Mapping vitamin B metabolism by hydrazoCEST magnetic resonance imaging.

A new CEST-MRI contrast agent, 2-HYNIC, capable of sensing aromatic aldehydes is reported. Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, a key Vitamin B metabolite necessary for >140 biotransformations was mapped by CEST-MRI and in lung cancer. 2-HYNIC provided access to this key biomarker associated with a variety of human diseases.