Research status of superparamagnetic iron oxide MR contrast agent: Marking features, safety and limitation / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) contrast agent has been extensively explore in tracing imaging following stem cell transplantation, arabinogalactan cell membrane receptor targeted imaging, as well as liposome-coated SPIO. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the research state of liposome-coated SPIO. METHODS: A computer-based online search of CNKI and Science Direct (1998-01/2009-09) was performed to search the articles about liposome-coated SPIO with key words "SPIO, superparamagnetic iron oxide, liposome, MR contrast agent" in Chinese and English. Articles related to MR contrast agent, and published in recently or authorial journals of the same field were included. A total of 48 articles were collected, and 24 articles and 1 composition related to liposome-coated SPIO were reviewed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The incessant innovation in MR contrast agents can greatly improve the diagnosis of MRI. Due to the good performances, diagnostic value of SPIO in many diseases has surpassed previous MR contrast agents. Liposome-coated SPIO has the merits of low toxic side effect, and well targeting in specific tissues, thereby extensively being used in experimental studies and clinical application. With the development of functional imaging and molecular imaging, the use of liposome-coated SPIO must be more extensive.