One of the most challenging tasks of the cancer research is the enhancement of the amount of the chemotherapeutic agent that can reach the target site. To achieve this goal, nanovectors capable of encapsulating the drug and releasing it following a specific stimulus have been developed. In light of this, a key point is the necessity to monitor the effective drug release through a safe and highly performing imaging technology such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Liposomes are highly biocompatible nanovesicles that consist of bilayered phospholipid-based membrane encompassing an aqueous core. Almost 20 drug-loaded liposomes are currently approved for clinical use in USA and EU countries. If a liposomal nanomedicine is loaded with an MRI agent whose contrast is sensitive to the microenvironment and with a release kinetics similar to the co-transported drug, the system can act as an imaging reporter of drug release. This Perspective will offer a critical and brief overview of using MRI not only to verify and monitor the release process but also as a valuable tool to predict the therapeutic outcome. In particular, it will be presented representatives preclinical studies illustrating the in vivo potential of MRI-guided drug release protocols triggered by thermal and mechanical ultrasound-induced effects. Considering the therapeutic advantages of this approach, the possible benefits in reducing the side effects and the good results reported at preclinical level, there is a reasonable hope that the near future could witness the entrance in clinical routine of MRI-guided procedures supporting ultrasound-induced drug release protocols.

癌症研究最具挑战性的任务之一是增加可以到达目标部位的化学治疗剂的量。为了实现该目标，已经开发了能够封装药物并在特定刺激后释放药物的纳米载体。有鉴于此，关键是必须通过安全且高性能的成像技术（例如磁共振成像（MRI））来监测药物的有效释放。脂质体是高度生物相容的纳米囊泡，由囊括水性核心的双层磷脂基膜组成。目前已在美国和欧盟国家/地区批准了将近20种载药脂质体用于临床。如果脂质体纳米药物中加载了MRI试剂，其造影剂对微环境敏感，并且其释放动力学与共转运药物相似，则该系统可以充当药物释放的成像报告者。该观点将对使用MRI不仅是验证和监测释放过程，而且还是预测治疗结果的有价值的工具提供一个关键而简短的概述。特别是，将向代表进行临床前研究，以说明体内由热和机械超声诱导的效应触发的MRI指导药物释放方案的潜力。考虑到该方法的治疗优势，减少副作用的可能益处以及在临床前水平报道的良好结果，有合理的希望，即不久的将来可以见证支持超声诱导的MRI指导程序进入临床程序药物释放方案。