Year: 2025
Type: editorial
Abstract: M agnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a cornerstone of modern diagnostics, utilizes powerful magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed anatomical and functional images without relying on ionizing radiation.Since its introduction into clinical practice in the 1980s, MRI has revolutionized medicine by offering noninvasive, highresolution insights into human anatomy and pathophysiology, particularly in neurology, oncology, and inflammatory diseases.The evolution of MRI began with gadolinium-based contrast agents that enhanced vascular imaging, followed by the development of iron oxide nanoparticles in the 1990s for liver imaging and lymph node mapping.More recently, redoxsensitive manganese (Mn) probes, fluorine-19 ( 19 F) tracers for inflammation monitoring, and hyperpolarized agents for realtime metabolic profiling in cancer and cardiac diseases have emerged.These advancements, combined with AI-driven image analysis, have solidified MRI's role as a dynamic tool in precision medicine.At the same time, innovations in hardware, including portable low-field systems and AI-powered artifact reduction, are improving access to advanced diagnostics.The three ACS journals, Chemical & Biomedical Imaging, ACS Sensors, and Analytical Chemistry, regularly publish articles that showcase the latest research breakthroughs in MRI.This joint collection of the three journals features an article selection of molecular probes for MRI, encompassing both small molecule and nanostructure-based probes, and aims to introduce advancements in magnetic resonance instrumentation for the better integration of MRI research into clinical practice.Gadolinium (Gd)-based contrast agents were the first MRI probes to enter clinical use.Gd agents enhance tissue contrast by shortening the T 1 relaxation time of adjacent water protons through the paramagnetic properties of Gd 3+ ions.These chelated agents interact with water molecules via unpaired electrons, which accelerates spin-lattice energy transfer, resulting in hyperintense signals in T 1 -weighted imaging.This approach highlights pathological regions such as tumors (DOI: 10.1021/cbmi.4c00002,10.1021/cbmi.3c00023,10.1021/cbmi.3c00011) or areas of inflammation (DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c05777).By combining Gd 3+ complexes with other metal ion sensors (DOI: 10.1021/ acssensors.3c01387),researchers can track real-time changes in ion concentrations within the body with MRI.Additionally, when Gd is combined with the photosensitive ligand porphyrin ring (DOI: 10.1021/cbmi.3c00007), it results in a potent photodynamic therapeutic photosensitizer that also provides MRI capabilities for integrated tumor diagnosis and treatment.
Source: Chemical & Biomedical Imaging
DOI: 10.1021/cbmi.5c00080
Authors: Zheng Huang, Deju Ye
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4411536110