Recent progress on MRI probes for metal ion detection and biological applications

Abstract

The disorder of metal ion levels can have a significant impact on the ecological environment and human health due to their crucial role in complex biological metabolism processes and the overall ecological balance. Traditional detection technologies for various metal ions have been successfully developed. However, these traditional methods have limitations when it comes to monitoring the physiological distribution of metal ions with high sensitivity. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), known for its ability to provide deep tissue imaging with excellent spatiotemporal resolution, has been widely adopted in biomedical and clinical diagnostics. Interestingly, numerous studies have focused on designing and developing MRI nanoprobes specifically for the detection of metal ions. In this review, we highlight the research progress, limitations, and remaining challenges in the development of metal ion detection probes based on MRI technology.