title: Research into europium complexes as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents (Review).
abstract: Europium (Eu) is a paramagnetic lanthanide element that possesses an outstanding luminescent property. Eu complexes are ideal fluorescence imaging (FI) agents. Eu2+has satisfactory relaxivity and optical properties, and can realize magnetic resonance (MRI)-FI dual imaging applications when used with appropriate cryptands that render it oxidatively stable. By contrast, based on the chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) mechanism, Eu3+complexes can provide enhanced MRI sensitivity when used with optimal cryptands, incorporated into polymeric CEST agents or blended with Gd3+. Eu complexes are promising in MRI-FI dual imaging applications and have a bright future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Guocan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yangwei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jihong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhiquan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shen
keywords: cryptand; europium; longitudinal relaxivity; magnetic resonance imaging; transverse relaxivity