Uridine-based paramagnetic supramolecular nanoaggregate with high relaxivity capable of detecting primitive liver tumor lesions

Functional gadolinium-based nanoscale systems for cancer theranostics

Cancer theranostics is a new strategy for combating cancer that integrates cancer imaging and treatment through theranostic agents to provide an efficient and safe way to improve cancer prognosis. Design and synthesis of these cancer theranostic agents are crucial since these agents are required to be biocompatible, tumor-specific, imaging distinguishable and therapeutically efficacious. In this regard, several types of gadolinium (Gd)-based nanomaterials have been introduced to combine different therapeutic agents with Gd to enhance the efficacy of therapeutic agents. At the same time, the entire treatment procedure could be monitored via imaging tools due to incorporation of Gd ions, Gd chelates and Gd/other imaging probes in the theranostic agents. This review aims to overview recent advances in the Gd-based nanomaterials for cancer theranostics and perspectives for Gd nanomaterial-based cancer theranostics are provided.

Current Perspective on In Vivo Molecular Imaging of Immune Cells

Contemporaneous development of improved immune cell-based therapies, and powerful imaging tools, has prompted growth in technologies for immune cell tracking in vivo. Over the past couple of decades, imaging tools such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and optical imaging have successfully monitored the trafficking patterns of therapeutic immune cells and assisted the evaluation of the success or failure of immunotherapy. Recent advancements in imaging technology have made imaging an indispensable module of immune cell-based therapies. In this review, emerging applications of non-radiation imaging modalities for the tracking of a range of immune cells are discussed. Applications of MRI, NIR, and other imaging tools have demonstrated the potential of non-invasively surveying the fate of both phagocytic and non-phagocytic immune cells in vivo.

Acid-triggered release of doxorubicin from a hydrazone-linked Gd3+-texaphyrin conjugate

The hydrazone-based Gd³⁺-texaphyrin doxorubicin conjugate 1, releases active doxorubicin at acidic pH values, allowing its components to be followed by two complementary imaging methods, namely Off–On fluorescence enhancement and MR imaging.

Cu(2+)-responsive bimodal (optical/MRI) contrast agent for cellular imaging

A water-soluble T1 magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent (1) has been synthesized. The bimodal contrast agent 1 responds to the Cu(2+) ion in living cells by enhancing the MRI modality signal whereas the optical signal gradually drops. This dual modality probe response depends on the cellular free copper ions in RAW 264.7 cells even at the micromolar level.