Abstract #1835

Mulder W, Nicolay K, Kluza E, Strijkers G

The present study was aimed to optimize the relaxivity properties of liposomal molecular MRI contrast agents. Measurements of the molar relaxivities r1 and r2 were done as a function of the content of Gd-DTPA-containing lipid and temperature at 0.47 and 1.41 T. The study demonstrates that liposomes with a high payload of Gd-DTPA-lipid are attractive candidates for the MRI-based detection of sparse molecular targets. The liposomes containing 25 mol% Gd-lipid are most suitable, because they exhibit the highest relaxivity per mM liposomes with acceptable r2/r1 ratio.