Nanoparticle-Based Systems for T1-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agents

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Derong Zhu²  Fuyao Liu¹  Lina Ma¹  Dianjun Liu¹ 

[1] State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, Jilin, China; E-Mails:;Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Guangdong Medical College, Dongwan 523770, Guangdong, China; E-Mail:

关键词: T₁-weighted magnetic resonance;    molecular imaging;    nanoparticles;    contrast agents;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms140510591

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Because magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents play a vital role in diagnosing diseases, demand for new MRI contrast agents, with an enhanced sensitivity and advanced functionalities, is very high. During the past decade, various inorganic nanoparticles have been used as MRI contrast agents due to their unique properties, such as large surface area, easy surface functionalization, excellent contrasting effect, and other size-dependent properties. This review provides an overview of recent progress in the development of nanoparticle-based T₁-weighted MRI contrast agents. The chemical synthesis of the nanoparticle-based contrast agents and their potential applications were discussed and summarized. In addition, the recent development in nanoparticle-based multimodal contrast agents including T₁-weighted MRI/computed X-ray tomography (CT) and T₁-weighted MRI/optical were also described, since nanoparticles may curtail the shortcomings of single mode contrast agents in diagnostic and clinical settings by synergistically incorporating functionality.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland