Gadolinium (Gd) polymer MRI contrast agent responsive to environmental changes

摘要

A contrast media composition particularly useful for MRI contains complexes of gadolinium (Gd)-base contrast media with polymers. The polymers have the property to undergo phase transition due to changes in pH value, light or temperature induced in the body by physical stimulation from outside the body to develop different water solubility. Since the polymers responding to minor environmental changes are bonded to the Gd-base MRI contrast media, the performance of the contrast media can be exerted exclusively at the target sites, thus enabling on-off switching of the performance of MRI contrast media. Therefore, the contrast media are highly specific, meaning that the contrast is provided not at the sites where no contrast is needed but exclusively at the target tumors or specific sites, thus ensuring highly specific MRI diagnosis.