estimated)

April 15, 2016

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 2, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 26, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 1000048243

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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