Gadolinium nanoparticles as diagnostic and therapeutic agents: Their delivery systems in magnetic resonance imaging and neutron capture therapy

Gadolinium (Gd) chelates have been widely used as contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition to using MRI, they are interesting, as a radiosensitizer, in neutron capture therapy (NCT). However, the poor selective tissue labeling and localization provided by conventional molecular Gd chelates have confined success in both MRI and NCT applications. To encapsulate Gd into nanoparticulate materials can be considered as a method to overcome these limitations. In this regard, developing various carrier systems have increased the sensitivity and improving the targetability of the contrast agents. In this review article, an overview of the delivery systems of Gd nanoparticles in the MRI and NCT would be mentioned.