This perspective highlights the recent development of dynamically switchable MRI contrast agents that can achieve structural transformation and controllable MR signal activation at the disease site in response to various pathological stimuli. Moreover, current challenges and future perspectives of dynamic contrast agents for the accurate detection of microscopic lesions are commented.
Abstract:
Contrast agents can improve the sensitivity and resolution of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by accelerating the relaxation times of surrounding water protons. The MRI performances of contrast agents are closely related to their structural characteristics, including size, shape, surface modification, and so on. Recently, dynamically switchable MRI contrast agents that can undergo structural changes and imaging functional activations upon reaching the disease microenvironment have been developed for high performance MRI. This perspective highlights the ingenious design, controllable structural transformation, and tunable imaging property of dynamic MRI contrast agents. Additionally, the current challenges of the dynamic MRI contrast agents for medical diagnosis are discussed. Furthermore, the future integration of high-resolution ultra-high field MRI technology and cutting-edge dynamic MRI contrast agents for non-invasive histopathological level accurate detection of microscopic lesions are commented.
Author list:
Qiyue Wang†, Zeyu Liang†, Fangyuan Li*, Jiyoung Lee, Liang Ee Low, Daishun Ling*How to cite:
Q. Wang, Z. Liang, F. Li, J. Lee, L. E. Low, D. Ling, Exploration 2021, 1, 20210009.https://doi.org/10.1002/EXP.20210009