Shine and darkle the blood vessels: Multiparameter hypersensitive MR angiography for diagnosis of panvascular diseases

Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is pivotal for diagnosing panvascular diseases. However, single-modality MRA falls short in diagnosing diverse vascular abnormalities. Thus, contrast agents combining T 1 and T 2 effects are sought for multiparameter MRA with clinical promise, yet achieving a balance in T 1 and T 2 contrast enhancement effects remains a scientific challenge. Herein, we developed a hypersensitive multiparameter MRA strategy using dual-modality NaGdF 4 nanoparticles. Because of the longer tumbling time (τ R ), NaGdF 4 nanoparticles can improve the longitudinal relaxivity ( r 1 ), brightening vessels in T 1 -weighted sequences. Simultaneously, the regular arrangement of Gd 3+ in the crystal induces magnetic anisotropy, creating local static magnetic field heterogeneity and generating negative signals in T 2 -weighted sequences. Consequently, the efficacy of NaGdF 4 -enhanced high-resolution multiparameter MRA has been validated in diagnosing ischemic stroke and Alzheimer’s disease in rodent models. In addition, the dual-contrast imaging has been realized on swine with a clinical 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging scanner, highly emphasizing the clinical translation prospect.