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AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

Publication Preview: Published October 15, 2009

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American Journal of Neuroradiology
DOI 10.3174/ajnr.A1753

REVIEW ARTICLE

Smart MR Imaging Agents Relevant to Potential Neurologic Applications

C.S. Bonnet and É. Tóth

From Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, Orléans, France.

Please address correspondence to: Éva Tóth, PhD, rue Charles Sadron, 45071 Orléans, France; email: eva.jakabtoth{at}cnrs-orleans.fr

SUMMARY: Molecular imaging is aimed at the noninvasive visualization of the expression and function of bioactive molecules that often represent specific molecular signatures in disease processes. Any molecular imaging procedure requires an imaging probe that is specific to a given molecular event, which puts an important emphasis on chemistry development. In MR imaging, the past years have witnessed significant advances in the design of molecular agents, though most of these efforts have not yet progressed to in vivo studies. In this review, we present some examples relevant to potential neurobiologic applications. Our aim was to show what chemistry can bring to the area of molecular MR imaging with a focus on the 2 main classes of imaging probes: Gd³⁺-based and PARACEST agents. We will discuss responsive probes for the detection of metal ions such as Ca, Zn, Fe, and Cu, pH, enzymatic activity, and oxygenation state.

Abbreviations: Yb, ytterbium