A framework is developed for optimizing magnetization transfer experim
ents for measuring first-order rate constants of a two-component excha
nge network. In the analysis the spin-lattice relaxation time of the n
onsaturated resonance is assumed to be known. However, we demonstrate
that our work can also be applied to cases in which the spin-lattice r
elaxation time falls within a physiologically reasonable range for thi
s parameter. We provide an algorithm for the parameters permitting the
experimenter to optimize the selection of measurement times in order
to control the error in a worst-case scenario. In addition, we compare
the performance of the time-dependent saturation experiment with an i
nversion experiment in this framework, finding that the former always
leads to a more effective design.