Gadolinium-doped LipoCEST agents: a potential novel class of dual 1H-MRI probes

A novel class of paramagnetic liposome-based systems acting as dual T1 and CEST 1H-MRI contrast agents is described. The vesicles contain a shift reagent in the aqueous core and a Gd-complex on the external surface conjugated through a biodegradable linker. As such, the probe can generate T1 contrast only, but after the cleavage and removal of the Gd-coating, the CEST contrast is switched on.