Gadolinium complexes contrast agents

Future Applications. The use of gadolinium complexes as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (mri) is growing (40). 

Toth E, Helm L, Merbach AE (2001) Relaxivity of Gadolinium(III) Complexes theory and mechanism. In Toth , Merbach AE (eds.) The chemistry of contrast agents in medical magnetic resonance imaging. Wiley, Chichester, pp. 45-119. 

Schwendener, R. A., Wuethrich, R., Duewell, S., Westera, G., and Von-Schulthess, G. K. Small unilamellar liposomes as magnetic resonance contrast agents loaded with paramagnetic manganese-, gadolinium-, and iron-DTPA-stearate complexes. Int. J. Pharm. 1989, 49, 249-259. 

Contrast MRI requires incorporation of paramagnetic material onto the PFC-based targeted particles [48,49]. Incorporation of a gadolinium(lll) complex into the lipid monolayer that coats targeted emulsion droplets provides contrast agents useful for both US and MRI modalities. Paramagnetic fibrin-specific PFC emulsion droplets allowed sensitive detection and localization of thrombi by MRI and may allow early identification of fibrin deposits in vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques. The emulsion droplets had both an antifibrin... 

A second class of MRI contrast agents contains ligands that are derivatives of the macrocydic tetramine, 1.4.7.10-tetraazacyclododecane (cyclen). Gadoterate (Dotarem, Gd-DOTA, Scheme 3, formula 5) was the first macrocydic gadolinium complex which has entered the market. 

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