Gadolinium complexes, medical application

Medical applications are so far limited in number, but gadolinium complexes of DTPA and other hgands have become highly important injectible MRI contrast agents (see Metal-based Imaging Agents). The luminescent properties of the lanthanides are becoming exploited in luminescent sensors and bioassays. 

Particular prospects are to optimise a//-homocalixarenes towards environmentally relevant cations with, for example, the objective of removing radioactive and toxic metals from drinking water, and to design new hosts for medical applications such as magnetic resonance imaging based on gadolinium complexes. 

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