  Silicon-based micro and nanoparticles have gained popularity in a wide range
of biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability
in-vivo, as well as a flexible surface chemistry, which allows drug loading,
functionalization and targeting. Here we report direct in-vivo imaging of
hyperpolarized 29Si nuclei in silicon microparticles by MRI. Natural physical
properties of silicon provide surface electronic states for dynamic nuclear
polarization (DNP), extremely long depolarization times, insensitivity to the
in-vivo environment or particle tumbling, and surfaces favorable for
functionalization. Potential applications to gastrointestinal, intravascular,
and tumor perfusion imaging at sub-picomolar concentrations are presented.
These results demonstrate a new background-free imaging modality applicable to
a range of inexpensive, readily available, and biocompatible Si particles.
