Shine and darkle the blood vessels: Multiparameter hypersensitive MR angiography for diagnosis of panvascular diseases
Wenyue Li, Junwei Cheng, Chuang Liu, Ni Zhang, Lin Hua, Fangfei He, Zhihua Gan, Peisen Zhang, Meng Qin, Yi Hou
Abstract
Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is pivotal for diagnosing panvascular diseases. However, single-modality MRA falls short in diagnosing diverse vascular abnormalities. Thus, contrast agents combining T 1 and T 2 effects are sought for multiparameter MRA with clinical promise, yet achieving a balance in T 1 and T 2 contrast enhancement effects remains a scientific challenge. Herein, we developed a hypersensitive multiparameter MRA strategy using dual-modality NaGdF 4 nanoparticles. Because of the longer tumbling time (τ R ), NaGdF 4 nanoparticles can improve the longitudinal relaxivity ( r 1 ), brightening vessels in T 1 -weighted sequences. Simultaneously, the regular arrangement of Gd 3+ in the crystal induces magnetic anisotropy, creating local static magnetic field heterogeneity and generating negative signals in T 2 -weighted sequences. Consequently, the efficacy of NaGdF 4 -enhanced high-resolution multiparameter MRA has been validated in diagnosing ischemic stroke and Alzheimer’s disease in rodent models. In addition, the dual-contrast imaging has been realized on swine with a clinical 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging scanner, highly emphasizing the clinical translation prospect.