Gadolinium(III) based nanoparticles for T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging probes

The development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents with delicate sensitivity and advanced functionalities has recently received extensive interest. Nanoparticle MRI contrast agents have been synthesized for various potential applications because of their unique properties, such as large surface area, surface modifications for multifunction, contrast enhancement, and conjugation with biomolecules for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. This review summarized the recent progress on Gd-based nanoparticles as T-1-weighted MRI contrast agents including inorganic crystalline Gd(III) nanoparticles and Gd(III) chelate-grafted macromolecular nanoparticles. The recent development of Gd(III)-based nanoparticle as multimodal contrast agents including T-1-weighted MRI/computed X-ray (CT) and T-1-weighted MRI/optical were also included.