The ability to detect a molecular target in the central nervous system non-invasively and at high spatial resolution using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has attracted the interest of researchers for several decades. Yet, molecular MRI studies remain restricted to the preclinical stage and the path to clinical translation remains unclear. The focus of molecular MRI of neuroinflammation has moved from parenchymal to vascular targets, that are more easily reachable by intravenously injected probes. This has allowed the use of large superparamagnetic probes, such as micro-sized particles of iron oxide (MPIO), that dramatically improved the sensitivity of molecular MRI compared to smaller contrast agents. In particular, recent studies demonstrated the feasibility of unraveling inflammation in the brain by MRI using MPIO able to bind activated endothelial cells with potential applications in neurovascular, neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders. In the present review, we present the most striking advances in the field and the remaining challenges that must be overcome before clinical use of molecular MRI of neuroinflammation.

几十年来，使用磁共振成像 (MRI) 以无创和高空间分辨率检测中枢神经系统中分子靶标的能力吸引了研究人员的兴趣。然而，分子 MRI 研究仍仅限于临床前阶段，临床转化的途径仍不清楚。神经炎症分子 MRI 的焦点已从实质转移到血管靶点，静脉注射探针更容易到达血管靶点。这使得可以使用大型超顺磁性探针，例如微型氧化铁颗粒 (MPIO)，与较小的造影剂相比，大大提高了分子 MRI 的灵敏度。特别是，最近的研究证明了通过 MRI 解决大脑炎症的可行性，使用 MPIO 能够结合激活的内皮细胞，在神经血管、神经炎症和神经退行性疾病中具有潜在应用。在本综述中，我们介绍了该领域最显着的进展以及在临床使用神经炎症的分子 MRI 之前必须克服的剩余挑战。