(SENATOR)
Staff Exchange for Novel applications in 19f magnetic resonance imaging

Project summary

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a leading clinical diagnostic technique that can provide whole-body imaging, and when individual cells are imaged in living animals, it can provide new insights into the biology of cell trafficking and migration. Therefore, the development of MRI contrast agents is an active area of research, where the basis for this interest is the expansion of MRI as a high-resolution and non-invasive preclinical and clinical imaging modality. This step towards a new generation of MRI contrast reagents has also been spurred on by the mounting evidence against gadolinium (Gd3+)-based contrast agents (GBCAs). This has opened the door to the novelty of using perfluorocarbon (PFC) for 19F MRI being incorporated inside smart nanoparticles. This can offer unique quantitative signatures for molecular MRI with no competing background signal.

The overarching goal of SENATOR is to form an international and inter-sectoral network of organisations working on a joint research programme to advance contrast agents based on nanoparticles for 19F MRI.