PubMed1996
Contrast agents may be categorised as non-specific or specific agents. Non-specific agents are freely diffusible in the extracellular and extravascular compartment with the exception of the brain where only blood brain barrier lesions enables the contrast agent to pass. In the specific agent group, a new class of products has been developed, that of blood pool contrast agent, which are distributed in the total intravascular volume and are slowly cleared from the blood. Crossing the healthy capillary wall is limited and depends both on the pathological state of the endothelial permeability tissue of the organ under interest and on the characteristics of the contrast agent (size, charge, molecular shape...). The diagnostic efficacy in perfusion imaging including cerebral perfusion is modulated by the pharmacokinetic profile of the blood pool contrast agent. One way to improve the vascular residence time, consists in binding a vector such as synthetic polymer or a biological macromolecule and a lanthanide like Gd3+, Mn2+, Dy3+ or metal ions. A second way is the synthesis of ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles which could escape rapid recognition by the monocyte macrophage phagocytic system mainly of liver and spleen. Because of their cristalline structure and the large number of non-paired spins, five electrons for the iron metal, the nanoparticles behave as magnetic domain when an external field is applied. They consequently have a high dipolar magnetic moment, and can produce a T2 effect in vivo, resulting in a drop in the magnetic resonance signal. Possible interests and developments toward perfusion imaging are demonstrated in experimental models studies.