Application of quantitative magnetization transfer magnetic resonance imaging for characterization of dry-cured hams

- qMT-MRI is an efficient method for nondestructive ham tissue characterization.
- qMT parameters correlate well with conventional MR parameters (T1, T2, ADC).
- Macromolecular pool size correlates with chemically determined protein content.

Quantitative magnetization transfer magnetic resonance imaging (qMT-MRI) was employed to characterize dry-cured ham tissues differing in anatomical positions and processing protocols. Experimentally obtained MR images of dry-cured ham sections were analyzed by the well-established binary-spin-bath (BSB) model. The model enabled an efficient discrimination between a free-water proton pool and a restricted-macromolecular proton pool. Significant differences in restricted pool sizes were found among different ham sections. Values of the restricted pool size obtained by the model were in a good agreement with chemically determined protein content. The study confirmed the feasibility of the applied qMT-MRI as a nondestructive tool for characterization of dry-cured ham tissues.