Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agents and the Nuclear Pharmacist

Abstract

The nuclear pharmacist works with a very specific group of drugs. These drugs generally exhibit no toxic effects and are used almost exclusively for diagnosis. In the past these have been the radioactive drugs used in nuclear medicine and the iodinated contrast agents used in radiology. However, with the advent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), there is an additional class of drugs used in radiology, the magnetopharmaceuticals. These drugs are designed especially for increasing diagnostic sensitivity with MRI. This article is intended to provide topical insight into the basics of MRI and magnetopharmaceuticals.