Smart Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Authors

  • Célia S. Bonnet Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire CNRS, UPR4301, Université d'Orléans Rue Charles Sadron, 45071 Orléans, France
  • Éva Tóth Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire CNRS, UPR4301, Université d'Orléans Rue Charles Sadron, 45071 Orléans, France;, Email: eva.jakabtoth@cnrs-orleans.fr

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2533/chimia.2016.102

Keywords:

Lanthanide complexes, Magnetic resonance imaging, Molecular imaging, Paramagnetic complexes, Responsive probes

Abstract

By visualizing bioactive molecules or biological parameters in vivo, molecular imaging is searching for information at the molecular level in living organisms. In addition to contributing to earlier and more personalized diagnosis in medicine, it also helps understand and rationalize the molecular factors underlying physiological and pathological processes. In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), complexes of paramagnetic metal ions, mostly lanthanides, are commonly used to enhance the intrinsic image contrast. They rely either on the relaxation effect of these metal chelates (T1 agents), or on the phenomenon of paramagnetic chemical exchange saturation transfer (PARACEST agents). In both cases, responsive molecular magnetic resonance imaging probes can be designed to report on various biomarkers of biological interest. In this context, we review recent work in the literature and from our group on responsive T1 and PARACEST MRI agents for the detection of biogenic metal ions (such as calcium or zinc), enzymatic activities, or neurotransmitter release. These examples illustrate the general strategies that can be applied to create molecular imaging agents with an MRI detectable response to biologically relevant parameters.

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Published

2016-02-24

Issue

Section

Scientific Articles