Multicolor 19F magnetic resonance imaging: A promising medical technique for in vivo visualization of multiple biological targets

Abstract

Driven by the needs of precision medicine, current imaging techniques are under continuous development to offer more accurate and comprehensive information beyond traditional macroscopic anatomical images. Multispectral color-coded (multicolor) 19F magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is receiving increasing attention owing to its capability for visualizing quantitative and multiplexed molecular information during various biological processes. The chemical design and preparation of 19F probes lie at the core of multicolor 19F MRI since their performance dominates the accomplishment of this technique. Herein, the working principles of multicolor 19F MRI are briefly introduced. Recent progress on multicolor 19F MRI probes for simultaneous in vivo visualization of multiple biological targets is summarized. Finally, current challenges and potential solutions in this fast-developing field are discussed.

Keywords

• 19F magnetic resonance imaging
• Medical imaging technique
• Multicolor 19F probes
• In vivo visualization
• Multiplexed imaging