Spatial characterization of redox processes and speciation of Ru(III) anticancer complexes by 19 F magnetic resonance imaging.

The application of CF 3 -labeled Ru(III) anticancer complexes to magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of tumour tissues is demonstrated. By combining anatomical chemical-shift selective (CHESS) imaging with 19 F chemical-shift imaging (CSI) MR methods, we show that oxidation states and ligand-exchange processes of the complexes can be spatially encoded. Measurements on different tissue models, including a human breast adenocarcinoma tumour, validate the application of these complexes as MR theranostics for the sensing and targeting of hypoxia.