Fereshteh Fathi - Department of Chemical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Science, Sari, Iran
Mir Abdollah Seyed Sadjadi - Department of Chemistry, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Maryam Ghafari Cherati - Department of Biological and Genetic, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Science, Sari, Iran

Several MRI contrast agents (CAs) are used in medical diagnosis that gadolinium (Gd۳+) is the most widely used as contrast agents. Unfortunately, its toxicity is due to its inefficiency. In this review, we discuss about the ability of SPIONs in MRI and application in Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) such as magnetite nanoparticles are used as good CAs in recent years because of biocompatibility, low level of toxicity, magnetic properties, simple synthesis and coating to use in medical diagnosis. Uncoated magnetite nanonoparticles are insoluble in water. Hydrophilic coatings result water solubility of nanoparticles and prolonged circulation half-lives of SPION and reduce recognition by RES. SPIONs have an important role in diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) by MRI. SPIONs are MRI contrast agents better than gadolinium because, SPIONs taken up by macrophages but not Gd-nanoparticles.

Contrast agent, Diagnosis, MRI, multiple sclerosis, Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles